WEBINAR – Loes Messens, Greglox & Pieter Smets – Sociaal sportief platform

Summary

Peter introduces a platform showcasing Flanders and Brussels as hubs for social sports practices. It unites diverse organizations to innovate and influence policy. The platform supports various vulnerable groups through sports, like circus schools and urban centers for hip-hop, promoting inclusivity and social development. They also created an expert page for sharing knowledge and are open to collaboration to enhance social sports' impact.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The script discusses the vibrant social sports scene in Flanders and Brussels, highlighting innovative practices that cater to diverse social needs.
• 👥 It introduces two key figures: Grif, an artistic coordinator at Arby's in Brussels, and Loes, a wellness worker involved with a social circus school in Brussels.
• 🤸‍♂️ The social sports platform 'Nog Warm' is presented as an initiative that fosters collaboration among various organizations to address social issues through sports.
• 🏘️ The platform includes a wide range of organizations, from large sports clubs to small community groups, all emphasizing their social role in society.
• 🌐 The script emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion, with organizations targeting specific groups such as youth in care, people with a history of addiction, and those living in poverty.
• 📈 The platform aims to influence policy by encouraging policymakers to adopt more intersectoral approaches and to work more closely with social sports practices.
• 🏋️‍♀️ There's a call for more research and cooperation with academic institutions to better understand and support the growth of social sports practices.
• 👩‍🏫 The script mentions the need for professional development and support for the 'invisible' workforce emerging in social sports practices.
• 💡 An 'experts page' is introduced as a resource where practitioners can share their expertise and offer services such as lectures, training, or consultations.
• 🎓 Urban Center Brussels is highlighted as an example of an organization working to fill the gap in support for hip hop and urban sports, promoting inclusivity and providing opportunities for youth to engage with the culture.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the organization Demos?

Demos is a knowledge center focusing on participation in culture, youth work, and sports.

What does the term 'societal sports practices' refer to in the context of the script?

Societal sports practices refer to sports activities that are innovative in addressing new societal realities, often with a focus on inclusivity and social impact.

Why did the group decide to create a platform for societal sports practices?

The group recognized the need for collaboration and policy influence due to the growing number of societal sports practices that were emerging as innovative responses to societal changes.

What are the two main objectives that emerged from the group's meeting in 2019?

The two main objectives were to start a platform that works on collaboration and to focus on policy influence to adapt sports policy to the rise of societal sports practices.

How diverse is the group of organizations that make up the platform?

The platform consists of a diverse range of organizations from large sports clubs with over 1300 members to smaller organizations with only 15 to 20 members, indicating a broad spectrum of sizes and types of organizations.

What is the role of Circus Ondergrond in the platform?

Circus Ondergrond is a socially inclusive urban circus school in Brussels that contributes to the platform by offering circus lessons and performances, aiming to make circus accessible to everyone.

How does Circus Ondergrond ensure its services are accessible to all, including those with financial constraints?

Circus Ondergrond uses a differentiated pricing policy with four different categories to make participation in their lessons affordable for everyone, and they explore alternative ways for those who cannot afford even the lowest prices.

What is the Urban Center Brussels and its role in the platform?

Urban Center Brussels is an organization that aims to create a home base for youth passionate about hip-hop, offering various activities and workshops to promote the culture and its disciplines.

What are the five disciplines within the hip-hop culture mentioned in the script?

The five disciplines within the hip-hop culture are breaking, DJing, graffiti, beatboxing, and MCing (rapping).

How does the platform plan to influence policy to better support societal sports practices?

The platform plans to write policy texts and memoranda with concrete recommendations to encourage Flemish and local policymakers to take action in support of societal sports practices.

What is the Expertise Page mentioned in the script and what is its purpose?

The Expertise Page is an online resource where the platform's member organizations can showcase their expertise and offer it to other partners such as sports clubs, federations, and social workers, facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange.