Residents of priority neighborhoods in motion through the power of professional football

Regular physical activity is still not the norm for everyone. People with lower incomes and/or vocational education backgrounds tend to be less physically active than other groups in the Netherlands. This calls for a specific, customized approach that aligns with the needs and preferences of the target group. During this project, we will collaborate with local partners and residents to identify what is needed for sustained participation. In doing so, we contribute to a vital and healthy Moerwijk.

Project Background

ZonMw has awarded the grant “Residents of Priority Neighborhoods in Motion through Professional Football” to scale up the successful physical activity intervention ADO Den Haag Footcamp in the Neighbourhood. The goal is to explore together with partners, residents, and professionals what is needed to establish a sustainable Footcamp in the Neighbourhood group in Moerwijk by 2026. By combining practical experience, success factors, and local needs into a social business case, the project works towards long-term embedding. In this way, ADO Den Haag contributes to reducing health disparities, leveraging its unique strength as a football organization with a big social heart.

Objective

The research focuses on identifying effective mechanisms, barriers, and motivations among participants during program implementation, with sustainable participation as the ultimate goal.

Method

In the first phase, participatory research will be conducted with residents and local partners to identify existing barriers, motivations, and success factors for participation. Based on these findings, the program will be adjusted.
 In the second phase, the revised program will be implemented, and through focus groups and participatory research we will examine what works and what does not.
 In the final phase, the entire process will be evaluated together with participants, professionals, and partners.

Expected Results

Each phase is expected to yield valuable insights into achieving sustainable participation in a neighborhood such as Moerwijk. The first and second phases will provide results on barriers and motivations for joining a physical activity program. Based on the full project, a well-founded and widely supported social business case will be developed for the implementation of a community-based sports program.

Impact

The expected social impact is significant. Collaboration between residents and local partners is essential for sustainable participation. By joining forces around a trusted football brand, sport becomes not only a means to improve health but also a tool for social connection, participation, and trust. Additionally, the lessons learned from implementing a community sports program will be shared in courses within the Sport Studies and International Sport Management (ISPM) programs.

Timeline

This project runs from September 2025 to September 2026.

Funding

The project is funded by ZonMw.

Partners

This project is a collaboration between:

• ADO Groen
• GGD Haaglanden
• Bewegen Werkt

Team

• Koen Breedveld, research group Impact of Sport
• Ewout Timmerman

Contact

Ewout Timmerman ([email protected])