Leisure/Sport/Art

Constructive use of leisure time, including participation in sports, is recognised as a protective factor in terms of potentially reducing the risk of re-offending, particularly with regard to young offenders.  Although the literature rarely addressed this in isolation, it is often mention in wider articles on risk and protective factors.  With regard to art therapy, there is little evident research on this in any sense let alone in relation to offenders; at least one book is available on the topic, however.  

 
A website called Renewal.net, describing itself as ‘the online guide to what works in neighbourhood renewal’, contains some useful information on sport and youth offending.  The site also offers a Sports Toolkit for working with young people. 

Information on a leisure project called ‘Be Active’ can also be found at the Improvement and Development Agency website, an organisation affiliated to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.  

Other articles of interest include:

  • Life in a secure unit: the rehabilitation of young people through the use of sport (Andrews & Andrews, 2003)   

  • Crime and punishment and sports development (Nichols, 2004)