Sport for a new generation

Join academics from the University of Birmingham, alongside industry experts for the event, sport for a new generation which will explore through a Social Science lens.

In today’s society, professional sports players are spoken about, praised or even ridiculed for more than their skill - whether it’s campaigning for free school meals, making a stance against racism or acting as advocates for mental health.

Attendees will hear expert commentary on character and value in sport, inclusion and empowering coaching, as well as the business of sport and fan ownership in football. We will also have representatives from Help for Heroes discussing empowerment in sport and Saathi House, a local community organisation that uses sport for social cohesion. Finally, we will hear from the Telegraph’s sports reporter, Tom Garry who will discuss issues players face today.

The event promises to be a thought-provoking and insightful evening, with the opportunity to put questions to the panel. Our academic speakers include:

• (Chair) Aidan Thompson, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Jubilee Centre
• Professor Joan Duda, Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Professor Ian Thomson, Director, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business.

External Speakers include:

• Hannah Lawton, Sports Recovery Manager, Help for Heroes
• Mashkura Begum, Chair of Trustees, Saathi House
• Tom Garry, Women’s Football Reporter, Telegraph

Please note if you can’t attend the event in person, that it will be livestreamed on to the University’s Facebook channel. Register here for the live-stream.