The sport and physical activity practices of care-experienced young people: standing out and fitting in

This chapter will first offer a critical discussion of how ‘family’ is conceptualised for care experienced youth, given that contact with their biological family will vary depending on their reasons for being in care and the type of care context they are in. Framed by a social justice lens, the chapter then draws on theory and empirical data to explore how care-experienced young people might be stigmatised and stereotyped by adults and other young people who have limited understanding of the complex social landscapes in which they live. Noted as a ‘hidden’ group in research, policy and practice, the chapter discusses how engagement in sport and physical activity may offer opportunities for care-experienced young people to develop positive (inter-generational) relationships and generate a sense of identity beyond that of simply being ‘in care’. The chapter outlines how engagement in sport and physical activity may play a significant role in their negotiation and performance of identity which, for some, may be shaped and/or restrained by social actors who work with/for them.