“You’ve got to make yourself uncomfortable to finally feel comfortable”: young homeless people’s experiences of a trauma-informed sport-based intervention

Homeless youth are largely absent from the literature, yet homelessness affects a growing number of young people aged 16-24 in the United Kingdom. To date, research has focused on identifying risk and protective factors for becoming homeless. Pathways out of homelessness are reliant on young people accessing appropriate support services. However, they exist within liminal spaces, experiencing material, psychological, relational and developmental liminality, creating barriers to appropriate support. Homeless youth often experience significant trauma on journeys towards and through homelessness, the consequences of which are important in understanding why homeless youth may not access support.

Pathways out of homelessness depend on access to independent or permanent supported accommodation. Supported accommodation centres offer transitional residential accommodation, often alongside other services to support transition to independent accommodation. However, little is understood about effective interventions to support homeless youth in this journey. Sport-based interventions (SBI) can create socially transformational spaces for marginalised youth, promoting positive change. This research examined how trauma-informed SBI practices may support skill development and physical, social and mental well-being for homeless youth. It presents an in-depth qualitative examination of a SBI delivered at one supported accommodation centre for homeless youth in England.

Semi-structured interviews with homeless youth (n=8) and support staff (n=4) were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: Adopting a strengths-based approach; Understanding and responsiveness to the impact of trauma; Safety (physical, psychological and emotional); and (Re)building a sense of control and empowerment. Best practice principles for delivering SBIs with vulnerable and marginalised youth are discussed.