How to ensure safe and healthy interventions • Moving Together Moving Together Promoting psychosocial well-being through sport and physical activity Moving Together • How to ensure safe and healthy interventions 2 Moving Together Promoting psychosocial well-being through sport and physical activity Moving Together: Promoting psychosocial well-being through sport and physical activity This book has been developed with funding from the EU Lifelong Programme and through a collaborative effort between: International Federation of Red Cross International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education and Red Crescent Societies Hans-Braun Str. Friesenhaus II Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support 14053 Berlin C/O Danish Red Cross Germany Blegdamsvej 27 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Web: www.icsspe.org Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Technische Universität München Web: www.pscentre.org Fakultät für Sport- und Gesundheitswissenschaften Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62 Swiss Academy for Development 80992 München Bözingenstrasse 71 Germany 2502 Biel Email: [email protected] Switzerland Web: www.sp.tum.de Email: [email protected] Web: www.sad.ch Front page photo: David Moss Photography Design and production: Paramedia 1702 Translations by Lingo24 Ltd. Printed in Denmark by KLS Grafisk Hus. First edition 2014 ISBN: 978-87-92490-25-4 (printed version), 978-87-92490-24-7, (electronic version) This book is published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (PS Centre). Authors: Nana Wiedemann, Pia Ammann, Martha M. Bird, Jutta Engelhardt, Katrin Koenen, Dr Marianne Meier and Dr Daniela Schwarz Contributors and peer reviewers: Wendy Ager, Ea Suzanne Akasha, Cecilie Alessandri, Richard Bailey, Ken Black, Lou Bergholz, Simone von Burgwald, Dr Maria Luisa Guinto-Adviento, Jerome Grimaud, Karla Hanhoff, Louise Juul Hansen, Dr Bob Henley, Prof. Dr Claudia Kugelmann, Daniela Ogliastri, Dr Dean Ravizza, Felicitas Schwarz, Dr Holly Thorpe, Prof. Dr Adri Vermeer and Jennifer Wong Coordination and production: Martha M. Bird and Louise Juul Hansen Illustrations: Alexander Christl Warm thanks to Michael Albert, Carline Brice, Amy Farkas, Cecilie Fernandez, Anne Lomholt Lei Hansen, Jean-Pierre Heiniger, Pelle Kvalsund, Gaël Rennesson, Louise Vinther-Larsen and all other contributors who have provided valuable input during the development of this book. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. The publication reflects the views only of the authors. The European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Additional funding has been provided by the Swiss Red Cross and UK Sport. The PS Centre is hosted by Danish Red Cross. Please contact the PS Centre if you wish to translate or adapt any part of Moving Together: Promoting psychosocial well-being through sport and physical activity. We welcome your comments, feedback and questions at: [email protected] © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support, 2014 Foreword Both Europe and the rest of the world are facing significant challenges, with psychosocial problems, lifestyle-related diseases and non-communicable diseases on the rise. However evidence shows that a physically active life can benefit psychosocial well-being in a num- ber of ways, including reduced risk of depression and dementia and lower stress levels. Sport and physical activities are popular all over the world and can be a powerful tool for social inclusion, creating a strong sense of community and togetherness. This is particu- larly important in times of crisis, whether the cause is economic crisis, on-going poverty, natural disaster, conflict or a health crisis. Combining psychosocial support and sport and physical activities can universally ben- efit diverse groups across cultures and geography. However, it is crucial that activities are conducted in a way that respects local cultures and traditions. A holistic, inclusive approach with attention to socio-cultural appropriateness is at the core of this handbook. A European focus with global outreach makes it applicable in many different settings and geographical contexts. There are many organizations with strong competencies in the field of sport and physical activities, and many organizations with strong competencies in the field of psychosocial support. There is also a wealth of handbooks, training material, guidelines and research in both fields. There are, however, few organizations with knowledge about both, and no generic and best-practice-based materials that provide adequate tools for use of sport and physical activities in psychosocial interventions. Without the right knowledge and experi- ence, interventions of this kind will have no effect, or in the worst case, do more harm than good. Four different organizations, specialists in their fields, have come together to share and learn from each other, and the result is this handbook. It is the strong hope of all four organizations that Moving Together: Promoting psychosocial well-being through sport and physical activity will become a valuable tool for programmes combining sport and physi- cal activities with psychosocial support. This project has been funded as a Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation Project under the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme. The transfer of innovation, knowledge and learning have been central elements in the work with this handbook. All project partners are happy to receive feedback on this book, to answer questions and to suggest further reading for specific areas in this field. Nana Wiedemann Katrin Koenen IFRC Reference Centre International Council of for Psychosocial Support Sport Science and Physical Education Jutta Engelhardt Dr Marianne Meier Swiss Academy for Development Technische Universität Munchen Contents 1 Introduction 10 2 Sport and physical activity improve well-being 12 3 Understanding psychosocial support 24 4 How to ensure socio-cultural appropriateness 42 5 How to ensure safe and healthy interventions 44 6 The STEP model 52 7 How to adapt games 58 8 How to develop and use equipment 64 9 Activity cards 68 10 How to be a good facilitator 100 11 How to plan and manage interventions 110 CONTENTS 1 Introduction to this handbook ..............................................................................................10 2 Sport and physical activity improve well-being .....................................................................12 Physical benefits ..........................................................................................................................14 Cognitive benefits ........................................................................................................................15 Psychosocial benefits ...................................................................................................................16 What are sport and physical activities? .......................................................................................17 Six categories of sport and physical activities for psychosocial intervention ...............................18 Basic approaches: inclusive, holistic and playful ..........................................................................21 3 Understanding psychosocial support.....................................................................................24 The psychosocial consequences of crises ....................................................................................26 Loss and grief ...............................................................................................................................27 Coping ..........................................................................................................................................28 Psychosocial interventions ...........................................................................................................29 Understanding the principles of psychosocial support in the context of sport and physical activities .....................................................................................................31 Consider the timing of your interventions ...................................................................................38 When and how to refer ................................................................................................................38 4 How to ensure socio-cultural appropriateness ......................................................................40 How to be sensitive to diversity ...................................................................................................41 5 How to ensure safe and healthy interventions ......................................................................44 Health and safety .........................................................................................................................45 Physical contact and child protection ..........................................................................................48 6 The STEP model ....................................................................................................................52 Space ............................................................................................................................................53 Task ..............................................................................................................................................54