Physical literacy is increasingly being referenced as an important component in our global attempts to create an active population. We all understand and appreciate the enormous social, economic and health benefits that a positive relationship with physical activity can bestow on a population, and we all appreciate the need to transform our practice if we are to realise these benefits.
The International Physical Literacy Association is 10 years old – still a baby in real terms. But that period has seen some huge advances in the understanding and application of Margaret Whitehead’s concept across the world. The IPLA is the only truly global physical literacy organisation, and much of this global development has been triggered by or supported through the work of the IPLA.
This work has to date been undertaken by a small voluntary team of advocates and supporters who can see the transformative influence that a physical literacy approach to physical activity experiences and provision can have, if adopted across the world, in policy and practice.
The great strides thus far have also been achieved on a minimal budget, with only the limited income received from membership fees supporting the IPLA’s work, most of which goes to drive the IT systems that support its operation.
IPLA has been undergoing an internal strategic review over the past year, as we aim to propel ourselves into the next ten years with a clear vision and ambition to scale our work up and become even louder as a voice for physical literacy globally. We are shortly to release our updated and revamped website; we are looking at how we can attract and empower members; and most importantly, we are looking for ways to fund our work to allow us to operate at the level and capacity that will have even greater impact.
But here appears to be the challenge.
At a recent sport fundraising summit, we heard very clearly that funding bodies in today’s world are looking to align their support to demonstrable social impact at a personal level.
Much of IPLA’s work is a step removed from the provision of personal experiences – it is more about influencing the practitioners and policymakers to reconsider traditional approaches to physical activity and physical education to facilitate more comprehensive positive outcomes for people.
As such, it is hard to prove the value of IPLA’s direct influence to potential funders, who might prefer to give their money to the actual activity provider.
Yet without the foundation principles, as articulated in Margaret’s work, this revised approach would not be possible, and the work of the IPLA is focussed on sharing the concept and supporting its application as widely as we possibly can.
To do that, we need the resources to create material, to grow our global community, to provide wide-ranging professional development opportunities and programmes, to share and implement a concept which we believe changes lives.
Ongoing physical literacy research work is identifying that there is perhaps a need for a global physical literacy body to coordinate and support the advocacy and application of PL worldwide.
Such a body exists – it is alive and well, but it needs a bit of help to enable it to maximise its offer and influence.
So how can we galvanise the wealth of enthusiasm across the world into a coordinated effort?
As IPLA prepares to enter a new phase of it work, we would be delighted to talk with anybody who feels they might be able to support us to expand and increase the volume of our advocacy and further develop the application of its powerful approach.
Please reach out to us at support@physical-literacy.org.uk!