Thanks Chris Lewis, as usual very comprehensive and engrossing article; you are a bit of a “Barry Jones” when ruminating on the subject of sport.

Have you wondered as have I, if unemployment benefits could be streamed in some way to encourage our youth to follow a healthier and happier achieving life by directing some of their voluntary work requirement under their unemployment contract towards sporting achievement in local sporting clubs.

diver dan,

yes, I agree that voluntary work requirements could be extended much more to involve healthier lifestyles and participation in local sport.

Whether helping to maintain facilities, or even participating, sport can do wonders in terms of meeting people, self esteem, and creating community bonds.

I speak from my own personal experience. In my late teens and early 20s, it was only sport (athletics) which gave me stability given an otherwise chaotic life struggle to find a purpose before returning to CAE and university in my early 30s.