Oxford Research Summer Week 1
Our project partners with the Leys Cricket Club, a newly established community club serving the areas of Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys. The long term aims are to improve participation of underrepresented groups and solidify the club's place in the local community.
This week, we began to conduct a literature review of the inequalities within cricket, in the UK and globally, to identify the commonly marginalised groups. We have identified that much of the literature focuses on pipelines to elite cricket, tracking progression of players towards the national and international level. This may partly reflect accessibility of data, since international players will have more publicly available data about them, or due to priorities set by research funding bodies. We noticed, with the advice of our supervisor, that this may not be the ultimate aim of the Leys Cricket Club. This prompted us to step back, and recognise the importance of discussing research priorities with stakeholders. Moving forward, we will meet with the founder and manager of the cricket club at the beginning of next week, to ensure alignment of goals.
Researching the demographic data of the Leys area, we recognised multiple indicators of socioeconomic deprivation just a few miles out of the historic Oxford city centre, highlighting the juxtaposition that creates friction within the Oxford community. We would like to approach the research conscientiously, maintaining consistent dialogue with locals in the area, to ensure that our research does not become detached from the realities of living in a Leys community.
As we venture out of the city centre, and begin the 'boots on the ground' phase of our research next week, interpersonal skills and empathy will be paramount to developing productive and sensitive dialogues with locals. Careful planning will be needed to balance the time constraints of travelling to and from Leys with the need to respect the time of locals who volunteer to speak with us.
I'm Frederic, a first-year undergraduate on the six-year medicine programme (BA BM BCh) at the University of Oxford. Outside of medicine, I am an avid musician, playing violin with the Oxford University Philharmonia. This year, my research with the SDG Impact Lab partners with the recently established Leys Cricket Club to investigate participation of underrepresented groups in this community initiative.
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Hi Frederic,
Thank you for a insightful reflections. One aspect I particularly enjoyed was your observation that much of the existing literature focuses on progression to elite cricket, whereas Leys Cricket Club may have multiple aspirations. Recognising that disconnect is exactly the kind of critical thinking that strengthens applied research and will help ensure your work remains relevant to your stakeholder.
I also appreciated your emphasis on maintaining dialogue with local residents rather than allowing the research to become detached from people's lived experiences. Community-based research is at its strongest when it combines evidence from the literature with careful listening to the people the project is ultimately intended to benefit.
As you meet with Leys Cricket Club and begin engaging with the community, I'd encourage you to keep asking: 'What does success actually look like for this club?' It may not simply be increasing participation numbers. Success could equally involve creating a stronger sense of belonging, improving confidence, supporting volunteers, or building a sustainable club that local people genuinely feel ownership of. The brief encourages exactly this broader understanding of participation and community development.
One additional question that may be worth considering is whether the apparent gap in the literature presents an opportunity rather than a limitation. If much of the existing research focuses on elite pathways, your project could help generate useful evidence about what success looks like in grassroots, community-led sport and how it can be evaluated.
Overall, this is an excellent first reflection. You demonstrate curiosity, critical thinking, and an awareness of the importance of stakeholder engagement. I'm looking forward to seeing how your ideas evolve once you've had the opportunity to spend time with the club and hear directly from the people it serves.