Act in multiple ways to remove barriers
Cost is just one of many barriers to physical activity for people affected by poverty. But “free” doesn’t necessarily mean that programs are accessible.
Below is a list of commonly-cited barriers and factors that affect participation of lower income community members. Remember: the only way to learn what barriers exist in your community is to ask your own community members.
Personal Barriers or Factors – Coordinators (click to expand)
What is/are your personal:
- Level of awareness of poverty in your community
- Thoughts about equity
- Preconceived ideas or biases
- Time and resource limitations
- Organizational limitations you work within
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Systemic Barriers or Factors – Organizational Culture (click to expand)
What is/ are your organization’s:
- Policies and strategic direction
- Vision and values
- Attitudes and awareness of staff (and availability of sensitivity training)
- Decision-making practices (is the target audience involved?)
- Program and service evaluation practices (is the target audience involved)?
- History of working with community partners and the variety of partner organizations
- Use of appropriate communication channels & plain language
- Offerings of free and low-cost opportunities
- Support & education available to community members
- Opportunities for beginners or skill development
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Personal Barriers or Factors – Participants (click to expand)
What is/are your target audience’s:
- Familiarity with physical activity or recreation settings
- Sense of belonging
- Social support network or level of isolation
- Level of confidence or self-esteem
- Personal health (physical, mental, addictions)
- Hours of work and employment status
- Disposable income
- Literacy or understanding of English
- Access to “socially acceptable” clothing or equipment
- Access to affordable child- or parental-care
- Knowledge and support to constructively cope with stress
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Systemic Barriers or Factors – Community (click to expand)
What is/are your community’s:
- Transportation systems
- Walk- & bike-ability
- Sense of physical safety
- Proximity of opportunities and facilities
- History of working together across sectors
- Level of social cohesion
- Availability of affordable child care
- Access to affordable nutritious food
- Access to affordable housing
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Act
Once you’ve learned about the barriers, check out how communities have taken action.
What’s Happening in Communities?
Promising Practices Booklet (pdf)
This booklet features twelve examples of promising practices in policy, partnerships, engagement, programs and services from across Canada and Washington State.
Check out strategic plans from different communities (click to follow link)
Other ideas for action in the “Act” stage (click to expand)
| Plans are evolving documents. Once you begin implementing parts of your plan, you may find that other actions may be needed to carry out initiatives.
Take stock of the information you have (community statistics, identified needs, focus groups/surveys, information from community partners) and implement initiatives to fill any gaps.
Pay attention to process (how things are done). Ensure community members affected by poverty and partner organizations are involved in the planning and implementation of initiatives. They can provide valuable insight on marketing and logistics to increase reach.
When implementing initiatives aimed at lower income community members, focus on the health and social outcomes rather than the number of participants. (Quality over quantity.)
Take time to build relationships with participants and collect success stories. It is likely new initiatives will have false starts and low participation, so to keep track of the small wins |
