A growing appreciation of trauma and its implications on the health of people affected has led to the adoption of trauma-informed principles across different sectors where service providers interact with people who have experienced trauma. Some providers in the physical activity sector have begun to incorporate the Government's Working definition of trauma-informed practice into programme design and delivery.
At present there is no consensus on how trauma-informed principles should be operationalised and implemented specifically within a physical activity context.
To address this gap, in 2022, we commissioned a 3-year PhD in partnership with Loughborough University to explore trauma informed approaches in physical activity. The full findings will be published in early-2026.
In the meantime, the research team have published an initial study that develops understanding of trauma-informed principles and offers professionals in the physical activity sector practical insights into how they can ensure their programmes are appropriate and supportive for individuals who have experienced trauma.
We look forward to sharing the full findings in 2026.
