Youth, care & sports (2015)

This study aims to identify the factors that are of influence for a successful and enduring partnership between youth care organizations and local sport clubs in the Netherlands. In this qualitative study five youth care organizations participated in four locations in the Netherlands: Amsterdam (2x), Rotterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven. In total, 20 interviews have been conducted with sport-care coordinators, youth care professionals and volunteers form local sport clubs. The Health Alliances Framework consisting of elements influencing collaborations has been used as a guide for developing the topic list. The results show that policy, finance, attitude and belief, relationships & communication, structures, roles and responsibilities & capacities, management and shared goals are elements that either stimulate or hinder the success of the alliance. Differences were found between the five locations and between the coordinators, professionals and volunteers.