Bridging low-income families to community leisure provisions: the role of leisure education

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the financial assistance programmes (FAPs) available in communities, many low-income families still cannot participate in leisure, leaving them excluded from the benefits that can come from participation. To bridge this gap, it has been suggested that leisure education can help ensure individuals, families, and community practitioners develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence so the benefits of leisure are more likely to be experienced. This study explored how a not-for-profit recreation organization used leisure education to support access and participation in community leisure activities for low-income families. Data were collected from five staff members and 10 parents of the families enrolled in the leisure education programme. The results showed that the leisure education program connected families to community provisions and enhanced leisure awareness, supported constraint negotiation and decision-making skills, created options and choices, and provided advocacy for program changes. Instead of focusing only on FAPs, this study reveals the importance of leisure education as a tool to support community providers effects on leisure access and participation for low-income families.