Strengthening youth wellbeing, education & career pathways through inclusive sport
Too many young people across the globe are inactive, spending more time sitting still and missing out on the critical wellbeing, connection and personal growth that come with involvement in sports and physical activity. In communities where equitable access to youth-focused programs that promote active, healthy lifestyles is out of reach, idleness doesn’t just impact their health. It also limits access to mentorship, life skills progression and education opportunities that can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.
In response, New Balance Foundation and Beyond Sport collaborated to create Futures in Motion in April 2025, a multi-year international initiative building on their longstanding partnership and shared experience in the space. Leveraging sport, our program expands opportunities for underserved youth up to age 26, to support physical and mental health, education, employability and inclusion. Grounded in Positive Youth Development (PYD), the program empowers young people to take an active role in their own growth.
Initially operating in Australia, Japan and Poland, Futures in Motion is co-designed with local experts to address the specific barriers young people are facing in each country.
Unlocking opportunity through physical activity
Historically, physical activity, and sports in particular, have had positive effects on youth development, including with self-esteem, goal setting, leadership and even academic performance. But in underserved communities, compounding factors like financial constraints, lack of safe spaces and systemic exclusion continue to limit participation.
These inequities also restrict opportunities for cognitive and essential life skills development, consistent schooling and career readiness, all of which are critical to long-term success. Futures in Motion addresses these challenges by providing hyper-local organizational grants, learning networks and community engagement opportunities.
THE PROBLEM
Physical inactivity is rising among youth globally. With increased screen time (averaging 7 to 9 hours per day) and more sedentary lifestyles, many are experiencing declining health and wellness. According to reports, 81% of 11 to 17-year-olds aren’t getting enough daily physical activity. Additionally:
- 85% of adolescent girls and 78% of adolescent boys fail to meet global movement guidelines (WHO, 2024)
- Sedentary lifestyles are linked to higher risks of anxiety, depression, and chronic disease (Old Dominion University, 2022)
- If unaddressed, physical inactivity will cost public healthcare systems $27 billion between 2020-2030 (WHO, 2024)
And young people who already face cultural, social or economic discrimination – based on gender, ability, race, ethnicity, culture or sexual orientation – are often further excluded. These barriers restrict access to physical activity and its broader developmental benefits.
Without targeted intervention and sustainable programming, inequities will continue to widen the gap in health, education and economic opportunity.
HOW IT WORKS
Futures in Motion addresses systemic barriers by investing in community organizations that provide structured pathways for youth to learn and develop through physical activity and sport. These programs nurture personal growth and teach practical skills, ensuring that young people are co-creators of their own progress. It’s designed to foster inclusion, positive relationships and social emotional learning, while also facilitating peer networks that empower young people to lead.
Funding and knowledge-building resources for community organizations are simultaneously prioritized to help strengthen their long-term impact and enhance their youth programming.
The program was developed through extensive research, participatory design and development with consultants, local advisors and reviewers with lived experience. Our approach is responsive to on-the-ground realities and aligned to the unique challenges youth face in each country. This includes assessing the landscape, infrastructure and systems supporting youth-based sport and physical activity, and identifying opportunities to embed sustainable, locally led programs.
GRANTS
Futures in Motion is supported by a multi-year fund underwritten by New Balance Foundation. Grants are awarded to community organizations delivering sports-based youth programs that promote PYD. These can include academic support and enrichment opportunities, leadership development, career development and pathways to employability.
Funding is targeted toward those working with vulnerable populations, and those providing equitable access to inclusive, high-quality initiatives that truly support young people’s growth. Grantees are selected based on alignment with one or more of the program’s focus areas, as well as their ability to respond to the specific needs and cultural context in which they operate.
CAPACITY BUILDING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Beyond funding, Futures in Motion seeks to strengthen the organizations that are using sport and physical activity to support youth. The organizations receive capacity-building resources and access to collaborative platforms where they can learn from and with their peers. Some of these resources, including a digital self-assessment tool, will also be made available to the wider sport for development sector to expand the program’s reach. This tool supports organizations to evaluate their efficacy with PYD across eight key areas and provides tailored recommendations and resources to strengthen their practices.
Futures in Motion will also include community engagement opportunities for New Balance associates in the countries, which may involve volunteering and in-kind donations.
Futures in Motion: Poland
Polish youth have some of the lowest physical activity levels in Europe, resulting in growing health problems. Low youth mental wellbeing is also of great concern. At the same time, safe, inclusive recreational facilities and programs are inaccessible for many – particularly young women and girls, people with disabilities, refugees, low-income households and those in rural and small towns.
- Less than 1/4 of children & adolescents meet physical activity guidelines (AHKGA, 2022)
- Students physical fitness declined by 10-12% from 1999-2024 (Ministry of Sport & Tourism, 2024)
- Youth mental health conditions are worsening (Unaweza Fundacja, 2023)
- 195.3K+ Ukrainian refugee children are in Polish schools (Ośrodek Badań nad Migracjami UW, 2024)
- 90% of university students experienced violence in sport by age 18 (Empowering Children Foundation, 2024)
Our program supports sport and physical activity initiatives addressing these issues through strong, consistent programming.
Futures in Motion: Japan
A high-pressure academic culture and hyper-competitive school sports system make physical education and recreation difficult for many young people to engage in.
- Nearly 60% of youth ages 10 to 19 and more than 60% of 20-29 year olds exercise less than once a week (Japan Sports Agency, 2023a)
- 66% of youth with disabilities ages 7 to 19 don’t exercise weekly; over a third haven’t exercised at all in the past year (Japan Sports Agency, 2023b)
- 55% of girls exercise less than once a week (Japan Sports Agency, 2023a)
- LGBTQ+ youth say they feel unsupported in PE and less able to be their authentic selves in sports settings (Pride House Tokyo, 2023)
Our program intends to shift the focus from competition to participation and access. The initiative supports youth in non-traditional learning environments, non-competitive sports clubs and across diverse identities, including race, nationality, gender, sexuality and ability.
Futures in Motion: Australia
Australia is among the world’s most inactive nations. Just 19% of children meet daily activity guidelines. Girls and women, First Nations youth, young people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ youth and those from multicultural backgrounds face overlapping barriers — from unsafe spaces to exclusion from leadership. The result: rising health risks and widening inequities.
- 25% of Australian children are considered overweight or obese (AIHW, 2020)
- By age 15, one in four young Australians quits sport; girls drop out at higher rates than boys. (Allianz Australia, 2024)
- 38% of of First Nations youth are less likely than their non-Indigenous peers to join in organized physical activity/sports twice a week (Macniven et al., 2020)
- Half of children with disabilities stop playing sports altogether by age 11 (Allianz Australia, 2024)
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For more information on Futures in Motion, email [email protected].