Sport England, the Improvement and Development Agency (I&DeA), and The Institute of Community Cohesion have launched a new report called the Power of Sport, which aims to promote stronger community cohesion through local sporting initiatives.

The report outlines case reports of several successful schemes where sport has helped to bring communities together, including the Raich Carter Sports Centre in Sunderland and West Ham Football Club’s work in Tower Hamlets.

The Raich Carter centre, a national lottery-funded community sports hub in a New Deal for Communities area, offers a range of sports and also runs various outreach activities for the local community.

West Ham United Football Club, in partnership with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, runs a community project to improve participation in football in the deprived, inner city and multicultural area. Open to all children in the borough regardless of ethnicity, gender or disability, it particularly targets young Asian players given their low representation in football.

Sport England chair, Lord Carter, said: “As the Power of Sport report highlights, sport can have a huge impact, transforming people’s lives and communities in so many ways. With an impact at an individual and wider community level, it can help improve health, build teamwork, reduce crime and even turn the most disaffected young people into disciplined athletes.

“Ahead of the 2012 Games, we must capitalise on this potential and maximise sport’s contribution to changing communities by putting it at the heart of our society.”