UEFA EURO 2028 – impacts and legacy: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

Conclusion

7. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all UNCRC requirements, what is the potential overall impact of this proposal on children’s rights?

Positive.

8. If you have identified a positive impact on children’s rights, please describe below how the proposal will protect, respect, and fulfil children’s rights in Scotland.

The Impact and Legacy programme and wider societal impact programmes are likely to mainly benefit those participating in programme activity – be that working, volunteering or general participation. The Impact and Legacy programme is also likely to have a positive impact to those involved directly and indirectly in wider EURO 2028 related activity in Scotland. These activities will be developed to support wider tournament delivery in 2028.

Following consultation with stakeholders, we intend to apply a community led approach to the Impact and Legacy programme. This approach will empower communities to design and deliver activities linked to strategic missions that best suit their needs. This may mean a diverse range of programme activity and varied target audiences between different locations and communities. Indicative programme activity includes but is not limited to increasing participation in physical activity, particularly for women and girls, people with disabilities and teenagers, boosting Scotland’s international profile, and supporting jobs and skills development in the events sector.

Therefore it would be reasonable to expect that Impact and Legacy activities would have a positive impact on some of the UNCRC, most likely Articles 2, 23, 29 & 31. Those positive impacts will likely vary across impact and legacy participants due to the community led nature of delivery with varying levels of funding and differing focus areas within those.

Specifically, we could expect these proposals to benefit a number of articles including;

Article 2 – Non-discrimination - Community led benefits and legacy activities could promote inclusive participation in football and related cultural activities, ensuring children from all backgrounds — including those from marginalised communities — can engage.

Article 23 – Rights of children with disabilities - Community led benefits and legacy activities could promote better opportunities or remove barriers to participate in core impact and legacy or wider EURO 2028 activities.

Article 29 – Goals of education - Community led benefits and legacy activities could support local communities to link EURO 2028 to learning based activities such as, using sport to teach teamwork, resilience, cultural awareness, and global citizenship. impact and legacy and wider benefit activities may also provide opportunities to support skills development in areas like event planning, media, hospitality, and coaching.

Article 31 – Leisure, play and culture - Community led benefits and legacy activities could encourage children and young people that may not normally engage in EURO 2028 to participate in activities associated with the tournament.

We are also aware that events of all sizes provide a growing opportunity to enhance equality, diversity and inclusion both for their audiences, performers, competitors and other participants, and for event organisers, businesses and their workforce. This is explored in the National Event Strategy CRWIA.

9. If a negative impact has been identified please describe it below. Is there a risk this could potentially amount to an incompatibility?

We do not expect EURO 2028 impact and legacy programme or wider benefit activities to negatively impact children and young people, particularly given the focus on inclusivity, participation and community engagement. There is considered to be a low risk that the programme will be delivered in a way which could exclude certain groups from participating meaningfully or accessing these programmes of work. This will be kept under review, through appropriate monitoring arrangements. The community-led approach is intended to ensure activities are focussed throughout the delivery of the programme.

Mitigation Record

What options have been considered to modify the proposal in order to mitigate a negative impact or potential incompatibility?

Not Applicable. We do not expect EURO 2028 impact and legacy programme or wider benefit activities to negatively impact children and young people.

Issue or risk identified and relevant UNCRC requirement

N/A

Action Taken/ To Be Taken

N/A

Date action to be taken or was taken

N/A

10. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all wellbeing indicators, will the proposal contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland?

Safe: No

Healthy: Yes

Achieving: Yes

Nurtured: No

Active: Yes

Respected: No

Responsible: No

Included: Yes

If yes, please provide an explanation below:

We expect that EURO 2028 impact and legacy programme and wider benefit activities in Scotland will likely support the wellbeing of children and young people through the wellbeing indicators of; Healthy, Achieving and Active.

Healthy – It would be expected that impact and legacy programme activities promote increased physical activity through inclusive football initiatives and events. This aligns with national health strategies and supports both physical and mental health outcomes.

Achieving – Through the community-led approach, activities linked to EURO 2028 impact and legacy programme activities in Scotland could support learning and skills development, including teamwork, resilience, and vocational pathways.

Active – By its nature we expect that the impact and legacy programme and wider benefit activities will encourage participation in sport, particularly targeting groups with lower activity levels such as girls, disabled children, and teenagers.

Included – A key aim of the impact and legacy programme is to be inclusive which, in turn, should help address and overcome inequalities and help children being accepted as part of their communities.

These contributions are aligned with the Scottish Government’s wellbeing indicators and the UNCRC articles, particularly Articles 2, 23, 29, and 31.

11. How will you communicate to children and young people the impact that the proposal will have on their rights?

We intend to publish a child-friendly version of the CRWIA. We would engage with the future delivery partner(s) about engaging young people in further development.