Economic Impact
Street Soccer builds healthy communities and generates economic return.
Street Soccer participants are often members of a high risk group that typically possess low levels of social capital and impose additional costs to the community of $30,000 to $40,000 per year.
In 2009, an independent study titled ‘Economic Evaluation of Street Soccer Program’ found that participation in Street Soccer leads to individual behaviour change and reduction in high risk activities, the result of which leads to enhanced social capital.
Benefits from changed individual behaviour, reduction in demands for services, greater social engagement and enhanced social capital leads to wider social and economic benefits.
Based on costs to run the Community Street Soccer Program, the study estimates that the program reduces costs for society of $7 million per year.
In addition to enhancing social capital, every $1 invested in operating the Community Street Soccer Program generates a saving to the Australian community of $4.30.