Safe Spaces and Strong Skills: The Impact of After-School Programs on Low-Income Youth
Dixon Grove proudly showcases their Girls' Championship banners from the time when Beat the Streets programs thrived before the pandemic.
Early in November, Beat the Streets was thrilled to relaunch our wrestling after-school program at Dixon Grove—a program that was growing steadily before the pandemic put it on hold. After-school programs like this are essential for the positive development of low-income children, yet many youth face significant barriers to participation. In this post, we’ll explore why programs like ours are needed, the challenges kids face, the unique benefits of sports-focused after-school activities, and the key qualities that make these programs effective.
The Need for After-School Programs in Canada
With the relaunch of our wrestling program at Dixon Grove, we’re addressing a pressing need in Canadian communities. After-school programs provide a safe, structured environment where children from low-income backgrounds can thrive. These programs are especially crucial as they offer mentorship, academic support, and physical activity that many children might not otherwise have access to.
An incredible turnout marks the return of our after-school wrestling program at Dixon Grove!
Key Facts:
Youth Vulnerability to Crime and Recruitment: Peak hours for youth crime are between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., which are precisely when structured after-school programs step in to provide supervision. Recent stats show that youth firearm arrests in Toronto rose by 161% in 2023 due to increased gang recruitment among young people.
Mental Health Gaps: Over 80% of Canadian youth needing mental health services don’t receive them, making after-school programs an essential support.
Barriers to Participation
Despite the clear benefits, there are significant barriers that prevent Canadian youth from accessing after-school programs.
Financial Challenges: 43% of youth report financial barriers as a reason they can’t participate in sports or extracurricular programs, especially in low-income areas (MLSE, Changing the Game). Programs like ours at Dixon Grove remove this barrier by being free and accessible on-site.
Transportation Issues: For many families, the lack of affordable, reliable transportation prevents children from participating in after-school programs.
Limited Availability of Programs: Due to funding cuts, fewer programs are accessible despite the growing need for safe spaces for youth after school.
Benefits of After-School Programs, Especially Sports-Focused Programs
Coach Jeremy sharing wisdom with the group.
After-school programs do more than just keep kids busy – they empower them with skills, support their mental health, and improve physical health outcomes. When programs include sports, these benefits multiply, creating positive, lasting impacts on youth.
1. Physical Health and Activity
Only 28% of Canadian youth meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, and nearly 30% are overweight or obese. Sports-focused programs like wrestling encourage regular physical activity, helping kids improve their fitness through activities that build agility, coordination, and endurance (ParticipACTION Report Card).
2. Mental Health and Resilience
For many youth, after-school programs provide much-needed emotional support. Mental health issues affect 10-20% of Canadian youth, yet 80% of those needing services don’t receive them. Social-emotional learning (SEL) activities in sports programs teach youth critical skills like decision-making and stress management, supporting mental well-being.
3. Positive Role Models and Community Building
Programs like ours give kids positive adult role models through coaches and mentors who encourage discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. This fosters a sense of belonging and community, helping to reduce risky behaviours like gang involvement.
Qualities of an Effective After-School Program
Not all programs are created equal – effective after-school programs combine clear goals, skilled staff, and community support to create lasting impacts for youth. Here’s what sets them apart:
Beat the Streets programs teach more than just wrestling moves; they instill life skills like discipline, confidence, and teamwork that stay with kids long after the match is over.
1. Clear Goals and Structure
Successful programs have well-defined goals that align activities with youth development needs, whether academic, social, or physical. Research shows structured programs with clear objectives achieve better outcomes and help youth thrive.
2. Positive and Skilled Staff
Programs that provide positive adult mentors and role models make a big difference. Skilled, caring staff help youth build trust, increase engagement, and learn essential life skills, from teamwork to perseverance.
3. Family and Community Involvement
Programs that connect with families and communities create a more supportive environment, extending their impact. Engaging family members through events or volunteering reinforces program values and builds stronger communities.
4. Regular Evaluation and Adaptability
Programs that track their impact can adapt to meet changing needs. Using evidence-based frameworks like Sport for Life and CASEL, programs can measure improvements in areas like resilience, activity, and social skills, ensuring they make a lasting difference.
Beat the Streets is grateful and excited to fully return to our original formats, providing impactful after-school programs at pre-pandemic levels. We are honoured to be part of building stronger communities by creating constructive and engaging opportunities for low-income children to realize their full potential—both on and off the mat. Together, we’re empowering the next generation through wrestling and life skills that last a lifetime.
References & Further Reading
Afterschool Alliance. (2020). America After 3PM: Demand Grows, Opportunity Shrinks. Afterschool Alliance. Retrieved from https://afterschoolalliance.org/documents/AA3PM-2020/AA3PM-National-Report.pdf
Alvarez, A. (2023). The Hidden Benefits of After-School Programs - Moorelands Kids. Retrieved from https://www.moorelands.ca/the-hidden-benefits-of-after-school-programs/
Anderson. (2023). BEFA — Benefits of After-school for Low-income Students. BEFA. Retrieved from https://www.befa.com/-reports/benefits-of-after-school-review
Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Fast Facts about Mental Health and Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://cmha.ca/brochure/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/
CBC News. (2023). Youth firearm arrests rise 161% in Toronto due to gang recruitment. CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-youth-firearm-arrests-up-gangs-1.7261204
Expanding Learning. (n.d.). Using Research to Continuously Improve Afterschool Programs: Helping Students to Become 21st Century Lifelong Learners. Retrieved from https://www.expandinglearning.org/expandingminds/article/using-research-continuously-improve-afterschool-programs-helping-students
Harvard Graduate School of Education. (2008). Usable Knowledge: Secrets of Successful Afterschool Programs. Retrieved from https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/08/02/secrets-successful-afterschool-programs
Huang, D., & Dietel, R. (2011). Making Afterschool Programs Better. (CRESST Policy Brief). Los Angeles, CA: University of California.
Kelly, K. (n.d.). 6 Benefits of Afterschool Programs. Understood. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/articles/benefits-afterschool-programs-kids-with-learning-thinking-differences
MLSE Foundation. (2004). Changing the Game: Financial Barriers in Sports Participation. Retrieved from https://ssl.mlse.digital/foundation/MLSE-Foundation-CTG-Research-Executive-Summary-2024.pdf
National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning. (2010). Indicators of Program Quality. U.S. Department of Education.
NCSL. (2023). Supporting Student Success Through Afterschool Programs. Retrieved from https://www.ncsl.org/education/supporting-student-success-through-afterschool-programs
Nelson, H. J., Spurr, S., & Bally, J. M. G. (2022). The Benefits and Barriers of Sport for Children From Low-Income Settings: An Integrative Literature Review. Sage Open, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221087272
ParticipACTION. (2024). Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Retrieved from https://www.participaction.com/the-science/children-and-youth-report-card/
Project Play / Aspen Institute. (n.d.). Youth Sports Facts: Benefits. Retrieved from https://projectplay.org/youth-sports/facts/benefits
Red Door Learning. (2023). The Critical Importance of After-School Programs for Underprivileged Communities in the U.S. Retrieved from https://reddoorlearningcenters.com/2023/03/02/the-critical-importance-of-after-school-programs-for-underprivileged-communities-in-the-u-s/
Show Sports. (n.d.). Breaking Barriers: Why Kids from Low-Income Communities Miss Out on Sports Opportunities. Retrieved from https://www.futsalua.org/en/column/1095/low-income-kids-sports-opportunities
Sport for Life Society & Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. (n.d.). Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. Retrieved from https://csepguidelines.ca/
Washington, B. Dr. (2024). The Importance of Afterschool Programs for Students. Graduate Programs for Educators. Retrieved from https://www.graduateprogram.org/2024/01/the-importance-of-afterschool-programs-for-students/
Youth.gov. (n.d.). Benefits of Afterschool Programs for Youth and Communities. Retrieved from https://youth.gov/youth-topics/afterschool-programs/benefits-youth-families-and-communities
About Beat the Streets:
At Beat the Streets, our mission is to advance the education of low-income children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area through fun and unique wrestling, life skills, and employment-based development programs. Since 2015, we have served over 28,000 young individuals through our Wrestle 4 Fun, Level Up, You Grow Girl, Work It (Summer Jobs), and Volunteer programs, providing them with opportunities to develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. We believe in empowering the next generation by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success.
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