From a simple sporting moment to lasting impact: how pétanque (jeu de boules) brings people together. Loneliness and social disconnection are growing societal challenges. They affect not only older people, but also young people, single adults, newcomers and those who have lost touch with their social networks. Ahead of the 2022 European Pétanque Championships in ’s-Hertogenbosch, More2Win saw an opportunity: how can we use the momentum of a major sporting event to bring people together locally and create lasting social connections? The answer was Boules in je Buurt (Pétanque in your Neighborhood): an accessible community programme that uses pétanque to bring local residents together. What started as an initiative around the European Championships grew into a programme that has since been implemented in several municipalities across Noord-Brabant.
From major sporting event to local initiative
It started with Bossche Boules. During the European Championships, the initiative grew into Brabantse Boules and, after the tournament, developed into a sustainable programme under the name Boules in je Buurt.
The approach is simple: for four weeks, local residents come together to play pétanque, get to know eachother and build new social connections. The programme concludes with a community ‘Boules Day’ at a local pétanque club. This gives participants the opportunity not only to continue playing the sport, but also to discover the club and other activities in their neighbourhood.
That simplicity is what makes the approach so powerful. Pétanque requires little sporting experience, is accessible to people of different ages and creates space for social interaction without making that interaction the sole focus. Playing together becomes a natural way for people to connect.
Local collaboration as the key to impact
More2Win developed the approach and supported its further development. We designed the concept, supported implementation, brought local partners together and helped measure its impact. At the same time, we made sure the approach could be easily adapted and implemented in other municipalities.
From the start, we worked closely with municipalities, local pétanque clubs, community organisations and professionals from the sports and social sectors. This local collaboration is essential. The goal is not simply to bring people together for four weeks, but to create a gateway to their local community and help strengthen their social networks.
“We were given such a warm welcome and all had a great time playing pétanque. The regular players enjoyed having us there just as much as we did.”
— Support worker, Welkom in Den Bosch (asylum seekers’ centre)
From meeting people to building connections
Boules in je Buurt shows that creating social impact does not always have to be complicated. A simple sporting activity can create an opportunity for a conversation. A conversation can lead to a new encounter. And a new encounter can become the beginning of a stronger social network.
What started as a local initiative around the European Pétanque Championships in ’s-Hertogenbosch has grown into a programme implemented in several municipalities across Noord-Brabant. Boules in je Buurt demonstrates how a major sporting event can create impact not only during the event itself, but also provide a lasting impulse for local community initiatives.
Let's get in touch!
Curious about how sport can be used as a vehicle for meaningful social impact? Get in touch with us through our contact form or email us at info@more2win.com.