Independent Research Confirms Dare to Believe’s Impact in Schools.

An independent evaluation of the Dare to Believe schools programme has found that athletes connect with young people most powerfully when they talk about setbacks rather than success.

The research, conducted by Dr Eimear Kelly and published by the Olympic Federation of Ireland, points to the particular value of Olympians, Paralympians and high performance athletes as role models. It is the honesty about resilience and perseverance, rather than the medals, that helps students see what might be possible for them.

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Dare to Believe, sponsored by Allianz and supported by Olympic Solidarity, brings these athlete role models directly into classrooms nationwide. The programme blends a values‑based curriculum with authentic athlete storytelling, helping students understand that success is rarely linear and that courage, effort and belief matter as much as podium moments. This combination of lived experience and classroom learning is central to the programme’s impact, giving young people a clearer sense of how they can overcome challenges and pursue their own goals.

 Key Findings

The independent evaluation highlights several significant outcomes, with a wide range of positives being experienced by students, teachers and ambassadors.

• Strong increases in students’ confidence and self-belief, particularly in their ability to set goals and persevere – regardless of their own involvement with sport.
• A measurable positive effect on students’ attitudes towards physical activity, with many reporting they felt more motivated to participate in sport after completing the programme.
• High satisfaction among teachers, who praised the programme’s structure, ease of delivery and the quality of its classroom resources.
• Positive impact on athletes themselves, who reported the reward of participating in the programme, helping strengthen their own sense of purpose and connection with the wider community.
• Exceptional impact of Olympian visits, identified as the most memorable and transformative element for students, helping them connect real-life athlete stories to themes of resilience, courage and ambition.

Speaking about the findings, Dr Eimear Kelly, who led the evaluation, said,

“The Dare to Believe evaluation shows a programme in high demand, with around one in ten school applications resulting in a visit. Visits are delivered consistently, and schools that prepare well get the most from them. Relatability, accessibility and attainability are key to what makes an athlete a role model. Meeting an athlete in person matters to students, and it is the athlete’s ordinary story, the setbacks and late starts, that resonates most. That sense of ‘someone like me’ helps young people begin to imagine what might be possible. Ambassadors also benefit, visiting schools helps keep them grounded and gives them the chance to understand and share their own story.”

Founder of Dare to Believe and Olympian Roisin McGettigan welcomed the publication of the research, saying,

“We created Dare to Believe to help children see what’s possible when they believe in themselves. This evaluation shows that the programme is doing exactly that. The combination of classroom learning and athlete storytelling is powerful – it gives students tools for life, not just sport. We’re incredibly proud of the impact and excited to continue growing the programme, so even more young people can benefit.”

The evaluation underscores Dare to Believe’s role as a values-based, evidence-backed initiative that supports wellbeing, confidence and physical activity among schoolchildren. With demand for the programme continuing to rise, the findings will guide future development and expansion as Dare to Believe enters its next phase.

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