Perceptions of those responsible for a juvenile justice centre regarding a service-learning experience in physical activity and sports

The evaluations of service-learning (SL) experiences focus mainly on the perceptions of the groups that contribute to or benefit from the service. However, studies incorporating the assessments of institutional agents are scarce. This work seeks to explore the perceptions of four institutional leaders of a juvenile justice centre on their SL experiences and focuses on university students in a master's programme in physical education, together with people deprived of liberty, through a sociosporting meeting. For the qualitative analysis of these perceptions, a content analysis of focus group statements held with the institutional leaders is carried out. The results show the perception of a positive impact of SL on the development of social skills and a favourable stimulus for social reintegration, and the co-responsibility of both groups in the design and implementation of activities is highlighted as an element that favours the development of personal skills in the group receiving the service. From an institutional perspective, it is assumed that improvements must be made in the internal and external visibility of the experience and that the involvement of more professionals and students at the centre must be promoted.