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Parkour UK

New Parkour UK Level 1 Coaching Courses

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We have arranged 2 new Parkour UK Level 1 Coaching Courses for towards the end of October 2020. We are aware that there hasn’t been any courses for a little while now but the new team are working hard to organise courses. The courses have limited spaces and they will fill up quickly so be sure to book as soon as possible!

 

26th – 29th Oct 2020

Train Hard, The Parkour Project, The Dolphin Centre, Poole BH15 1UD

29th Oct – 1st Nov 2020

The Kinetix Academy, Unit 3E Moss Road, Witham CM8 3UW

 

For more info about the Level 1 Coaching Course please click here

Coaching and Gyms Consultation Session

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Over October and November we will be hosting a series of open consultations to gather opinions of the community and assess what actions we can take to support. These will all be free and take place on Zoom.

Our first one is about Coaching & Gyms and will feature short presentations from Viv Jackson from Train Hard parkour and John Hall from Access Parkour about the journeys they’ve been through, followed by an open discussion. Tickets are available here

Parkour UK Celebrates Dawn Of A New Era

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Parkour UK, the officially recognised national governing body for Parkour and freerunning in the UK, has secured a £120,000 funding grant from Sport England.

In addition to supporting executive capacity the investment will enable the launch and implementation of the NGBs next development phase clearly defined by the 2019 -2023 ‘Move with Purpose’ strategic plan.

Dan Newton, the newly appointed CEO at Parkour UK, says:

Dan  Newton 
Chief Executive Officer 
Parkour UK 

“This news is most welcome. Since the autumn of last year, whilst on secondment from Rounders England, I have been working with the Parkour UK Board of Directors and the Parkour community to clearly define our priorities. My appointment as CEO officially begins next month (July). With the support of a reenergized Board and the investment from Sport England, I am excited to be able to lead our organisation into a new and significant era in its development.”

“Despite the term ‘Parkour’ first being documented back in 1998, its practice was only officially recognised as a sport, with Parkour UK awarded official NGB status, in 2016. As a result, the sport is only at the start of its professional journey and we need to ensure the professional foundations are in place to support and safeguard the interests of our practitioners. I am leading a passionate Board, driven by an ambition to amplify the social impact of Parkour across the country through best practice governance, a market research driven understanding of Parkour’s social value and successful strategic delivery.”

Parkour UK has laid out its intent in ‘Move With Purpose’, a three year strategic plan due to launch this summer, designed to build a sustainable and resilient future for the sport.

Dan continues:

“This Sport England investment will enable us to expand our resources and provide the vital capacity we need to deliver against our ongoing objectives. We intend to commission extensive independent market research to deepen the understanding of our community’s need and the value Parkour delivers to society. This will enable the formulation of strategies based on solid market intelligence, ensuring resource is allocated where it delivers most impact. We also intend to make two new appointments to extend our team and provide the on the ground support we need to drive the NGB towards the achievement of strategic targets.”

Stephen Mitchell, Independent Chair, Parkour UK, adds:

“This funding award unlocks so much potential. With executive resource and a Board of high performing, passionate professions now in place, I look forward to working with Dan to drive this forward thinking, inclusive and modern NGB towards success. We are totally committed to the achievement of Tier 2a classification of the Code of Sports Governance, providing solid professional foundations from which to deliver against all objectives outlined in ‘Move with Purpose’, steering the sport of Parkour towards a more resilient and sustainable future.”

The Sport England grant has been awarded to 12 months from April 2020, enabling Parkour UK to move its strategic plans forward. Speaking of the award, Phil Smith, Director of Sport, Sport England says:

“Since Parkour UK achieved recognised NGB status in 2016, the team has worked incredibly hard to create a stable foundation on which to grow. This new funding award will enable Dan and the team to continue their good work, moving Parkour UK into a new phase of its journey”

Parkour UK Announces New Board Appointments

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Parkour UK, the officially recognised National Governing Body for Parkour and freerunning in the UK, has bolstered its Board with the appointment of two, new Independent Directors.

Independent Chair, Stephen Mitchell, explains: “These latest appointments have resulted from natural evolution and will play a vital role in the successful delivery of our new 2020 strategy – Moving with Purpose. The additional skills, expertise and professional perspectives delivered by these new Board members will also support our ambition to build a progressive, high performing organisation that epitomises best practice in modern NGB governance as outlined in the Code of Sports Governance.

Natasha Preville (BSc, MSc, Dip.) brings with her 20 years cross-sector experience, including more than a decade in media production where she delivered numerous award-winning campaigns for the BBC and Red Bee Media. As a keen advocate for the vital, transcending role education, sport and culture can play in transforming lives, Natasha launched a consultancy business focused on helping young people to identify and access opportunities to thrive within the culture, media and sports industries.

“I have always been impassioned to create environments where young people can reach their full potential,” explains Natasha. “Everybody deserves a chance to shine and demonstrate their skills, irrespective of their background or experience.

“This is why I feel so passionately about joining Parkour UK. Parkour is an incredible and versatile sport. In fact, for me, it is more than a sport. It offers unpreceded access to a community that transcends culture, with individuals connected by a drive to continually overcome limitations, through creativity, skill and determination.

Natasha Preville

“The growing, global popularity of the sport is driven by a youth movement. This creates its own challenges. In part, there is a natural desire to impose restrictions in order to manage perceived risks, however, the sport’s ethos of freedom and self-expression, ‘To Be and To Last’, presents an interesting balance of Risk-Benefit. I look forward to supporting the provision of a safe practice framework that protects and preserves Parkour’s ‘free flow’ movement and creative foundations. I am also keen to use my experience to heighten positive awareness of Parkour, moving beyond limiting beliefs and ultimately drive effective future growth and sustainability.”

Natasha has been joined by Hannah Holland (BA Hons, CIM), a marketeer with more than 20 years’ experience, managing domestic and international projects, both in the public and private sectors.

Between 2015 and 2019, Hannah was a member of the senior management team at Rounders England where she oversaw the delivery of ‘Profile’, one of three strategic pillars underpinning the NGB’s vision and mission. During her time in post, Hannah secured and implemented significant Sport England funding to facilitate the brand creation of ‘We Are All Rounders’, a consumer-facing campaign designed to drive participation and form a closer connection between the rounders community and the NGB. Hannah also re-modelled the membership programme, creating the Rounders England Members’ Club.

“At Rounders England I was constantly challenged by the fact that we had huge ambitions for the NGB in terms of participation but very limited resource. I will bring learnings from my experience at Rounders England and beyond to extend the reach and influence of Parkour UK across the country.”

“The organisation gained official NGB status less than three years ago. I believe, through amplifying the sport’s success in engaging under-represented groups and uniting young practitioners from across a broad range of social-economic backgrounds, there is an opportunity to significantly grow participation numbers and attract commercial support in order to build a solid, financially sustainable future for the sport.”

Hannah Holland

Hannah is a passionate runner and weekend triathlete. As an active member of Run Wednesdays, a large community running club in Eastbourne, Sussex, Hannah has a personal appreciation of the benefits sport delivers. She adds:

“The physical and mental benefits of regular involvement in sport are well documented and I truly believe that the key to encouraging mass participation is good accessibility and diversity of activity. One size definitely, does not fit all.”

“Parkour or free running is unique in many ways. Whereas many sports are built on the development of formulaic techniques and skills, Parkour is much more free form, enabling practitioners to create their own definition of success and to challenge their own individual boundaries. I intend to help raise the visibility of this incredible sport, ensuring as many people as possible are provided with an opportunity to get involved.”

Parkour UK would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Sport England for their investment into the board diversity programme which was delivered by Perrett Laver and RimJim Consulting – who actively supported the recruitment process for Natasha.

Hannah and Natasha join Steve Mitchell and Tracey Crouch, MP, as Independent Directors on the Board.

We are recruiting up to two Independent Directors

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Established in 2009 by the UK Parkour/Freerunning community and the City of Westminster, Parkour UK is the recognised National Governing Body (NGB) in the United Kingdom and the first globally to achieve this status.

Parkour UK as the National Governing Body (NGB) for Parkour/Freerunning, provide governance and regulation of Parkour/Freerunning throughout the UK, act as custodians of the sport/art, protect the rights & freedoms and promote the interests of Traceurs/Freerunners (practitioners), our member organisations & the UK community.

We work closely with partners encouraging and developing the safe and appropriate practice of Parkour/Freerunning in addition to working with local groups, organisations, as well as national organisations/bodies, local authorities, constabularies.

Following the recent announcement of the appointment of the former Minister for Sport, Tracey Crouch MP as our Senior Independent Director, we wish to recruit up to 2 Independent Directors for an initial four-year term, and are now inviting applications. 

Our Independent Directors are appointed by the Board Nominations Committee (Independent Chair, Independent Director, Elected Director & CEO) based on who meets the skills and experience we are seeking.  As a result, in order to apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate that you have no association with an organisation in membership of Parkour UK at the time of your application.

With our new governance structure, vision and mission, we need individuals who can help develop and maintain Parkour UK’s strategic focus and direct the changing organisation towards its future.  You would need to be able to make a commitment to Parkour UK and devote the necessary time, have strategic vision, independent judgement, an ability to think creatively and a willingness to speak your mind.

We are looking for an Independent Director(s) who has the relevant skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • Legal;
  • Marketing and Digital technologies/social media;
  • Finance and accountancy.

Ideally, the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

  • An impressive track record of success in the private, public and/or voluntary sector;
  • The ability to operate at Board level for a National Governing Body (NGB);
  • A good understanding of the role that sport plays in society – particularly a modern lifestyle sport like Parkour/Freerunning;
  • Ability to think creatively and strategically;
  • The skills to challenge current thinking at Board level;
  • A clear commitment to improving diversity and equality and understanding the needs of under-represented groups in sport;
  • A good understanding of the UK’s sporting landscape – including the UK Code for Sports Governance.

In line with our Equality and Diversity Policy and the UK Code for Sports Governance, we are keen to achieve a more diverse Board of Directors and would welcome applications from those communities or segments of the UK population who are currently under-represented on the Board, in particular former athletes, women, BAME groups and people with disabilities.

We can pay travel expenses and provide a full induction to the NGB’s work. You will be expected to attend approx. six Board meetings a year.

Increasingly we are establishing committees to oversee and drive our work, and support our work, and during the Autumn are gearing up to publish our first organisational strategy. In addition, we would encourage your attendance at a number of Parkour UK meetings and events such as our AGM, as well as our members events at a local level.

For more detailed information about Parkour UK and a list of the current Directors, please visit our website.  For an informal discussion about the role of Independent Director please contact our Independent Chair, Stephen Mitchell, on 07968 364189.

Please send a covering letter stating your interest, suitability for the role of Independent Director and CV to Stephen Mitchell, Independent Chair via email to stephen.mitchell@parkour.uk. The closing date for applications is 6pm on Friday 6th September 2019. Interviews will be held in Central London during the w/c 16th September 2019 with the appointments being passed to our Board on the 23rd September 2019.

#GiveParkourAGo

Eugene Minogue to stand down as CEO after 10 years

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Parkour UK CEO, Eugene Minogue, has announced that he will step down as CEO, following this years AGM after 10 years in the role.

Eugene Minogue, Chief Executive said;

“Having originally resigned as CEO in March 2018, the Board unanimously asked me to continue in the role. However, I would like to spend more time with my family and due to my other long-standing existing professional commitments, it now feels like the right time for me to step down and for somebody new to take the organisation forward through the next period of its growth and development to continue establishing Parkour/Freerunning as a ‘social-norm’.

It has been a true honour and privilege to serve as the founding CEO of the first ever recognised NGB for Parkour/Freerunning globally in Parkour UK, and to witness the rapid growth of our sport and community over the past decade. During those 10 years, we have achieved so much, including: establishment of the world’s first (and still only) regulated coaching qualifications; establishing Parkour/Freerunning within UK schools; awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark; leading the development of both a British and a European Standard for Parkour Equipment; being shortlisted twice for NGB of the Year at the Womens Sport Trust awards; achieving official recognition for our sport and Parkour UK as an NGB; establishing a participation base of c.100,000 participants; becoming founder members of Parkour Earth; and most recently appointing Tracey Crouch MP to the Board of Parkour UK . . . that’s highlighting just few of our many, many achievements. These achievements have all been achieved without any public funding, that the vast majority of other recognised sports and NGB’s regularly receive in abundance.

I have been very fortunate to have had the support of some excellent people, both personally and professionally during my time as CEO.  Equally, the commitment and enthusiasm of our members and community have helped to bring Parkour/Freerunning to where it is today – a recognised sport that is truly disrupting the sporting landscape, both nationally and internationally.  Our members and community have pioneered some truly ground-breaking programmes from Parkour in schools; Parkour for Mental Health; Parkour for Older People and the designing & building of various Parkour Parks and Academies across the UK – just to mention a few! It has been a real collective effort by us all and I continue to look forward to watching our sport, community and our governing body, continue to grow and thrive in the years ahead.”

Stephen Mitchell, Independent Chair said;

“On behalf of myself and the Board of Parkour UK, I would like to reiterate my enormous debt of gratitude and thanks to Eugene for his unstinting commitment to the establishment of Parkour UK and support of the community over the last decade.

Eugene has been a driving force across the Parkour community in the UK and beyond, and without his unquestionable passion, dedication and enthusiasm the sport would not be the force it is today. Often in the face of adversity and challenge, from Board and the community, and inconsistent policy application from across the sporting system, he has positioned the sport in an unprecedented manner and will be sorely missed by many. His insight and experience have helped many members of the community establish and build sustainable, innovative and pioneering initiatives and/or businesses which use Parkour as a ‘social norm’ and force for good.

Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Eugene and only wish that Parkour UK was in a stronger position to be able to work with him in a more permanent and sustainable capacity.  With the launch of our forthcoming new strategy imminent and an ongoing contribution to sports participation and social action in the UK maintained consistently, yet still unrecognised and undervalued, we hope to be able to advertise and promote a more permanent solution in the Autumn. In the interim period, the Board and national leads for Medical and Duty of Care will continue to act in the best interests of the community.

The recruitment process to find a new CEO will commence later this Autmun.

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