News

Detailed below is the list of nominees, their seconders and their election statements for the roles of Elected Directors.

Elected directors will be appointed at our AGM on the 21st July 2015, 6pm. Members are advised to read through the election statements in advance of the AGM. If you cannot attend the AGM it is advised that you download the proxy voting form, complete and return this by 5pm on Monday 20th July 2015 to ensure you vote is cast and counted.

Appointment of Elected Directors – (UK) x 4

Nominee:           Brad Wendes, Team Kinetix

Seconder:           Dan Timms, Jump Parkour

Election Statement:  I’m applying for this position as I feel I could be of benefit to the organisation and development of Parkour. I’ve been involved in Parkour from its infancy in 2004 and have seen the sport develop over the past decade. I was part of the course development team at SHOKK, involved in writing CPD courses for fitness instructors around the UK. Currently I run Team Kinetix full time, we have 3 full time staff and 8 part time staff. As an organisation Team Kinetix has over 500 registered members and runs 16 weekly Parkour classes around Essex. Running Team Kinetix has given me a wide knowledge of employment law and the legalities of running a business. Managing a team of this size has allowed me to develop my leadership skills. My role at Team Kinetix involves management of our Social Media and online content, including video and photography.

Nominee:           Kie Willis, Storm Freerun

Seconder:           Steven Whitley, Storror

Election Statement: I have been training Parkour for the past 10 years. Over this time I have watched the sport evolve and change under both positive and negative influences. As a key member of the community, I am fortunate enough to be involved with many events worldwide and talk to huge numbers of the community allowing me valuable insight into the needs and wants of all. My goals as an Elected Director would be to help to push and shape Parkour to be what the community want it to be. To help put the community first and help steer away from the dependence on questionable brands. 

Nominee:           Matt McCreary – T13

Seconder:           Colin DeVenny Belfast Parkour & Paul Allen, Jump NI

Election Statement: I now have 8 years of practice under my belt and feel that I am now at a position in the Northern Irish community where I can represent them, in the way they need. Over the past year I have received large media backing through radio, TV and on-line and I feel this is something I can use and am already using to promote the discipline in the correct way. I believe I should be elected as I am still part of the next generation of up and coming athletes and feel I can provide fresh eyes on all subject matters.

Nominee:           Steven Whitley, Storror

Seconder:           Kie Willis, Storm Freerun

Election Statement:  It’s amazing how the Parkour community has grown, I’ve been training for nearly 10 years and have seen a lot of change but we still have a long way to go. I feel that by having local coaches and facilities all over the UK we will be helping communities to grow. Also we should work towards finding more funding and running more coaching courses across the country. We need to give all different type of people an easier way to get into the sport and try it. By working with NGB I can help develop the media side as I have a degree in media. I helped develop Freemove media in its early days and of course Storror videos, photos and input. Parkour changed my life and I want to help the sport grow so it can change others peoples. There’s a lot more we can do together.

Appointment of Elected Directors – (England) x 3

Nominee:           Kie Willis, Storm Freerun

Seconder:           Steven Whitley, Storror

Election Statement:  I have been training Parkour for the past 10 years. Over this time I have watched the sport evolve and change under both positive and negative influences. As a key member of the community, I am fortunate enough to be involved with many events worldwide and talk to huge numbers of the community allowing me valuable insight into the needs and wants of all. My goals as an Elected Director would be to help to push and shape Parkour to be what the community want it to be. To help put the community first and help steer away from the dependence on questionable brands. 

Nominee:           Scott Jackson, Train Hard

Seconder:           Dan Timms, JUMP Parkour

Election Statement:  I am passionate about both Parkour and its development in the UK. I am currently running a parkour coaching organisation in the South called Train Hard Parkour. I feel that my experience in running a successful parkour coaching business stands me in good stead for the duties that this role entails. I have also recently completed a five-year Masters degree in Chiropractic, whilst co-founding and developing Train Hard. I am keen to see increasing utilisation of parkour by all genders, abilities and ages. I believe that parkour is an amazing tool for health, change, and personal development. I have experience in representing parkour to those who have no prior understanding of it and have good relationships with various high-profile athletes within the discipline. I have the time and energy to put into this position and hope that you also feel that I would be a good choice for this role.

Nominee:           Steven Whitley, Storror

Seconder:           Kie Willis, Storm Freerun

Election Statement:  It’s amazing how the Parkour community has grown, I’ve been training for nearly 10 years and have seen a lot of change but we still have a long way to go. I feel that by having local coaches and facilities all over the UK we will be helping communities to grow. Also we should work towards finding more funding and running more coaching courses across the country. We need to give all different type of people an easier way to get into the sport and try it. By working with NGB I can help develop the media side as I have a degree in media. I helped develop Freemove media in its early days and of course Storror videos, photos and input. Parkour changed my life and I want to help the sport grow so it can change others peoples. There’s a lot more we can do together.

Appointment of Elected Directors – (Wales) x2

Nominee:           Frazer Meek, Fluidity Freerun

Seconder:           Craig Robinson, P.L.A.Y

Election Statement:  10 years ago I was one of the first practitioners in Wales, and since the start have been a pioneer of the Parkour scene in Wales. Being the first professional group I was running lots of huge meet ups, the first classes as well as lots of work with the community (councils , papers, media channels) to promote and spread Parkour across Wales. I have always ran all of the websites and social media, as well as creating all of the multimedia content. I manage the team of coaches and performers as well as coaching and performing myself . Within Wales I hold a lot of respect as being a founder and organiser of the scene , and I believe this role is suited for me due to the experience I have had the last 10 years as its an extension of work I am already doing. 

Nominee:           Craig Robinson, P.L.A.Y

Seconder:           Frazer Meek, Fluidity Freerun

Election Statement:  I feel like that I am suitable for this position for many reason. I am the longest practitioner of the sport/discipline in Wales with currently 12 years experience and involvement in Parkour/Freerunning. I’ve seen Parkour grow in Wales over the years, being one of the earliest practitioners. I have been extremely passionate about movement since a very young age. I have been passionate about the sport/art/discipline since I was introduced to Parkour back in 2003 through watching’Jump London’. I’m also extremely enthusiastic coach and love to spread my knowledge I have gained through my involvement in this movement discipline to help people to find their potential and to be string and adaptable, I have a degree in sport development and coaching and there is a huge relation between Parkour and how it can fit in with government initiatives such as reducing crime, benefiting health mentally and physically and social inclusion. I feel I have been a crucial part of the development of Parkour in Wales so far through the people I have met training and trying to inspire the younger generation through my videos and classes. I hope I’m considered for the position so I can continue to help with the development of Parkour with the best interests of the sport, to give people the best education of Parkour/Freerunning. 

Appointment of Elected Directors – (Scotland) x 1

Nominee:           Gordan Tsang, Access Parkour

Seconder:            John Hall, Access Parkour

Election Statement:  I have practised Parkour for 10 years and am currently involved in 3 Parkour organisations: Edinburgh Parkour (EDPK), Access Parkour, and Roots of Movement (RoM). Being elected as chairman for EDPK and RoM gives me experience in setting strategic aims, objectives and structures, at a local level (EDPK), and a national level (RoM). I coach Parkour with Access Parkour, and have worked with a number of young people across Scotland to increase accessibility to the sport. Out of Parkour, I am pursuing a career as a lawyer. This has given me a thorough understanding of Companies House and the statutory duties imposed on directors. In the past 10 years, I have been instrumental in the development of Parkour within a number of locations. I wish to become an Elected Director, as it would give me the amazing opportunity to take my passion of developing Parkour to a UK-wide level.

Appointment of Elected Directors – (Northern Ireland) x 1

Nominee:           Matt McCreary – T13

Seconder:           Colin DeVenny Belfast Parkour & Paul Allen, Jump NI

Election Statement: I now have 8 years of practice under my belt and feel that I am now at a position in the Northern Irish community where I can represent them, in the way they need. Over the past year I have received large media backing through radio, TV and on-line and I feel this is something I can use and am already using to promote the discipline in the correct way. I believe I should be elected as I am still part of the next generation of up and coming athletes and feel I can provide fresh eyes on all subject matters.

Following a governance review, Parkour UK implemented a new governance structure at our 2014 Congress/AGM and subsequent Special Congress/EGM in November 2014. One of the governance changes voted for by members was to change the structure and composition of the board of Parkour UK. A summary of the changes to the board structure and composition are detailed below:

• Limiting appointments of the Directors to two four year terms
• Setting two four year terms for Independent Directors, to keep this consistent with the Elected Directors
• Elected Directors for each Home Country (England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland)
• Limiting board appointments to a maximum one individual per member of organisation at any one time

Our new board stricture and composition will be:

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.  Therefore we are now seeking nominations from Parkour UK members for the following roles:

Elected Director (Home Country)         

England

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

The Elected Director (Home Country) shall be nominated for election by the members in respect of that Home Country, subject in each case to the approval of the Board. The election of Home Country Representative Directors shall be decided by votes cast by the Voting Members in respect of that Home Country at the annual congress.

and/or             

Elected Director 

Elected Directors shall be nominated for election by the Members, subject in each case to the approval of the Board. The election of Elected Directors shall be decided by votes cast by the Voting Members at the annual congress.

Following a skills audit of our existing board we have identified the following skills and experience we are looking for in particular and we therefore invite nominations from individuals who feel they have these skills to bring to the Board:

• Marketing;
• Legal and Governance;
• Leadership;
• HR skills;
• Digital technologies/social media;
• Commercial rights and/or sponsorship;
• Local Government/regional issues.

In line with our Equality and Diversity Policy we are keen to achieve a more diverse Board of Directors and would welcome applications from those communities under-represented on the Board, in particular people from ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and women.

We can pay travel expenses and provide a full induction to the NGB’s work. You will be expected to attend at least four to six Board meetings a year, which are normally held at the Parkour UK’s offices in Westminster, London.  In addition we would encourage your attendance at a number of Parkour UK meetings and events, as well as our members events.

If you would like to nominate or be nominated for the role(s) Elected Director you must first ensure that you are a member of a Parkour UK member organisation that has a valid 2015 membership. Organisations can renew their membership or join Parkour UK here.

ALL nominations must received by completing  the Elected Director Nomination Form 2015 (Final). Each nomination must have a Proposer and a Seconder both of which must be from Parkour UK members. The closing date for nominations is noon on Tuesday, 7th July 2015.

If you would like further information about the nomination process please contact our CEO, Eugene Minogue on eugene.minogue@parkouruk.org or 020 3544 5834.

#GiveParkourAGo

The UK’s newest ‪#‎ParkourPark‬ launches on Friday 10th April, 1-3pm Central Park, Havering.

Our facility development partners Freemove worked with local traceurs & the London Borough of Havering to develop a brand new state of the art Parkour Park.

Local traceurs identified the lack of local suitable facilities, places or spaces to practise and wanted to have somewhere safe and challenging to practice.