News

Community Sport and Recreation Awards nominations open

Is your organisation changing lives? Do you represent the very best that sport and recreation organisations can offer their community? If so, nominations are now being taken for the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Community Sport and Recreation Awards 2015.

The awards, which have been running for over 20 years, are the premier grassroots awards – spanning a sector of more than 300 different sport and recreation activities.

The awards are free to enter and if you win, you could bag yourself up to £2,500.

This year the Community Sport and Recreation Awards has six award categories:
• Community Sport + Recreation Overall Winner
• Volunteer Management
• School Links
• Professional Club Community Programme of the Year Award
• Green Thinking
• Innovative Project Award
• Youth Volunteering

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 8 July 2015 at the ceremony in London by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
Application forms should be received no later than 5pm, Friday 8 May 2015

For more information about the Community Sport and Recreation Awards or to find out how to apply visit the Sport and Recreation Alliance website.

We wish to recruit one Independent Director, for an initial four-year term, and are now inviting applications. 

Our Independent Directors are appointed by the Board (CEO, Elected Directors & Home Country Directors) 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.

In particular, we are looking for an Independent Director who has skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Legal
• HR skills
• Digital technologies/social media
• Commercial rights and/or sponsorship
• Local Government/regional issues

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
• 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.

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.

For more detailed information about Parkour UK and a list of the current Directors, please click here.  For an informal discussion about the role of Independent Director please complete the interest form below, leaving your contact details and our Independent Chair, Stephen Mitchell will contact you directly.

[contact-form subject=’Independent Director’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Contact Number’ type=’text’/][contact-field label=’Message’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]

Alternatively please send a covering letter stating your interest, suitability for the role of Independent Director and CV to Stephen Mitchell, Independent Chair, Parkour UK, 4^th Floor, Burwood House, 14-16 Caxton Street, London SW1H 0QT.

The closing date for applications is 5.00 pm on Monday 1^st June 2015. Interviews will be held in June with appointment being made at our AGM on Tuesday 7^th July 2015.

Parkour UK is pleased to announce the provisional 2015 dates & venues for our coaching & instructing qualifications the:

• Parkour UK 1st4sport Level 1 Award & Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning (QCF)
• Parkour UK CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Instructing Parkour/Freerunning Fitness Training (QCF)

Bookings for all courses can now be made on-line, using the hyperlinks below. These also detail the course fees, terms and conditions.

2015 Provisional course dates & venues:

Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning (QCF)  

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          17th (pre-requisite day) 18th, 19th & 20th February
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         Moberly Sports & Education Centre, Kilburn Lane, London W10 4AH
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning (QCF)   

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          7th (pre-requisite day) 8th, 9th & 10th April
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         TBC
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Instructing Parkour / Freerunning Fitness (QCF)  

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          23rd & 24th and 30th & 31st May 2015
• Assessments:             27th June 2015
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         The Chainstore, Trinity Buoy Wharf, 64 Orchard Place, London E14 0JY
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning  (QCF)  

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          26th (pre-requisite day) 27th, 28th & 29th May
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         TBC
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Instructing Parkour / Freerunning Fitness (QCF)  

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          18th & 19th and 25th & 26th July 2015
• Assessments:             22nd August 2015
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         The Chainstore, Trinity Buoy Wharf, 64 Orchard Place, London E14 0JY
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning (QCF)  

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          28th (pre-requisite day), 29th, 30th & 31st July
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         TBC
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning (QCF)   

• Age:                             18+
• Dates:                          10th, 11th, 12th, 13th & 14th August (& Assessment at a later date)
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         TBC – London
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning (QCF)   

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          25th (pre-requisite day), 26th, 27th & 28th August
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         TBC
• Spaces:                        16

ASSESSMENTS: Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning (QCF)  

• Assessments:              5th & 6th September
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         TBC – London
• Spaces:                        12

Parkour UK CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Instructing Parkour / Freerunning Fitness (QCF)    

• Age:                              16+
• Dates:                           19th & 20th and 26th & 27th September 2015
• Assessments:              24th October 2015
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         The Chainstore, Trinity Buoy Wharf, 64 Orchard Place, London E14 0JY
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning (QCF)   

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          27th (pre-requisite day) 28th, 29th & 30th October
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         TBC
• Spaces:                        16

ASSESSMENTS: Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning (QCF)

• Assessments:              7th & 8th November
• Time:                            9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                          TBC – London
• Spaces:                         12

Parkour UK CYQ Level 2 Certificate in Instructing Parkour / Freerunning Fitness (QCF)  

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          21st & 22nd and 28th & 29th November 2015
• Assessments:             19th December 2015
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         The Chainstore, Trinity Buoy Wharf, 64 Orchard Place, London E14 0JY
• Spaces:                        16

Parkour UK 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning (QCF)  

• Age:                             16+
• Dates:                          8th (pre-requisite day) 9th, 10th & 11th December
• Time:                           9.00 – 5.00
• Venue:                         TBC
• Spaces:                        16

If you would like further information please contact us on: info@parkouruk.org or 020 3544 5834

A Parkour experience launched by Freedom Leisure and Crawley Borough Council has won the ‘Active Sussex Sportivate Project of the Year Award’ at the prestigious Sussex Sports Awards which were held on Friday November 21st at The Grand Hotel, Brighton.

Sportivate Crawley Parkour experience provided unique access to an activity that is popular with young people but still unknown in mainstream culture. Utilising Crawley’s outdoor Parkour facility during summer and the gymnasium at K2 Crawley during winter, participants were taught key Parkour skills; safe, efficient, fluid movement combining mental discipline, spatial awareness and confidence.

The project was able to engage with 54 participants, with a core group of 34 attending workshops; including nine female participants and 16 male participants aged 14+. The high numbers, consistent attendance and sustained interest led to 25 young people attending summer drop-in sessions and a summer holiday workshop in 2014. Regular and committed attendance by participants is demonstrated as the forthcoming autumn programme of workshops reached capacity within 48hrs of being promoted.

Freedom Leisure and Crawley Borough Council’s strong and successful partnership has enabled all-year round provision, by sharing venues. Further successful partnerships have been forged with one of the with our members – Brighton-based The Urban Playground Team and Parkour UK, as we delivered our Parkour UK Sports Leaders UK Award in Leading Parkour/Freerunning course.

You can read more here.

If you can to learn more about Sportivate contact us or your local County Sports Partnership

#GiveParkourAGo

We’d like to welcome Natural Sports as a Parkour UK facility development partner.

Natural Sports is a privately owned company dedicated to #Parkour /#Freerunning parks, facilities, equipment & coaching. The company has been formed with practitioners to realise the designs of local communities and make them a reality.

Natural Sports recently installed their first & the UK’a newest #ParkourPark in Southfields Park, Loughborough last month. The facility was developed, designed & delivered in partnership with Parkour UK members JUMP Parkour, with funding from Charnwood Borough Council

To find out more about Natural Sports and their services log onto their website: www.natural-sports.com

#MoreParkourParks #GiveParkourAGo

At our 2014 AGM held on 29th July 2014, ​a special resolution to amend our Memorandum & Articles of Association was adopted by the voting members to only have organisations in membership and​ no individuals. The adopted membership & voting categories are​:

• Associate (no subscription fee, non-voting)
• Affiliate (subscription fee, 1 vote)
• Accredited (subscription fee, 2 votes)

As a result there is now the introduction of annual membership fees for Affiliate & Accredited members (those with voting rights). Additionally ALL current members (& any new members taken into membership up to 31st Dec 2014) would now be Associate members, until the 2015 membership cycle. As of the 2015 membership cycle existing members & new applications for membership can apply for affiliate and/or accredited membership, subject to paying the membership fee as set by the board.

At the board meeting held on the 7th October 2014, the membership fee for 2015 has been set at £100+VAT p.a for Affiliate & Accredited Members. ​

Applications f​rom existing Associate members for​ Affiliate and/or Accredited membership will open in January 2015, with membership fees due on or before 31st ​M​arch 2015. ​Applications f​or new members​, across all categories of membership​ will be provisional until formally approved​ by the board at the next available board meeting, with membership fees will be due within ​30 days of ​approval.​

We are in the process of building and testing a new online system to manage our memberships and payments. This should be operational in-time for the new membership cycle for 2015.

If you have any queries relating to membership please contact our Chief Executive – Eugene Minogue on eugene.minogue@parkouruk.org or 020 3544 5834.