News

Parkour UK and other organisations will be working with various MPs and peers to help ensure the key proposals make their way to the policy teams working on each of the political party manifestos. We want to see measures to increase, improve, maximise and strengthen policies on outdoor sport/recreation not just in the countryside, but also in urban areas.

Parkour UK will also be working with our membership to lobby ahead next years general election so that more MPs and councillors understand the value of Parkour/Freerunning.

Next Wednesday 10 September, MPs will debate the Government’s policy on outdoor sport and recreation from 2.30-4.00pm. To ensure the importance of sport and recreation is fully recognised in future legislation and policy, we are asking our members to email or write to their local MP asking them to attend.

The debate will give MPs the opportunity to raise concerns about how government policies have been affecting the outdoors and also to highlight innovative projects and schemes in their own constituencies.

The debate follows the successful Westminster event on 11 June when ten leading outdoor organisations (including our trade body – the Sport + Recreation Alliance) came together to urge parliamentarians to factor the benefits of outdoor recreation into their manifestos and policies ahead of the next general election and to ask that all three main political parties six key proposals for government action on the outdoors

Help us campaign
Parkour UK looks forward to hearing MPs discuss the government’s position on outdoor sport/recreation and would encourage all of our members to get in touch with their local MP to encourage them to attend the debate.

If you would like to help us campaign for political parties to develop an integrated package of measures that will further secure and enhance sustainable public access urban spaces, the countryside, parks and green spaces then please email or write to your local MP asking them to attend this debate.

To make this easy for you, we have written a template letter for you to send to your MP.

Download MP letter template.

Find your local MP

At our 2014 AGM held on Tuesday 29th July 2014, the membership voted through changes to the governance of Parkour UK.

A summary of the changes are as follows:

• Removing the voting category of founding members
• Only have organisations in membership, no individuals.
• Having three voting categories:

1. Associate
2. Affiliate (subscription fee, 1 vote)
3. Accredited (subscription fee, 2 votes)

(The above changes would mean result in the introduction of annual membership fees for Affiliate & Accredited members. The new membership categories will be launched in Jan 2015. All current members will default to Associate Members and will have the opportunity to change their category of membership once they are launched)

• A clause that outlines Parkour UK is the sole UK wide National Governing Body 
• Limiting appointments of the Directors to two four year terms
• Setting two four year terms for Independent Directors, to keep this consistent with the Directors
• Formal recognition of our home nation representatives for the 4 home nations, limited to two three year terms
• Limiting board appointments to a maximum one individual per member of organisation 

The current changes to our Memorandum & Articles of Association are being finalised by our solicitors and will be submitted to Companies House for formal adoption following the next Parkour UK Board meeting in October. These changes also form part of the planned full application for recognition with the UK Sports Councils (Sport England, Sport Wales, SportScotland, Sport Northern Ireland & UK Sport), which will be submitted to Sport England (for and on behalf of the UK Sports Councils) w/c 27th October 2014, also following sign-off at the Parkour UK Board meeting in October. It is expected the decision on our full application for recognition will be made by Spring 2015. 

Full minutes of the 2014 AGM will be published following sign-off at the next Parkour UK Board meeting in October. 

If you would like any further information on the governance changes please contact us on info@parkouruk.org or 020 3544 5834

At 2014 AGM held on Tuesday 29th July 2014, the membership voted to appoint a new President for Parkour UK & a Home Country Representative for Wales.

We are pleased to formally announce & welcome Sebastien Foucan as President, which he will combine with his existing role of Ambassador and also Craig Robinson as Home Country Representative for Wales.

SEBASTIEN FOUCAN

President & Ambassador

Sébastien is one of the founders of the discipline and is well known for his views on the philosophy behind freerunning. Sébastien now lives in London with his wife and two children. Sébastien came to prominence in the UK after the showing of the Channel 4 documentaries, Jump London (2003) and  Jump Britain (2005). In 2006 that Sébastien made his acting debut, starring as Mollaka in the 21st James Bond film; Casino Royale. In 2008, Sébastien’s first book Freerunning – Find Your Way was published.

CRAIG ROBINSON

Wales Representative (Wales)

Craig, based in Cardiff, is one of the first generation to practice the discipline of Parkour in Wales and one of the longest remaining practicing traceur/freerunner in the Welsh community. With a Martial art background, being inspired by Martial art films and his older Brothers and Father, Craig was always creative, adventurous and In touch with his movement.

A core member of Team Fluidity, created by team friend Frazer Meek, was the first parkour/ Freerunning team in Wales established in 2005. From here Craig was involved and performed in film, T.V, news, commercials, events, workshops and has been coaching since 2009.Craig is passionate and enthusiastic about sharing his passion and what he finds mostly rewarding is inspiring and helping people to fulfil their potential, through coaching Parkour/freerunning.

At the end of last year Lucasfilm and Disney invited all young aspiring actors to attend an open casting call for roles in J.J Abrams’ Star Wars Episode VII. The casting calls spanned 11 cities across the US and UK and over 37,000 hopefuls attended, with a further 30,000 submitting applications online.

Yesterday (6th July) having hunted high and low for young and undiscovered talent,  Lucasfilm and Disney announced that two actors from the open call call have been cast. One of which is  UK freerunner, Pip Andersen aka Piptrix from our members Storm Freerun. Pip recently demonstrated this remarkable skill in a Spider-Man ad for Sony.

Lucasfilm president & Producer Kathleen Kennedy said “The Star Wars universe has always been about discovering and nurturing young talent and in casting Episode VII we wanted to remain absolutely faithful to this tradition. We are delighted that so many travelled to see us at the open casting calls and that we have been able to make Crystal and Pip a part of the film”

We’d like to extend our congratulations to Pip on being cast in such a prestigious production.

#MayTheForceBeWithYou

This month has seen us  delivering a variety of our various Awards, CPD & Qualifications:

7th May 2014

Parkour UK 1st4sport Introductory CPD Award in Teaching Parkour/Freerunning (QTS) in Guernsey.

This CPD is designed to introduce teachers to the fundamental concepts and training principles of Parkour/Freerunning for use as part of a physical education / school sport in an education setting. It serves as an introduction, and enables teachers to initiate basic Parkour/Freerunning training within the school environment. This CPD can be built upon through attendance on the Parkour UK ADAPT Intermediate CPD Award in Teaching Parkour / Freerunning (QTS, PE) course, so that the Teacher may then, if willing, go on to take the full Parkour UK 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning (QCF) qualification.

24th – 28th May 2014

Parkour UK ADAPT 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning (QCF) in London

The Level 2  is the second qualification on the parkour/freerunning coaching ladder. The qualification is designed to provide learners with an introduction to the processes and principles of coaching parkour/freerunning to adults and children. The Certificate offers an opportunity for parkour/freerunning coaches to be supported in developing the knowledge of how to effectively plan, conduct and evaluate a series of parkour/freerunning coaching sessions of all ages.

in a safe, ethical and effective manner. Those who complete this Certificate will be able to work as a parkour/freerunning coach, either alone or as part of a larger group of practitioners of parkour/freerunning. 

27th – 30th May 2014

Parkour UK ADAPT 1st4sport Level 1 Aawrd in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning (QCF) in London

The Level 1 Award is the first qualification on the parkour/freerunning coaching ladder. The qualification is designed to provide learners with an introduction to the practical and theoretical aspects of coaching parkour/freerunning. The foundation level of knowledge recognised in this qualification will enable them to develop an understanding of the safe, ethical and effective management and coaching of parkour/freerunning. Those who complete this Award will be able to assist other, more qualified coaches in delivering parkour/freerunning coaching sessions to participants

31st May 2014

Parkour UK Sports Leaders UK Award in Leading Parkour/Freerunning in Crawley

This award will give you the opportunity to develop many skills which will be of use to you, both in a sporting
environment and in life in general. The course which is not concerned with your sporting ability but instead will help you to develop many different peer leadership skills, such as being able to communicate with others in a sports setting. Learners who successfully complete the course will not be qualified nor insured to teach or coach parkour/freerunning or any parkour/freerunning based activities. Learners will be able to assist in parkour groups
and activities in an informed and educated way.

If you would like more information on our various Awards, CPD & Qualifications please click here or contact us on info@parkouruk.org 0r 020 3544 5834. Dates for forthocming Level 1 & 2 coaching qualifications can be found here.