Although we tried to cover as many topics as possible, and answer as many community questions as we could, time was still limited.
Following the release of the podcast, we wanted to put together some Frequently Asked Questions to clarify or answer some of the topics we weren't able to cover in the podcast.
Supporting women to complete the Level 4 qualification first is a strategic, top-down approach. By increasing the number of qualified female Level 4 coaches, we expand our pool of female tutors, which in turn creates the capacity to support and inspire more women through Levels 1 and 2.
The sport remains predominantly male-led, and that imbalance can make some women feel that the environment isn’t for them. Increasing female visibility in senior coaching and tutoring roles helps shift that perception and creates a more welcoming pathway. It also addresses practical considerations: some women, particularly from certain cultural or religious backgrounds, may feel more comfortable learning from a female tutor.
Isla and Georgia are excellent role models and will help demonstrate what is possible for women within the sport.
In addition, our long-term strategy has always included launching an introductory female scholarship covering both the new Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications. We plan to introduce this around April, once both cohorts of the Level 4 programme are complete.
At this stage, the focus isn’t on the number of people who have taken up the new membership. Our priority is working closely with the community to refine the offer so that it delivers meaningful benefits for gyms, coaches, athletes, and participants.
We want members to see value that goes beyond the cost of the membership while still ensuring it represents good value for money. For example, becoming an NGB-affiliated Gold Member demonstrates that a club meets high health and safety standards, employs coaches with recognised parkour-specific qualifications, and adheres to NGB safeguarding and code of conduct requirements.
The membership is also about helping to further professionalise the sport and address lingering misconceptions about parkour. It reassures parents, who are often the key decision-makers for young participants, that parkour is a well-governed sport with clear expectations for clubs and coaches, and that we will hold members accountable if those standards are not met. Meeting these standards also helps demonstrate to insurers that parkour operates with robust professional practices, which we hope will contribute to reducing premiums over time.
This is very much the starting point for our membership offer, and we intend to continue evolving it to meet the needs of the community as the sport grows.
Our Level 4 qualification will be our highest level of coaching qualification, with the introduction of our new Level 1, our existing level 1 & 2 will move to become a level 2 & 3. The procedure for ‘upgrading’ your qualification to the new level will be published before the end of the year.
The focus of the Level 4 is being a ‘coach of coaches’, providing the skills for our new cohort of tutors to tutor and mentor new generation of coaches at the highest level. Much of the content on this course will be delivered by UK coaching, however, we have also been keen to involve our Level 4 candidates in the development of our new Level 1 qualification, in what you may term an ‘open source’ or grand fathering’ approach; as they will be the workforce who will deliver the qualification, having a sense of ownership of the content is crucial.
Qualified Level 4 coaches will be delivering our new qualifications either as a tutor at a Parkour UK ‘Hub’ or by being contracted by a hub or directly by Parkour UK. Our first step is likely to be a hybrid between some hubs and some courses being deliver directly by Parkour UK as we work to increase the number of hubs.
Parkour UK has been working closely with Howden to secure high-quality insurance for the organisation and to help them develop a strong understanding of the sport. This ensures they can offer parkour businesses comprehensive cover at competitive rates, enabling them to operate with confidence and assurance should an incident occur.
Howden also underwrite the insurance included within our coach membership package, meaning member coaches are fully covered to deliver parkour activities, provided they operate within the agreed parameters (such as working as a sole trader).
As we continue to professionalise the sport and support clubs in demonstrating high, safe operating standards, Howden are increasingly able to offer robust, tailored insurance solutions, often resulting in cost savings for clubs on their premiums.
We intend to continue working with Howden to strengthen and enhance the insurance offer wherever possible.
For more information on Howden insurance through Parkour UK memberships, please visit the link below:
Buddle is a Sport England initiative designed to strengthen and support organisations across the sport and physical activity sector. It provides tailored guidance, training, and resources to help organisations develop strong governance, improve workforce skills, and better serve their communities.
Parkour UK has recently partnered with Buddle and agreed to become one of their official Hubs. This means Parkour UK will receive up to two years of targeted, bespoke support from the Buddle team. Their previous work has shown that every organisation has unique needs, structures, and ways of working, so the support offered is designed to be highly flexible and responsive.
As a Buddle Hub, Parkour UK may receive support in several forms, including:
By becoming a Buddle Hub, Parkour UK will be able to access specialist guidance that helps strengthen the sport’s infrastructure, professional workforce, and community offer.
