Parkour Framework

Exploring parkour’s evolution and future in the UK

What is parkour?

That’s a challenging question to answer! Since parkour arrived in the UK over twenty years ago, the sport has grown and evolved in many ways. At Parkour UK, we wanted to explore what parkour truly means to those within the community and how we can create more opportunities for everyone to experience it.

This exploration wasn’t just about movement—it encompassed community, perception, awareness, and accessibility to the sport.

In mid-February, Parkour UK traveled to Birmingham to meet with a diverse group of knowledgeable individuals from various backgrounds. Together, we aimed to define parkour, highlight its benefits, and discuss ways to shift public perception to support its growth and strengthen the community ethos at its core.

A Diverse Panel of Experts

We were fortunate to be joined by a fantastic lineup of contributors:

Stephen Somerville from Movement Park brought his expertise from Scotland, offering insights from his judo background and experience in managing a multi-sport facility.

Georgia Donati-Clarke, Luke Brown from Spiral Freerun, and Zak Winston contributed their knowledge in sports, personal training, and parkour coaching, alongside a deep understanding of the broader parkour community.

Amy Harcourt, a professional parkour athlete who has competed internationally, provided a competitor’s perspective on the sport. As a trans athlete, Amy also shared valuable insights on inclusivity and representation within the parkour community.

Daniel Timms & Chris Keighley, Parkour UK elected directors and tutors, shared their expertise on parkour coaching and course delivery.

From the Parkour UK team, we had our Chief Executive Officer Sam Bradley leading the charge, alongside our Head of Operations & Development Nadine Barnard. 

Other Parkour UK staff members included Julie (People & Coaching Lead), Callun Lavington & Lynn Jung (Digital), Charles Havill (Connecting Communities) and Tom Redfern (Competition Project Consultant).

Looking to the future

The event was a brilliant opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange ideas, and explore ways to develop parkour in the UK. We had an incredible time listening to everyone’s insights, and we’re excited to take these conversations forward.

A huge thank you to everyone involved—we can’t wait to continue shaping the future of parkour together!