Risks:
Parkour UK recognises that there are sporting risks of injury or death to participants in Parkour/Freerunning as with many sport/physical activities. These exist regardless of Parkour UK intervention/engagement. Participants in Parkour/Freerunning should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions.
Parkour UK as the National Governing Body has taken appropriate steps to minimise the risk of injury or death. Our approaches to risk and the methodology we use are evidence based and in line with official UK Government Policy, European Play and Education Policy.
David Ball, Professor of Risk at Middlesex University has stated that:
- Parkour demonstrates the ability of individuals to manage risks and interact with their environment in a way that is both skillful and creative
- Parkour is a fine example of how individuals can become highly skilled in overcoming obstacles, engaging with their environment and managing risks in a way that produces numerous benefits in the form of physical health, skill and judgment
Workforce:
Risk-Benefit Assessment is embedded in our various Awards, CPD & Qualifications covering Coaching & Teaching. It is a recommended practice within our workforce.
We have workforce ratios of 1:15 indoors & 1:8 outdoors to safely manage our sporting activity in a supervised environment. This are widely accepted and underpinned via our insurances to us as the National Governing Body and subsequently to our workforce and practitioners (participants).
Our workforce, as well as practitioners are regulated and insured via the Parkour Professionals Register, which is a register governed by Parkour UK (on the same model as REPs operated by UK Coaching), in partnership with our insurers Bluefin Sport. This is also includes a code of practice for sports coaches for each section of the workforce.
Facilities & Equipment:
The British Standards Institution published BS10075:2013 the British Standard for Parkour Equipment
Parkour UK has led the development of the standard along with various partners & experts from various fields for over the past 3 years. This is a significant achievement for Parkour in the UK, which has been aiding the marked increase in new Parkour training facilities being developed, even prior to publication.
Following publication it has had a direct and beneficial impact enabling local authorities, schools, colleges, universities, sports centres, land owners, manufacturers and installers to build Parkour facilities and equipment that are fit-for-purpose, safe and to the recognised safety standard.
Partners:
Parkour UK has also worked closely with various national partners’ including constabularies, local authorities and national associations to develop policies and guidance on Parkour/Freerunning.
As an example Parkour UK worked with the Association of Physical Education to develop a comprehensive guide to introducing Parkour/Freeunning into schools. This is a statement that is supported by Parkour UK, afPE & the Youth Sport Trust.
Links and further reading
Parkour UK work with The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident (RoSPA), as well as lead expert for British Standards Institute for BS10075:2013, the British Standard for Parkour Equipment. The British Standard BS10075:2013 has now been superseded by the European Standard BS EN18699:2016.
Our approach is built from best practice guidelines from Health and Safety Executive, Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents, The Play Safety Forum and our own experience and understanding.
Below are the links to many of the policies, guidelines and views that may be useful for any organisations wishing to understand the sources of Parkour UK’s approach.
- Developing Resilience
- Health and Safety Executive: Children’s Play and Leisure – Promoting a Balance Approach & Top Level Statement on School Trips and Managing School Safety
- Institute for Outdoor Learning: Who supports outdoor learning, and why?
- Learning Outside the Classroom: Why Risk and Challenge?
- Play Safety Forum: Managing Risks in Play Provision
- Learning Through Landscapes: The Good School Playground Guide
- Education Scotland: The CfE through Outdoor Learning
- Scottish Government: Getting Out There
Why Risk-Benefit?
- UK Government: Common Sense, Common Safety (The Young Report)
- Health and Safety Executive:HSE principles for Cost Benefit Analysis in support of As Low As Reasonably Practical decisions
- Play Safety Forum: Risk Benefit (Worked Example)
How to manage risk
- Health and Safety Executive: Sensible Risk Management in Schools & Risk Education practice
- Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents: Play Safety
- Tim Gill: No Fear – Growing up in a Risk Averse Society
- Learning Through Landscapes: The Playtime Revolution