Run England continues to develop

Four Regional Coordinators have been appointed to help the Run England project grow and thrive nationwide.

Run England is the new project to deliver support and groups for recreational runners across the country that is being delivered by England Athletics thanks to Sport England funding.

The new Regional Coordinators will help to recruit and support group leaders in their areas, working with the local activators to ensure that people are given the best possible opportunities and support to take up and progress in their running.

Project leader Geoff Wightman said, “Run England groups, whether operating on a ‘stand alone’ basis, as part of affiliated running clubs or being delivered by another partner in the community, will benefit from the work of our Regional Coordinators. The coordinators will look to create and develop partnerships that increase and support the provision of groups in their respective areas of the country.

“The new staff will coordinate seminars, conferences and road shows to give additional opportunities to both runners and group leaders in their areas.

“They will help to ensure that Leadership and Coach in Running Fitness courses are held at the right times and places to enable more running group leaders to join the project and improve their skills.

“The regional coordinators will take an important role on linking in with other provisions being made for beginners and recreational runners. For example local events can be used to help bring more members into Run England and to ensure the runners taking part get the support and encouragement that they want on an on-going basis.

“Clubs and Athletics Networks have been doing a tremendous job of creating and running new groups and they will be given additional support as a result of this work.

“This is a very exciting time for running in England with clubs, individuals and organisations all creating groups and registering them with Run England. We are seeing leaders and participants from across the full spectrum of communities being drawn into Run England.

“I am very pleased that we now have these staff in place. They have the skills to bring more people and partners into the project, to support those already involved and a huge amount of enthusiasm for Run England.”

Meet the team

North
Craig Blain is a trained running group leader as well as holding and tutoring on equivalent cycling qualification – the Sky Ride Leadership Award. He has worked as a Coaching and Competition Development Officer in cycling where his responsibilities included important work on the Go-Ride project to bring more people into cycling.

Midlands and South West
Charlotte Fisher is a Level 4 Endurance Coach as well as a trained running group leader who has worked as Somerset McCain Athletics Network Coordinator and been involved in athletics as an athlete, coach and club volunteer, including as Club Development Officer of Taunton AC. She has been involved in holding programmes of activities and events for recreational runners and beginners, including working in partnerships with charities and through GP referrals.

London
Natalie Kavanagh-Clarke is a trained group leader as well as being a Leadership in Running Fitness tutor and a Level 2 Coach. She previously worked on the Run in England project working in partnership with Local Authorities, Clubs, Athletics Networks and other community partners to create and support groups for beginners and recreational runners and led special initiatives within the London area.

South
Louise Milne has extensive experience working in Sports Development in a Local Authority and Leisure Trust setting. She has developed a wide range of partnerships with clubs, schools, local authorities and primary care trusts to develop programmes and events, such as Fun Runs, to increase participation in sport and physical activity. 

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