Run England Oxfordshire launches

Follow @runengland

Oxfordshire Sports Partnership has been successful at securing Lottery funding from Sport England to inspire people in the county to take up running, and to celebrate, Running Ambassadors from the county will gather at  a Sport Makers Event at the Iconic Iffley Road Running Track on 27th March 2012.

The £47,670 worth of funding will be used to identify and train new running leaders, establish new beginner running groups, signpost people into opportunities to continue taking part and support people to enjoy and continue running, including inspiring 1,500 beginner runners by March 2013.

Toni Flanders, Active Recreation Manager at the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, said: “Key to the success of the project will be the recruitment of 80 new passionate and enthusiastic run leaders who will lead new groups for beginners. Some of these leaders will be volunteers who give up their valuable time for the pure enjoyment of inspiring others to run, and without them the project wouldn’t be possible.”

As well as volunteer leaders, Run England Oxfordshire needs people who can help support or promote some of the beginner running groups across the county. By getting involved as a leader or supporter, people can become ‘Sport Makers’ – and be right at the core of Sport England’s Olympic legacy.

Existing and new group leaders and ambassadors will gather at an event for Sport Makers at the Iconic Iffley Road Running Track in Oxford - the scene of Roger Bannister's famous first sub-four minute mile - on 27th March 2012 where they will take part in a workshop to help them inspire people to jog and run and help leave a lasting legacy from London 2012.

Louise Milne, Run England Area Coordinator said: “Run England is delighted to be working with Oxfordshire Sports Partnership to help get the residents of the county running.

“Our priorities are to train more group leaders so that more people can start running and enjoying the feeling of improved well-being.  By being a Sport Maker as well, leaders and anyone who can give some of their time to help increase participation in running, such as promoting a group or encouraging friends to go running, can really be part of the official 2012 Sport England legacy programme – as well as getting a free Adidas polo-shirt and bag and the chance to secure a pair of tickets to the Olympic and Paralympic games!”

The project will be delivered by Oxfordshire’s Local Authorities and Leisure Providers through the county’s GO Active project in partnership with England Athletics, Run England and the Oxfordshire Athletics Network.

A major recruitment drive for new leaders is now on and anyone interested in becoming a run leader should contact GO Active www.getoxfordshireactive.org.

Join Run England for free at www.runengland.org/join.