Have your say about the future of running

If you are involved in Run England, your thoughts on the future of recreational running are wanted in order to help England Athletics shape the future of the sport beyond March 2013.

England Athletics are looking to gauge a wide range of views from its constituency and stakeholders to help us refine our approach, improve our services to the sport and identify new opportunities as we work to bring new participants into the sport, improve the experience of everyone involved in athletics and to raise standards of performance.

England Athletics commenced delivery against its existing and focused strategic priorities in April 2009 as part of a four-year government funded programme of activity. Current government funding via Sport England will expire in March 2013, we therefore want your views as we look to shape how we will work beyond March 2013.It is also anticipated that the views given will help us as we talk to others involved in athletics - from clubs and Networks to local authorities and commercial partners – as we all consider how best to fulfil our respective roles and support each other as we work together to build a strong future for athletics in England.

The surveys will close on 14 November. Your input and comments are very much valued as we strive to provide the best opportunities for our sport.

Executive chair of England Athletics John Graves said, “The information and views people give will help us to monitor the success of our current work as well as giving us information on how we should evolve this work in the future.

"We want to hear people’s honest views and from people from every part of the athletics community.“Many people will know that we carried out an online consultation 18 months ago as well as having a number of road show events. Our staff, such as Club and Coach Support Officers, Disability Athletics Support Officers, National Coach Mentors and Area Coach Mentors, are also working alongside the sport’s vitally important volunteer workforce on a day-to-day basis. We want to give an additional formal opportunity for people to give their current views.

"We also want to be able to see how the work of England Athletics, Clubs, Coaches, Networks, Officials and other Volunteers have evolved and the impact this has had on each group and the athletes we work together to support.

"I would encourage as many people as possible to give their views, the more perspectives we have, even if that is from different people within the same club, the more effectively we are able to assess the current situations in the sport and people’s aspirations for the future. We also know some people fulfil multiple roles in the sport and would encourage them to complete as many of the surveys as are relevant to their involvement."Looking at some of the questions we ask in the surveys highlights the importance of the enthusiasm and expertise of the volunteers who serve our sport and therefore I would once again like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who plays a part in the success of our sport in England.”

The surveys available are as follows. Those involved in Run England should pay particular attention to the survey for those involved in recreational running.

•    For athletes (and parents of athletes aged Under 16): www.englandathletics.org/Athlete-Survey-2011

•    For coaches (including Leaders and Coaching Assistants): www.englandathletics.org/Coach-Survey-2011

•    For club volunteers: www.englandathletics.org/Volunteer-Survey-2011

•    For Officials: www.englandathletics.org/Officials-Survey-2011

•    For those involved in recreational running: www.englandathletics.org/Recreational-running-2011

Many thanks for giving your time to complete one or more of our surveys.