Parkrun primary launches to boost children’s physical activity and community ties across the UK

A new initiative, parkrun primary, officially links 500 schools with local junior parkrun events nationwide, aiming to increase physical activity, social bonds, and wellbeing among schoolchildren with support from the Department of Education and high-profile advocates.

A new parkrun initiative, called parkrun primary, has been launched with the goal of increasing physical activity and social connection among schoolchildren by formally linking 500 schools with local junior parkrun events across the UK. The programme was officially unveiled at Cricket Green Primary School in south London by Olympic gold medallist and Team GB athlete Shona McCallin, alongside parkrun’s interim CEO, Elizabeth Duggan.

The initiative builds on a pilot involving 17,000 children over the past year and is championed by the Department of Education. Schools join through a five-step programme starting with dedicated parkrun primary assemblies, enabling pupils to connect with their local junior parkrun. Once complete, they become recognised parkrun primary schools, embedded within their community’s physical activity network. McCallin, who actively participates in parkrun as a runner and volunteer, highlighted the positive impact that parkrun has on individuals and communities, noting that connecting schools with junior parkruns will multiply those benefits for young people.

Elizabeth Duggan emphasised that parkrun primary not only fosters weekend outdoor activity in a free, accessible, and enjoyable environment for children but also nurtures social bonds and emotional development. She explained that junior parkrun offers a space for children to build confidence, develop social skills, and form meaningful relationships through activities like running, walking, and volunteering. This approach aligns with wider concerns about children’s wellbeing in an increasingly digitally dominated world, where such communal experiences are vital.

Cricket Green Primary School, which took part in the pilot, is now officially twinned with the nearby Figges Marsh junior parkrun event. Headteacher Celia Dawson OBE described the programme as transformative, highlighting its role in promoting physical activity alongside fostering confidence, social skills, and a sense of belonging for children and their families. The school’s experience reflects the broader aims of the initiative: healthier, happier youth with stronger community ties.

The launch comes amid growing concern over children’s physical inactivity in the UK. Government data show that less than half of children meet the Chief Medical Officers’ recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, while a University of Exeter study found that one in five children does not play outside at all during weekends. Junior parkrun events are held in 478 locations nationwide, including 107 in areas with high deprivation, making the initiative an important resource to address health inequalities.

A survey of 1,400 families linked to junior parkrun revealed that 77% of children felt happier after participating, while 85% of parents reported improvements in their children’s feelings of personal achievement. The programme also aligns with Ofsted frameworks addressing personal development, behaviour, education quality, and leadership, integrating physical activity with educational strategies.

The parkrun primary model is partly inspired by the successful parkrun practice scheme, where over a third of GP surgeries have partnered with local parkruns to socially prescribe the event for patients with various health conditions, demonstrating parkrun’s wider impact on public health.

Support from notable figures and organisations further underlines the initiative’s promise. Fitness coach Joe Wicks praised parkrun primary for fostering healthy habits and enjoyment in exercise among children. England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, emphasised the programme’s role in helping children build lifelong healthy behaviours and develop confidence and life skills. Meanwhile, The Daily Mile Foundation, which shares parkrun’s mission to increase children’s activity, expressed strong support for the scheme, highlighting its potential to extend physical activity outside school settings.

The initiative has been made possible through a £1.19 million partnership led by the London Marathon Foundation, supported by London Marathon Events. In its first year, this partnership facilitated the launch of 51 new junior parkrun events and saw children across the UK complete over one million junior parkruns. Nick Bitel, CEO of London Marathon Group, expressed enthusiasm about creating a new connection between primary schools and local junior parkruns to promote wellbeing and establish healthy futures for children.

Junior parkrun itself is a well-established, free 2k event held weekly every Sunday morning for children aged 4 to 14. Organised and run by volunteers in local parks and open spaces, it encourages participation at all levels—running, walking, volunteering, or spectating—building community spirit and promoting healthy habits from a young age. Similar events have been successfully introduced in various communities, such as St. Brendan’s Primary School in Glasgow, where participation has boosted children’s physical activity, community engagement, and mental health.

Regional programmes like those supported by Active Suffolk and Run Wales also complement parkrun’s efforts by promoting free, inclusive physical activities such as The Daily Mile, showing a broad, collaborative commitment across the UK to combat childhood inactivity through community-based initiatives.

By linking schools and local junior parkruns, the parkrun primary initiative aims to create a sustainable, enjoyable pathway for children to be more active, socially connected, and confident, helping to build healthier, happier generations for the future.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of prior publication or recycled content. The initiative was launched on 12th September 2025, and the earliest known publication date is the same day.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The quotes from Shona McCallin and Elizabeth Duggan are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found online.

Source reliability

Score:
8

Notes:
The report originates from the News Letter, a regional newspaper in Northern Ireland. While it is a reputable source, it is not as widely recognised as national outlets like the BBC or The Guardian.

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims about the parkrun primary initiative align with parkrun’s mission to promote physical activity among children. The involvement of Shona McCallin and Elizabeth Duggan adds credibility. However, the report lacks direct links to official parkrun communications or press releases, which would strengthen its credibility.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative presents fresh and original content with unique quotes and aligns with parkrun’s known initiatives. While sourced from a regional newspaper, the information is plausible and consistent with parkrun’s mission. The lack of direct links to official parkrun communications is noted but does not significantly impact the overall assessment.