parkrun is a global organisation whose mission is to create a healthier and happier planet. It seeks to unite people across the world under the shared banner of free community-led, socially-focused, physical activity. There are more than 750 parkrun events all over the UK. Participation is through volunteering, walking or running (or a combination of all three) and spectating is also actively encouraged!

The collaboration between parkrun UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) was launched in 2018, with the aim of raising awareness of parkrun amongst GPs and practice staff and encouraging them to take part in parkrun. This scheme promotes signposting patients to parkrun events, supporting the growth of social prescribing and helping to build integrated and supportive local communities which are centred on wellness.

So far more than 1,600 GP surgeries have connected with their local parkrun event with lots of Practice Managers being the ones to take the lead and sign up their practice.

Fran, who is the Practice Manager at Harbourside Family Practice in Bristol explains her experience:

“We are a parkrun practice and we think it’s a great thing! We did a parkrun volunteer takeover in 2019 and did another takeover last month were we got our staff and PPG involved in volunteering. But equally some staff and patients have also walked and run at the event. One of our PPG members has volunteered practically every week at parkrun ever since our first takeover in 2019.

The name (parkrun) is a little misleading as you don’t have to run, you can walk too. They have introduced a new volunteer role called a parkwalker to encourage more walkers to attend parkrun. I would urge you to go along and watch one in your local park so you can see what it’s all about. As well as getting people to be oore active, there is a lot to be said of volunteering and feeling part of a community. Volunteering with parkrun can help combat loneliness and get people outside in nature, it’s not all about the running/jogging/walking.”

Registering is quick and easy and can be done on the parkrun practice website.Once registered, practices are sent a certificate to display as well as having access to a range of resources to promote parkrun to staff and patients.

You can learn more about the parkrun practice initiative and its impact on both practice staff and patients by watching the video below.