We were incredibly proud to support the Hiltingbury Recreation Ground junior parkrun. Today, the 17th event, five members of the goPhysio team, Ashan, Fiona, Katie, Kim and Gemma (along with some younger team members!!) were at the event leading the warm-up and cheering the young runners across the finish line.
Despite the autumnal feel and a little rain, 130 children took part, including 24 first-timers, supported by an amazing team of 33 volunteers. Seeing so many children and families choosing to start their Sunday by getting outside and being active was genuinely inspiring.
Our involvement in junior parkrun means so much to us because it is about far more than running two kilometres. It gives children an opportunity to experience movement as something positive, enjoyable and sociable. There is no pressure to be the fastest – the achievement is in joining in, moving your body and being part of a supportive community.
The importance of opportunities like this is backed by the wider evidence. The latest Sport England Active Lives Children and Young People Survey shows that only 49.1% of children aged 5 – 16 achieve the recommended average of 60 minutes of physical activity each day. This means more than half of children are still not moving as much as is recommended for their health and development.
The UK Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines recognise that regular activity supports children’s mental health, cardiovascular fitness, healthy growth, concentration and learning. They also highlight that activity levels tend to decline as children grow older, with some evidence that the habits developed during childhood continue into adult life.
The impact of junior parkrun also extends well beyond physical fitness. In the 2024 junior parkrun Health and Wellbeing Survey, 76% of children said they felt happier after taking part, while 66% said junior parkrun made them feel more confident.
At goPhysio, our mission is Adding Life To Your Years®. As a team that regularly supports children and teenagers with physiotherapy, injuries and rehabilitation, we see how important it is for young people to feel confident in their bodies and enjoy being active.
Every welcoming warm-up, lap completed, milestone wristband and smiling finish-line moment helps create a positive relationship with movement. By making activity enjoyable, inclusive and accessible from an early age, junior parkrun is helping to sow the seeds for healthier habits that may last a lifetime.
That is why we are so proud to be one of the event’s main funders – not only helping to make it possible, but also getting involved alongside the children, families and wonderful volunteers who bring it to life.
Rain or shine, it is a fantastic community initiative, and we feel very fortunate to be part of it. Here’s to many more Sunday mornings spent moving, smiling and helping local children discover what their bodies can do!