Back in 2019, Parkrun released the results from an independent survey carried out by Sheffield
Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre. With over 60,000 responses, the results showed that ‘...volunteering has a bigger impact on health and wellbeing than just running or walking’.
Each parkrun has an Event Director (a volunteer) and then there’s a core team of people with various titles and responsibilities (all volunteers). This core team isn’t usually enough to put on an event so others are encouraged to lend a hand. The number needed varies depending on the event's shape and size. Volunteer roles range from, course set-up, time-keepers, and marshalls, to funnel support and writing the newsletter. There’s even a role of ‘lead bike’ 😀
In 2020 parkrun introduced milestone shirts and volunteer merchandise, mirroring the running/walking milestone clubs. This is a great way to give visibility and recognition to volunteers with people wearing their volunteer milestone shirts whilst running, with pride.
I love to volunteer and over the years I’ve done 14 different roles and a total of 139 stints generating a volunteer ratio of 28%.
My favourite role is doing the ‘First Timers Welcome’. I enjoy this role as I see it as an opportunity to set the tone for our event. Hopefully, I demystify what parkrun is, make people feel welcomed, reassured and positive about what they’re about to do. I’m always surprised by how many tourists we attract each week with people visiting from all around the UK. Today we had tourists from France, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia ensuring it was a very international field. At the end I always aim to ask tourists how they found our event and for any recommendations if I find myself in their part of the world. This ‘ambassadorial’ role for me is a real treasure trove. Volunteering isn’t giving up a run, it provides another layer of well-being.
If you haven’t volunteered at a parkrun I strongly encourage you to give it a go, you can volunteer at any of the London parkruns, that includes the Junior parkruns which take place on Sunday's. As the research has shown it’s likely to add an extra layer of satisfaction to your parkun experience.
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