A new vision for track and field - group discusses pilot hubs

Work to develop a new vision for track and field in the UK has taken an important next step, with the first collaborative meeting now bringing together people from across the sport to explore how the vision could be delivered in practice.

The vision was first shared earlier this year and then followed by an update outlining how the project would move forward, before England Athletics CEO Chris Jones recently published a blog relating to the vision work. The vision work is focused on creating a more connected, sustainable and athlete‑centred athletics system. A key part of this work is exploring the concept of hubs and clusters that can better support athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers at all stages of the pathway.

First sub-group meeting brings ideas to life

The first meeting linked to the next phase of the project took place recently and was attended by a wide range of individuals from across the athletics community.

The session included contributions from four guest speakers, each of whom shared insight from their own experiences and highlighted principles behind the vision:

• Anthony Gill (British Cycling), who spoke about learning from wider sporting systems
• Joe Hayward (Bournemouth AC), offering a club‑based perspective
• Matthew Adum‑Yeboah (Track Academy), sharing insights from an athlete development and engagement standpoint
• Ben Maliphant (Bristol and West AC), reflecting on delivery and collaboration within athletics environments

Together, they showcased examples of innovative practice, collaboration and system thinking, helping to bring the vision to life and prompt discussion about what could be possible within track and field.

Exploring how hubs could work

Following the presentations, attendees took part in structured discussion sessions focused on the practical application of the vision.

Participants were asked to consider:

• How the concept of hubs or clusters might operate in different local contexts
• What services or support hubs could realistically deliver
• How hubs could bring clubs, facilities, coaches, athletes and partners together more effectively

The discussions generated a wide range of ideas and perspectives, reflecting both the diversity of athletics environments across the UK and a shared appetite for positive change.

Informing pilot hub development

The feedback gathered from the meeting will now be captured and analysed, alongside insight already collected through earlier engagement. This information will help inform the identification and design of pilot hubs or clusters, which represent an important next step in testing how the vision could work in real‑world settings.

These pilots are intended to explore different models of delivery, recognising that a single, uniform approach is unlikely to meet the needs of every area.

What happens next?

The next phase of the project will involve a further meeting focused specifically on how pilot hubs might operate, including:

• Governance and leadership
• Stakeholder involvement
• What success could look like in the short and longer term

This work will continue to be shaped through collaboration, ensuring that the emerging vision remains grounded in the realities of athletics while being ambitious about the future.

England Athletics continues to support the work of the vision group, and commits to supporting the development of the aforementioned pilot hubs. We will continue to share updates as the project progresses, and would like to thank everyone who has contributed time, ideas and expertise so far.

England Athletics CEO Chris Jones said:

"We have been exploring how we might support the development of trail-blazer regional and local hub working collaboratively with our England Council and nine Regional Councils across England. We are looking at how we partner with key individuals and organisations to try and test the hub concept in each of the regions over the next 12 months with the likelihood of us commissioning an initial 2-3 hub projects by the end of the summer with one per designated region to come online thereafter.

"The key for us is local ownership and the last thing we want to do is to stifle enthusiasm and local innovation where it exists and to slow down momentum. We have been clear from the off that this will only be successful if there is a strong aspect of local ownership to define regional, sub-regional and local solutions that are relevant for that specific location – this may look different in different parts of the country. I think we will realise a situation where local people grab the initiative and start to make change with little involvement from England Athletics, and if that is the case then we are very comfortable with that too.

"This is also not necessarily about finding more money to make things work more effectively but ways of working and a mindset to collaborate, share resources, and to try and test new approaches to how we develop key areas of the sport and support networks between those involved in organising and delivering to our athletes, for our athletes. We have been buoyed by the openness and can-do attitudes voiced to date – people are approaching us wanting to be at the forefront of trying new things and we want to encourage that wherever we can."