At the beginning of each month, the number of under 11s registered by clubs are monitored by England Athletics, and for every 30 x U11s registered, clubs receive a free place on our Coaching Assistant course. This scheme is in place to offer support and benefits to each club that chooses to register their under 11 athletes as a commitment to supporting clubs in need of more volunteers and coaches. To see the real impact of this initiative, we recently caught up with Ian Jennings, Quad Kids and multi-event coach at Aldershot Farnham & District. We explored how registering their under 11s has led to parents and older athletes stepping up into volunteering and leadership roles within their club.

Joining a club offers many benefits beyond physical fitness. We recently caught up with Oswestry Olympians’ Social Media Secretary and Run Leader, Oscar Simmons, to find out how transitioning from a solo runner to a club athlete has had a positive impact on his life and sense of belonging.   Like Oscar, many people start running to improve their fitness, but joining a club can play a key role not only in athletic development but also in supporting overall well-being and building a strong sense of community.

This week marks not only UK Coaching Week, but also National Volunteers' Week - two causes very close to our heart. Throughout the week, we will be showcasing a number of fantastic volunteers from the England Athletics family, as well as giving you some exclusive discount to kickstart your coaching or officiating journey.

England Athletics’ seven-strong Club Support team provides a valuable and comprehensive service to our clubs: engaging in two-way conversation; acting upon club feedback; providing support and guidance; and ensuring that our affiliated clubs are well-placed to grow and thrive. With visits to clubs including Retford Athletics Club, Macclesfield Harriers & Athletics Club, Dartford Harriers Athletics Club and Bristol & West Athletics Club, we were – as always – able to meet some of the many volunteers who help our clubs to function and thrive. We also attended the Track & Field County Championships, in Suffolk, Nottinghamshire, Middlesex, Cumbria and Warwickshire.

Chris Johnson has had a strong passion for running and athletics since childhood and is an active member of Blaydon Harrier & Athletics Club. His personal background includes middle/long-distance running as well as high jump and hurdles. Recently, he has re-discovered his passion for running, but has also discovered how much he enjoys coaching.

funetics was created to help 4-11 year old children to learn, develop and practice running, jumping and throwing skills. We recently caught up with Ian McAlister, Junior Development Lead at East Durham Running Club, who took the initiative to bring this programme to East Durham.

Wakefield Council recently commissioned the refurbishment of the existing track and field facilities at Thornes Park Athletic Stadium. This is fantastic news for Wakefield Harriers, who can now train on a vastly improved facility – it is also set to benefit other public groups, local schools, and Wakefield Triathlon Club. We spoke to Wakefield Harriers to find out more.

Last weekend, the Club Support Team and other members of England Athletics staff were delighted to visit a range of championships spanning the country.

This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May) - a topic very important to all at England Athletics.

We recently caught up with 2024 Regional Volunteer Award winner, head coach, and founder of Boro Runners, Ben Palmer, to learn more about how he puts fun and social connection at the heart of the club.