Last week Team GB announced the very first athletes selected for this summer's Paralympic Games. With just over two months to go until the Games begin, we are proud to share that four of the ten athletes named are from England!

Whether a new club are just finding their feet, or they have been running for over 50 years, the common theme of athletics and running clubs up and down the country is the community they create. Shared passion, enjoyment of exercising together and helping others to succeed are what unite us. For West 4 Harriers in Chiswick, they have been at the heart of their local community for a quarter of a century, created as a spin off from the popular Polytechnic Harriers in the 1980s. We were delighted to award West 4 Harriers a Club Improvement Fund grant, and we recently caught up with Club Secretary Jason Drake to see how they used the money to benefit their community.

With the season in full flow, we are pleased to see several hundred athletes making the School Games National Final Entry standards across all the events and all four Home Nations. To be considered for selection for the School Games National Finals, all athletes must complete an online registration form to confirm they wish to be considered for the Games.

We caught up with top level Technical Official Alison Jordan at the Loughborough International this year and talked about her experiences and her officiating journey from County champs to Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The King's Birthday Honours celebrated the contributions of some of our sport's volunteers and administrators. We got in touch with Stuart Storey and Mandy Goth; two recipients who are involved in grassroots athletics in England - and who have made great strides in club and faciliy improvements.

The summer season has well and truly started as all eyes have been on the Para Worlds in Kobe and the European Championships in Rome. The British contingent have made some very impressive statements at this early point in the season, with much more excitement still to come over the summer as they battle for spots on the Olympic and Paralympic squads. Making the world stage is without doubt an incredible achievement, and we love to support the English athletes as they run, jump, throw and push against the very best in their field. However, we are also passionate about celebrating those behind the scenes; the clubs, personal coaches, support teams, and ourselves as the membership and development body who have all contributed to their journey to success.

The fundamental movement skills of run, jump, and throw are present in most sports, and whichever path a child chooses to take in life will have been positively benefitted by giving funetics a go!

As part of our commitment to continuing to grow our sport, England Athletics is exploring the possibility of adding to the current membership offer, to ensure that we are appealing to everyone with an interest in running and athletics. A proposed addition to this offering is a membership package designed for those who are not currently part of a running club.

Let’s come together to celebrate National School Sports Week this week! It’s important for children to engage in 60 minutes a day of PE, sport and play to set them up for a happy and healthy future. Together we can make this happen, read how you can make a difference.

Nominations are invited for Vice President from affiliated clubs, senior coaches and senior officials, with a closing date of 16 August 2024 at 5pm. A notice of the vacancy will also be sent via email to those eligible to nominate.