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.

Our purpose at England Athletics is to inspire more athletes and runners of all abilities and backgrounds to fulfil their potential and to have a lifelong love for the sport. We know that clubs face many financial barriers, so providing funding opportunities is an integral part of the support we offer to member clubs.

Hereford athletics track has been awarded a grant of £220,000 from the Community Ownership Fund to contribute towards a full upgrade and renovation based at the local leisure centre.

For White Horse Harriers AC, community is at the heart of their club. Throughout the last seven months they have been working really hard to expand the club and improve their inclusivity, giving opportunities for everyone in Wantage and Grove, Oxfordshire to get involved in running.

We are pleased to announce our Club Improvement Fund is returning for 2023 and is now open for applications from member clubs.