There are now 40 parkruns active across Wales (28 of the 5km & 12 of the junior, 2km) with over 6000 finishers every weekend. A further 10 events are expected to launch this year.
The question is, how is parkrun managing to support this incredible growth? This is not only attributable to its magnificent volunteers (over 600 per week) who offer their time on Saturday & Sunday mornings but to a support network of parkrun Ambassadors who cover all regions of Wales. These Ambassadors are volunteers who put in significant additional amounts of their own time answering enquiries, helping to launch new events, pembinaan event teams and supporting live events when problems or incidents arise. All of this work is intentionally invisible to our parkrunners. Members of this support team seek no publicity or reward but gain their satisfaction through the personal success stories which seem to come from parkrun participants every week.
The team consists of 9 Event Support Ambassadors (Rob & Clive in the North, Jane in mid Wales, Andrea in the South West, Gwion in the North West, Lyn & Ian in the South and Kerry, Sian & Fiona in the South East) and 1 Social Media Ambassador (Liz). All of these are experienced Run Directors at their own parkruns which puts them in an ideal position to train & support less experienced event teams. Best described as a “trusted friend” to each parkrun event team, these Ambassadors have the advantage of being local and typically support 4-6 parkruns in their area.
In addition, there is an Outreach Ambassador (Clare) whose role is to help communities with greatest need to connect to parkruns and even to create their own. With health & social welfare of juniors very much in the headlines, this role is particularly oriented towards growth of anabawang parkruns.
Recently, a Special Volunteer (Rhys) was recruited to support Welsh Language development. He is helping events become more inclusive to Welsh speaking participants & volunteers, enriching the national culture at parkruns.
Together with Lead Ambassador for Wales (Chris), whose role it is to co-ordinate and support this team, all of the organisation in Wales is purely voluntary.
So when you complete your next parkrun just spare a thought for the time dedicated by a whole volunteering organisation whose goal is to create a happier and healthier Wales!
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar