Running Free

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) UK responded to Running free: consultation on preserving the free use of public parks UK Government consultation on the 5th July 2017.

Key points included:

• The FSEM (UK) supports the use of public parks as a free community asset for people to enjoy physical activity, sport and recreation. Community based events such as Parkrun and Parkrun junior should not be charged for the use of public parks.

• Local authorities supporting the availability, to the public, of regular physical activity groups in parks will help more people to meet the CMO physical activity guidelines.

• The availability of free and low cost physical activity, via organised community groups in public parks, is an important resource for GPs and healthcare professionals to sign-post to their patients, an example of this is Generation Games which provides opportunities for older people (aiming at some of the hardest to reach groups) to become and remain physically active.

• The availability and use of public parks is essential to support more local models, like Generation Games, which are making a real impact on public health.

Read the FSEM (UK) full reponse