parkrun Research Board Seminar: Volunteering at parkrun - how it can transform your life

parkrun organises free, weekly, timed five kilometre events in parks across the world. Beginning as a time trial back in 2004 with just thirteen people, parkrun now attracts around 400,000 people every weekend across 22 countries worldwide.
parkrun events are delivered by local teams of volunteers who are responsible for marshalling, timekeeping, scanning barcodes, handing out finish tokens or tail walking. parkrun sees volunteers as participants getting many of the same benefits that runners or walkers do.
This seminar will introduce you to volunteering parkrun, describing who they are, how volunteering has grown over the 18 years of parkrun and how the roles have evolved to make parkrun a successful community. We will give you insight into people's motivations to volunteer and tell you true stories of people whose life has been changed by volunteering at parkrun.
Speakers are:
Jasbir (Jaz) Bangerh joined the parkrun family in 2007 and to date she has participated (as a runner, walker and volunteer) over 700 times. In 2014 Jaz was appointed as Head of Volunteer Management responsible for developing and delivering volunteering strategy and vision. She is a passionate advocate for volunteering, believing it to be a fundamental building block of civil society, as well as having huge potential to positively impact health and wellbeing. Prior to working for parkrun, Jaz had over 20 years’ experience in HR in the housing sector at a senior level.
Dr Rachel Hallett's research background is in the psychology of health, exercise and music. Prior to lockdown, she was based in the Joint Faculty of St. George’s, University of London and Kingston University, and was part of a team looking at motivations to volunteer - or not -at parkrun. She now works full time for The Open University.
Dr Simon Tobin FRCGP is a full time NHS GP at Norwood Surgery in Southport where he has worked for 28 years. He is Lead for Diabetes and a GP Trainer. He still loves his job! He is an enthusiastic advocate for offering lifestyle change as a possible alternative to medication and has been privileged to see many patients reverse or dramatically improve their diabetes and health conditions as a consequence. He cares passionately about food and enjoys championing local producers who farm in ethically sound and sustainable ways. He loves running and swimming in wild spaces. He has a voluntary role as an Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing at parkrun and as a regular volunteer at Southport parkrun he has seen first-hand how physical activity and volunteering can transform lives.