The Winning Tape appointed by Home Countries Athletics Federations to seek grassroots partnerships

The Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAFs) of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have appointed Marc Hope from The Winning Tape to support the search for a headline partner for their UK wide social running, club, community, and youth programmes.

Marc, who will be working with Andy Anstey, commercial lead at England Athletics, has an extensive track record in delivering significant long-term partnerships in athletics and running, as well as community and social impact programmes.

RunTogether is a social running programme, designed to provide fun, friendly, supportive, and inclusive running opportunities for everyone. As improving runners’ physical and mental health, it plays a broader role in building social capital – creating friendships, building reciprocity and connecting runners to their local neighbourhood. Launched in 2017 it has over 3,500 groups with nearly 250,000 runners across the UK.

The club and community package brings together a network of nearly 2,000 clubs supporting more than 200,000 athletes and runners. It offers commercial partners the opportunity for digital and face-to-face engagement with the most inclusive, diverse sport in the UK.

The youth and schools opportunity brings together funetics, the run, jump, and throw programme in clubs and schools supported by Great Britain and England heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson with Sportshall, competition format and national school championships.

Chris Jones, England Athletics CEO, said:

“We know the power of athletics and running to transform lives, helping build vibrant, healthy, and engaged communities in schools, clubs, and neighbourhoods across UK through our network of athletics and running clubs and social running groups.”

Marc Hope said:

“We believe passionately in the power of sport to connect communities and the HCAF programmes are the perfect catalysts to doing just that.”