Over £30k Raised for ParkPlay to Bring Free, Inclusive Sports Sessions to Communities Across the UK
Empowering Communities Through the Wonders of Sport.
February 7, 2025
- ParkPlay was named Decathlon UK’s inaugural Charity of the Year for 2024, with funds raised supporting the expansion of free, inclusive sports sessions through equipment provision and volunteer training.
- A new landmark €123,000 grant from the Decathlon Foundation will now fund Starter Sport Kits over the next three years, enabling ParkPlay to bring its free sessions to even more communities across the UK.
Decathlon UK has proudly revealed that it raised over £30,000 for ParkPlay UK in 2024 through customer donations at tills and optional contributions from event ticket sales. The funds, generously provided by shoppers and event participants, will directly support ParkPlay events by supplying essential equipment, training further volunteers and expanding sessions to new communities in 2025.
Aligned with Decathlon’s global mission to “move people through the wonders of sport,” ParkPlay was selected as Decathlon’s first-ever Charity of the Year in 2024. The partnership reflects a shared ambition to: inspire, empower, and help the UK to become more active by building happier, healthier communities through the life-changing power of play.
Since its launch just three years ago ParkPlay has grown to host free and inclusive play sessions every Saturday at 82 locations, welcoming over 15,000 participants of all ages and abilities. Designed to be simple and fun, the activities range from games for toddlers to those suited for people over 80, fostering active connections within communities.
By focusing on play rather than competition, sessions are relaxed and encourage people that would usually have avoided exercise to take part. Led by instrumental members of the local community, 78% of participants said they were previously inactive before ParkPlay and by regularly taking part experienced higher life satisfaction and wellbeing, enhanced neighbourhood trust and reduced loneliness.
Building on this success, the partnership has secured an additional €123,000 (£106,000) grant from the Decathlon Foundation, which, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, operates globally in over 70 countries to support projects that use sport to improve health, education, and employability.
This landmark grant—the largest ever awarded in Decathlon UK history—will fund Starter Sport Kits over the next three years, enabling ParkPlay to expand its reach. By 2027, the funding aims to support 224 new ParkPlay events, welcoming over 50,000 participants from underserved communities across the UK.
“The success of our partnership with ParkPlay goes far beyond the financial support we’ve provided. ParkPlay is truly leading the charge in making sport more inclusive for thousands, and together we’re helping to democratise sport across the UK. Every weekend, more people have the opportunity to engage in fun, accessible activities. With the Decathlon Foundation’s largest-ever grant, we’re very excited to expand this incredible impact and reach even more communities.” – Delphine Bouchereau-Mazillier, Head of Community Engagement at Decathlon UK
“Thank you to Decathlon for raising over £30,000 for ParkPlay in 2024 through customer donations at the tills and events, and as their Charity of the Year. We are tremendously excited to now work with the Decathlon Foundation with our shared mission to make activity more inclusive and accessible to the communities that might benefit most. This relationship will enable us to extend the impact of ParkPlay for years to come. The support from Decathlon, their staff and customers will help us take the power of play to more communities, supporting more people to be happier and healthier.” Rick Jenner, CEO of ParkPlay
For more information on Decathlon’s partnership with ParkPlay, please visit: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/c/htc/our-partnership-with-park-play_5cff3694-6caa-44ba-b10e-4e43e30b7df7
About ParkPlay
ParkPlay launched to encourage everyone to be more active outdoors and bring communities together. In the last 3 years with the support of Sport England, ParkPlay has successfully launched 63 ParkPlays from Cornwall to Cumbria and has had over 7,500 unique participants.
ParkPlay brings people from local communities together in parks and green spaces across the country for two hours of free, informal games and activity, every Saturday morning. It offers people of all ages and abilities the chance to play together and connect in a relaxed, safe and welcoming setting. ParkPlay is run by the local community for the local community. Set up, support, training and infrastructure are provided by the ParkPlay team.
Everyone’s invited.
ParkPlay is playing a critical role in supporting people’s health and happiness, with those hardest hit over the past couple of years benefiting most.
ParkPlay improves physical and mental health. Active Essex and independent research company State of Life conducted research into ParkPlays impact and social value. They showed that ParkPlayers report higher levels of physical activity, higher levels of wellbeing and resilience, increased neighbourhood trust and lower levels of loneliness (than non-players),… the more frequently someone attends ParkPlay, the higher their life satisfaction is likely to be.
Continued support from partners will help ParkPlay evolve and grow further into 2023, and positively impact communities across the country. ParkPlay’s ambition is to change lives and strengthen communities in hundreds of locations with millions of ParkPlayers.
ParkPlay is on a mission to build happier, healthier communities nationwide through the life-changing power of play.
🤸 To find your nearest ParkPlay or to help ParkPlay grow visit www.park-play.com #community #MeetMovePlay
