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Dronfield junior parkrun FAQs
Facts at a glance
Event: Weekly junior parkrun
Time: Sundays at 09:00; volunteers from 08:30; course expected to be cleared by 09:30
Expected participation: Approximately 40 children initially
Park use: Shared with the public; no exclusive use
Parking: 89 surrounding spaces plus 4 disabled spaces, with permission to use the GP surgery car park
Council cost: £0
Licence period: 12 months
Below are dozens and dozens of questions we felt residents and councillors may want answering. If you have any more, please contact us using the form below.
1. The proposal and its impact
What is being proposed?
A weekly junior parkrun at Sindelfingen Park, taking place every Sunday at 09:00. The event is expected initially to attract approximately 40 children. Volunteers would arrive from 08:30 for course inspection and marshal positioning, with the course expected to be cleared by 09:30.
How will the event affect other users of the park?
Parkrun would take place alongside dog walkers, other runners, children on their scooters, or whoever else is in the park at the time. Participants are reminded before every run that it is an event on shared paths, and they MUST give way to other park users. Volunteer marshals would remind participants of this during the run.
How will you manage parking, and what happens if problems arise?
There are 89 spaces in the surrounding car parks, plus 4 disabled spaces. We have permission from Dr Ripon to use the GP surgery’s car park for the event.
During the initial events, we would have car park marshals to direct parents to the available spaces and help manage parking. In our pre-event information and on the website, we would ask people to use these car parks and not to park on nearby residential streets or obstruct access for residents or emergency vehicles.
Parking would also be monitored throughout the licence period. If any issues arose, the event team would work with the Town Council to understand and address them, including considering whether additional measures were needed.
How many children do you expect to attend?
A realistic expectation from parkrun UK is about 40 children. Holmebrook Valley Park gets a similar number of runners.
City junior parkruns, such as Graves or Millhouses, recorded 52 and 151 runners respectively on 23 August. Millhouses is an exceptionally popular junior parkrun and is one of the busiest in the country, encouraging local schools to advertise it to their pupils. They have a popular and established adult parkrun, with a much larger catchment area compared to Dronfield.
While we cannot cap numbers, we would be sensible in our approach, such as not advertising it widely.
What about noise and disturbance to nearby residents?
We know this is a concern for some councillors and residents, so we have seriously considered how we can be a friendly and considerate neighbour. With the event starting officially at 09:00, we would do our welcome briefing a couple of minutes before. This would happen on the basketball court, or nearby if it is in use, so we are at least 70m (232ft) away from the nearest house on the other side of Gosforth Drive. We would not use any amplification device, such as a microphone or loudhailer.
Supportive parents and volunteers are a staple of parkrun, but we ask them to be considerate in the clapping and cheering they may do. So we would ask them not to bring bells, instruments, or anything else that would increase the noise outside an expected level for a Sunday morning.
The start and finish line have been chosen to be away from houses, so people congregating and chatting after the run will not be directly outside someone’s home.
Other events, such as the Staveley junior parkrun, are directly next to homes and there have been no noise complaints to parkrun UK.
The events would be finished by 09:30.
2. Safety, safeguarding and accountability
Who is responsible for running the event?
While Dronfield Running Club is helping to initially organise the event, we plan to encourage the community to take ownership, through volunteering opportunities as well as running. The running club would initially provide the core marshals and Run Directors, but there are no expected issues when it comes to volunteering numbers. Parents would be asked to help volunteer, as well as encouraging young people who may be working towards Scouts or Girlguiding badges, or taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh award.
Who is responsible for the children?
Parents will be responsible for their children at all times. Some parents may choose to run parts of the course with their child, while others will wait for them at the end. The volunteers will ensure children stay on the course, give way to members of the public, behave in a positive way, and are safe while running.
What safeguarding arrangements are in place?
All Run and Event Directors will be DBS checked. Parents remain responsible for their children at all times, while volunteers help ensure children stay on the course, give way to members of the public, behave positively and remain safe while running.
Event Directors will also undertake training with the NSPCC.
Who is accountable if something goes wrong?
The junior parkrun would operate under parkrun’s established insurance and safety arrangements. The Race Director would be responsible for the event on the day, with appropriate first aid provision in place. The Town Council would not have liability or accountability for the running of the event or any incidents arising from it. Any incidents or injuries would be managed and recorded in line with parkrun’s procedures.
What risk assessment will be carried out?
Parkrun UK will work with us to carry out a risk assessment, using their templates for other parkruns across the country. It will take into account specific parts of the course, and also the expected numbers of runners.
It will also help shape the cancellation policy for the specific event should participant safety be at risk at any point.
3. What happens when circumstances change?
What happens if the weather is poor?
The decision whether to hold the event or not is down to the Run Director on the day. They are the nominated person in charge and therefore responsible for the safety of children and volunteers.
Rain would not typically be a reason to cancel an event.
However, if the course is unsafe, through ice on the paths or a fallen tree, the event will be cancelled. These decisions are likely made on the morning of the event, but during periods of expected poor weather, such as after a storm or forecasted snow, a nominated volunteer would walk the course early and the message communicated via social media or WhatsApp groups that the event is cancelled.
What happens if the park or part of the course is unavailable?
If the park is closed, through maintenance, utility work, or another event such as the Dronfield 10K taking place, the event would be cancelled. If the course is unsafe, the event would be cancelled.
Who has authority to cancel or stop the event?
The Run Director is the nominated person in charge on the day and is responsible for the safety of children and volunteers. The event would be cancelled where the course or park is unsafe or unavailable, or where the minimum safe volunteer requirements cannot be met.
How can the Council and community raise concerns during the licence period?
We would suggest that the junior parkrun event team maintains a partnership discussion with nominated council representatives or committee, throughout the licence period, providing an opportunity to raise concerns, share feedback and undertake regular reviews.
There would also be a dedicated event-team email address for the junior parkrun, available for general enquiries and feedback from the wider community. Any concerns raised would be reviewed by the event team and, where appropriate, discussed with the Council and parkrun UK.
4. Why Sindelfingen Park?
Why have you chosen Sindelfingen Park?
We believe Sindelfingen Park is a perfect location for the events. This is because:
● It is a central park with a catchment area allowing for people to walk to the event
● It has almost 100 car parking spaces
● It is all tarmac paths ensuring the event is accessible during all weathers
● It is a large park allowing for a varied course
● It is already an established park with a high-quality play area
What other locations were considered?
We have considered Dronfield Rec, Cliffe Park, Gosforth Fields and Peak Resort. While land owners were very positive and helpful, problems we identified include:
Rec:
● All grass
● Boggy during wet weather in the lower areas of the park
● Uneven grass surface creating a tripping hazard
● Fewer car parking spaces compared with Sindelfingen
● Not as central so more participants would travel by car
Cliffe Park:
● 35 car parking spaces compared with almost 100 at Sindelfingen Park
● Course would require out-and-backs meaning runners would be on both sides of the path, potentially causing hazards
● Course would require additional marshals due to sections of running outside of the park (towards the cricket pitch)
● Parts of the course near Park Lane and Green Lane would go directly passed homes/garden
Gosforth Fields:
● Already in use on a Sunday at 09:00 with popular sporting events
Peak Resort:
● Far away from Dronfield so most people would drive to location
● Small car park
Will people walk, cycle or use public transport to the event?
By choosing a central park, we would expect a lot of participants to walk, ride or scoot to events. While some will drive, sustainable and active travel is encouraged. On a Sunday, the 43 bus from Chesterfield to Sheffield stops near the park at 08:15.
5. How the event operates
What is the route?
It is proposed to start and end at the basketball court. Runners would then make their way down the path, before turning right and heading towards the north east of the park. They would turn back and head up the path towards the bus stop on Gosforth Drive. They would turn right towards the wildflower meadow before heading down the hill towards the crossroads, and then continuing again towards the north east of the park. This outer loop would be repeated before finishing back at the basketball court. This route would will be risk assessed in conjunction with parkrun UK and it has been measured to be 2,011m.
The final route will be agreed with the Town Council before the licence period commences.
An image of the proposed route is below.
How long does the event last?
The event begins at 09:00 every Sunday. Volunteers are asked to arrive from 08:30 so a course inspection can take place and people can make their way to the marshal points. Most runners and parents will arrive at about 08:50. The overall official average finish time across all UK junior parkrun events is exactly 13 minutes. The final finisher at the Holmebrook Valley junior parkrun on Sunday 23 August took 20 mins 29s. We would expect the course would be cleared away by 09:30.
What equipment is required and where will it be stored?
The equipment required is minimal and includes signs, tape for the finish funnel, barcodes and a checklist. All of this fits inside a wheelie bin, which is commonly used by parkrun events across the country.
We do have a secure storage area available for the equipment, but we are exploring whether suitable storage closer to the park could be identified. This would make it easier for our volunteer team to access and transport the equipment each week.
What toilet facilities will be available?
Toilet arrangements would be clearly set out in the event information on the parkrun-hosted website, including where there are no toilet facilities available within the park.
We are also continuing positive local discussions to understand whether access to nearby toilet facilities could be made available during junior parkrun hours. Any agreed arrangements would be clearly communicated to participants and families in advance.
Who looks after the park after the event?
Volunteers will leave their marshal points once the final runner has passed and will walk back along the course they have been responsible for. They will collect any dropped litter, should there be any, and collect the course equipment, such as signs. Nothing will be left out and the park will return to its original state.
6. Community benefit
What opportunities does this provide for the wider community?
Junior parkrun is about more than running. It provides opportunities for children, families and adults of all ages to support their physical and mental wellbeing, build confidence and develop a sense of community belonging.
It also provides a structured, regular and local activity for young people who may not take part in more traditional team sports, as well as opportunities for volunteering and community participation. For older young people, participation and volunteering could also support wider personal development and awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
This is also consistent with parkrun’s new Health and Inclusion Strategy, which recognises parkrun as a community health asset that can support physical and mental wellbeing, social connection and a sense of belonging.
How will local youth and community organisations be involved?
We have had positive responses from a range of local youth, sporting and community organisations, including PODS (Partnership of Dronfield Schools), Life Dronfield, Samba Coaching (a Dronfield-based Community Interest Company), Girlguiding, Scouting, Dronfield Rugby Club and Mind Derbyshire.
We see opportunities to work with local groups, clubs and organisations to encourage participation, volunteering and wider community involvement, and to explore how junior parkrun could help extend the benefits of their existing activities and opportunities.
What about children with additional needs?
Parkrun is inclusive and everyone is encouraged to take part. This means some people may choose to volunteer, run, jog, skip or walk around the course. A flat route, taking place solely on tarmac paths, makes it an accessible course.
Some events are inclusive by teaching children a word in sign language before each weekly event.
Is this intended to become an adult parkrun?
No. This has already been explored at Sindelfingen Park and we believe a 5km parkrun would not be suitable. We also understand parkrun UK would not support such an application for an adult event.
How many other junior parkruns are there?
There are currently 519 junior parkruns, with more being set up every month. The nearest junior parkruns to Dronfield are at Graves Park, Millhouses Park, Holmebrook Valley Park and in Staveley.
7. Funding and Council resources
Who is paying for the event?
Dronfield Running Club would organise funds to pay the £4,800 needed to set up the event. This may include asking local businesses for donations, or taking advantage of grants for youth sport provisions. Dronfield Running Club’s Big Dipper Half Marathon events raised funds specifically for youth provisions such as this.
What does the £4,800 setup cost cover?
The £4,800 covers the cost of directional signs, hi-vis marshal vests, finish funnels, and lanyards. It also pays for first aid kits, as well as the behind-the-scenes technical infrastructure such as barcode scanning, results, and website. Finally, it helps pay for ongoing support and training, volunteer insurance, and central operational backing from parkrun UK. All Run and Event Directors will be DBS checked.
What are the ongoing costs?
Ongoing costs are minimal. This may include replacement or additional signs, or replacement finisher tokens. Many parkruns have a reserve pot which covers any additional costs.
Is the event free?
For participants and volunteers, the event is free. All runners need to register on parkrun’s website and are given a barcode which is then scanned at the end of the run.
Will the Town Council have to pay anything or provide additional resources?
No. The set up and small recurrent costs of the junior parkrun will be sourced by Dronfield Running Club. There are no additional requirements for the Outdoor Services team to maintain the park beyond their usual activities in order for the junior parkrun to take place.
8. The 12-month licence and decision-making
Why are you asking for a 12-month licence?
A 12-month licence will allow us to see how the event performs in different seasons, during school holidays and we will be able to see the true impact it has on participation levels. We would expect numbers to grow rapidly in early weeks, before tapering off. Depending on when the event started, numbers of participants are heavily impacted by weather and holidays. It will also allow the volunteer team to truly understand what numbers are required, from barcode scanning, to static marshals, to car park marshals.
We feel a full year will allow us, and the Town Council, to make an informed decision about the future of the event.
This is what is being offered at other parkruns in conjunction with Derbyshire County Council, for example, at Black Rocks in Wirksworth.
Can I see an event in operation?
Yes. Anyone is welcome to attend a local, established junior parkrun to see how the event operates. These take place weekly at 09:00 and can be attended independently or accompanied by a Dronfield volunteer.
We would also be happy to invite anyone to walk the proposed route at Sindelfingen Park at 09:00 on a Sunday morning, if this would be helpful in understanding the proposal and how it would work in practice.
What happens at the end of the 12-month licence?
The 12-month licence provides an opportunity to trial the event and assess its impact. We would want to mutually agree the criteria for success, including clear criteria for continuation or exit, at the outset. The intention would be to maintain open partnership working and regular review throughout the licence period, so there should be no surprises at the end of the 12 months. The evidence collected would then be reviewed with the Council and, depending on the findings, the licence could be renewed, amended or not continued.
Any more questions?
Get in touch using the form below and we will respond to any questions.
