Nant y Pandy parkrun & 5k Your Way
A Case Study
Project: Nant y Pandy parkrun & 5k Your Way Nant y Pandy Group
Role: Volunteer Nant y Pandy parkrun founder, Event Director & 5k Your Way Ambassador
Key Focus: Community Engagement, Project Management, Funding Acquisition, Volunteer Leadership & Social Inclusion
The Challenge
In 2018, having experienced the personal benefits of running firsthand, the goal was clear: make regular, inclusive physical activity accessible to the local community in Llangefni.
Transport links and time constraints often act as significant barriers to physical activity. To bridge this gap, a local solution was needed—a free, recurring, community-led event right on the doorstep of Llangefni residents in The Dingle (Nant y Pandy). However, launching a parkrun from scratch requires navigating strict national governance, securing capital funding, mapping a safe route, and assembling a dedicated volunteer structure from the ground up.
The Approach & Solution
Taking on the volunteer role of Event Director, a strategic, step-by-step approach was taken to turn the initial concept into a long-term community staple:
- Business Planning & Funding: Authored a comprehensive business plan to secure necessary start-up funding and gained official approval from parkrun UK to establish the event in The Dingle.
- Stakeholder & Route Planning: Liaised with local authorities and stakeholders to design and risk-assess a safe, accessible, and enjoyable course for participants of all abilities.
- Volunteer Leadership & Capacity Building: Recruited, trained, and managed a core team of Run Directors and a wider pool of volunteers, establishing clear operational frameworks to ensure smooth, safe delivery every Saturday morning.
- Expansion into Health & Wellbeing Initiatives: In January 2024, expanded the event's social impact by becoming an Ambassador for 5k Your Way Move Against Cancer. Launched a monthly meet-up integrated within the main parkrun to support anyone touched by cancer, their families, and healthcare professionals.
The Impact & Results
Since launching in August 2018, Nant y Pandy parkrun has become a vital health and social asset for Llangefni and the surrounding area:
- High-Volume Participation: Welcomed nearly 10,000 individual participants who have completed over 24,000 finishes across the course.
- Strong Community Network: Built and sustained an active network of over 500 volunteers, fostering community spirit, reducing social isolation, and developing local volunteer skills.
- Inclusive Healthcare Support: Successfully integrated the monthly 5k Your Way initiative, offering a welcoming, safe space for cancer patients and supporters to move at their own pace on the last Saturday of every month.
... her tenacity towards getting things done has been without equal.
Chris Davies MBE, parkrun National Coordinator for Wales