We are incredibly proud to share that Brentwood Beagles AC has been named the England Athletics East Region Unsung Project of the Year. The award recognises the hard work of every one of our club volunteers, and we want to say a huge thank you to the members who nominated us.
Key facts
- Award: England Athletics East Region Unsung Project of the Year
- Winner: Brentwood Beagles AC, for its Community Inclusion Project
- Club: founded in May 2022 in Brentwood, Essex
- Who it helps: athletes who face barriers such as the cost of kit, running spikes and travel to competitions
- Who can join: everyone from school year 3 upwards, through to masters athletes
Our Community Inclusion Project
Brentwood Beagles was set up in May 2022 because many postcodes around Brentwood had no athletics club on their doorstep. From day one, the aim was to make the club as inclusive as possible, supporting athletes who would otherwise miss out because of the cost of taking part.
The Community Inclusion Project brings local people together to help with those costs, contributing towards shoes, running spikes, travel to competitions and basic training kit. Through a welcoming, accessible and community-focused approach, it has helped more people get involved in athletics and has built a real sense of belonging among participants from a wide range of backgrounds.
By putting inclusion, support and long-term involvement first, the project has helped more people enjoy the physical, social and wellbeing benefits of sport. Its impact reaches beyond the track too, strengthening connections across Brentwood and creating lasting opportunities for people to become active and involved.
Thank you to our volunteers
This recognition belongs to the volunteers who give their time week after week, and to the athletes and families who make the Beagles such a welcoming club. Thank you all.
Join or partner with us
Want to run with us? You can apply to join Brentwood Beagles AC or find out more about the club.
If you are part of the Brentwood community and would like to know more about partnering with us, or how we can help, please email hello@beagles.org.uk. You can read more about club awards on the England Athletics website.
Frequently asked questions
What award has Brentwood Beagles AC won?
Brentwood Beagles AC has been named the England Athletics East Region Unsung Project of the Year, in recognition of the club’s Community Inclusion Project and the work of its volunteers.
What is the Brentwood Beagles Community Inclusion Project?
It uses athletics to open up opportunities for people who may face barriers to taking part, including the cost of kit, shoes, running spikes and travel to competitions. Contributions from the local community help fund these costs so that athletes who would not otherwise have access can train and compete.
When and where was Brentwood Beagles AC founded?
Brentwood Beagles AC was founded in May 2022 in Brentwood, Essex, to serve local postcodes that had no athletics club on their doorstep.
Who can join Brentwood Beagles AC?
The club is open to everyone from school year 3 upwards, through to masters athletes, across track and field, cross country and road running. Younger members can try a wide range of events rather than specialising early.
How can I support or partner with Brentwood Beagles AC?
Businesses and community groups in Brentwood can email hello@beagles.org.uk to find out about partnering with the club or supporting its inclusion work.
Video transcript
Read the full transcript of the film
We’re a club that has been around now since May 2022. We set up specifically because we knew there was a big catchment area, a lot of postcodes in this area where they weren’t serviced by anything on their doorstep, set out with a very singular purpose. What we wanted to do was make the club very inclusive. And so from day one, we were always looking at the extent to which we could support hardship athletes and athletes who essentially wouldn’t otherwise have access because of the issues of affordability, or even being able to buy kit to come out and do basic training. So we looked at the different ways in which we could support them, and how we could encourage others in the community to come to the table with a little bit of cash every now and again to help fund things like shoes, running spikes, travel to competition and the like.
Brentwood Beagles is incredibly lucky with the quality of people that support us in everything we choose to do. We have some amazing parents, brilliant volunteers, people that really understand the community feel of the club. So whenever we ask for help, whenever we need support for those projects, we get people involved. We really, really make use of our young people. We want them to be given a skill set that they can take into later life.
The club have done really well to bring in kids that maybe wouldn’t have a chance in other clubs. Because there’s a lot of talent out there, there’s also a lot of kids that just love the sport. And there’s a place for everybody, you see people from all kinds of backgrounds, all kinds of talent. And everyone gets better and better here. And everyone’s just so friendly here, everyone wants to help build this club, build every individual within it. And, yeah, it’s great to be a part of.
I came here not really expecting much and to be so welcomed and to be so valued in terms of, you know, the training is exceptional here, the environment is exceptional. I enjoy every moment of it.
I think the great thing about Brentwood Beagles is the range of different activities on offer, and the wide range of ages we have, from the youngsters coming in at eight, which is younger than most athletics clubs, enabling them to get into sport, try different sports at that age, so they’re not funnelled as a runner or thrower or a jumper at that stage. They can try all different sports.
The thing that I’m most proud of since we launched the initiative was simply that we have those athletes on this track that wouldn’t have been here had it not been for the support of the club and the support of our partners. There really is nothing that compares to seeing an athlete achieving their goals and enjoying what they do. And really, that’s what I hope that every club in the country is capable of doing.
Transcript taken from the film’s subtitles, lightly edited for readability.