“Sport gave me things I would not have found elsewhere. I was lucky. A lot of the young people Access Sport works with are not, and the barriers they face are not going to shift on their own.”

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Russell Jefferys as our newest Trustee, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience in sport, community health, marketing, communications and income generation.

Russell joins the Board following a distinguished decade at Parkrun, where he spent seven years leading communications and commercial development before serving as Chief Executive Officer from 2022 to 2025.

Today, Russell runs MOVE Sports Marketing, a running culture studio. Centred around authentic running culture, MOVE Sports Marketing works with brands, rights holders and events organisations across the running and mass participation sector on commercial strategy, marketing and partnerships.

Russell's appointment comes at an exciting time for us as we continue to deliver our ‘Stand for Inclusion’ strategy and work towards launching a new organisational strategy in 2027.

Speaking about his appointment, Russell said:

“Two decades in sport and mass participation has confirmed something I already believed: sport changes lives, but only when people can actually get to it. That is the problem Access Sport exists to solve.”

“I look forward to supporting the team and my fellow trustees as the charity continues to grow its impact, strengthen its income resilience and create more opportunities for young people to belong, develop and thrive through sport."

Russell brings significant expertise in income generation and commercial development, having built parkrun's sponsorship programme into a major revenue stream. His experience in developing sustainable funding models will be invaluable as we continue to broaden our income base and maximise long-term impact.

Alongside his commercial credentials, Russell is a passionate advocate for inclusion. During his time at parkrun, he championed initiatives designed to engage underrepresented communities and challenge traditional perceptions of physical activity, helping to make participation more accessible and welcoming for people from all backgrounds.

Helen Rowbotham, Access Sport Chief Executive, said:

"We're thrilled to welcome Russell to the Access Sport Board. His track record of growing mission-led organisations, developing sustainable income streams and increasing participation in sport speaks for itself. Just as importantly, he shares our belief that sport should be accessible to every young person, regardless of background or circumstance. As we continue to grow our impact, Russell's expertise and insight will be a tremendous asset to the charity."

Russell's combination of strategic leadership, fundraising expertise and commitment to inclusion makes him a fantastic addition to our Board. We are excited to welcome him and look forward to working together to create more opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled young people across the UK.

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