Community Running Groups
Our Community Group initiative aims to champion participation from underrepresented communities in the Royal Parks Half 2026.
Are you a free community running group based in Greater London or southeast England that champions equity, diversity and inclusion?
If so, you may be eligible for community running group places in the Royal Parks Half Marathon.
We’re offering community running groups the opportunity to take part in this year's race at a special discounted rate.
Our goal is to champion participation from underrepresented communities and enhance the inclusive nature of our race, encouraging more people to experience the joy of running in London’s stunning Royal Parks.
We welcome applications from Greater London or southeast England-based community running groups that are free to join and attend and champion participation from the following underrepresented groups:
- participants with disabilities
- participants from Black, Asian and other global majority backgrounds
- participants from lower socio-economic backgrounds
Please note, applications from running groups founded by commercial brands will not be considered.
Applications will open shortly for our 2026 race, if your group is interested in being involved, please register your interest and we'll be in touch very soon.
Community Running Groups that are:
- Free to join and attend
- Based in Greater London or southeast England
- Not founded by commercial brands
and champion participation from one or more of the following underrepresented groups:
- Participants with disabilities
- Participants from Black, Asian and other global majority backgrounds
- Participants from lower socio-economic backgrounds
Applications must be submitted by a Group Leader via our application form.
The Group Leader will be responsible for inviting their runners to register and confirm their place. They will be the main point of contact between the Royal Parks Half team and their group.
The application will then be reviewed and all Community Running Groups will be notified of the outcome of their application.
Please note that only one application per group will be accepted.
We reserve the right to close applications early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Community Running Group entries cost £30 plus a £4.95 admin fee each and all places are VAT exempt.
The individual runner will pay when registering their place.
The maximum number of race places community running groups is 10 per group.
If a community running group only requires one race place, the Group Leader can apply, and we will review the application.
Places must be used by members of community running groups and applications from individuals not associated with a community running group will not be accepted.
Community running group race places are very popular, and we’d like to offer places to as many groups as possible.
Race places are distributed fairly across all applicants which means we may need to offer fewer than requested to accommodate more groups.
Yes, any Community running group race places not used by midday on 24 June 2026 will be reallocated to other groups who have used all their allocated places and had requested more.
Participants from Black, Asian and dual-heritage backgrounds and those indigenous to the global south.
No, community race places are not eligible for charity fundraising.
