The adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half are working with Trafford Council to continue the valuable work of the Trafford Active Fund. This special allocation of money is dedicated to encouraging a long-lasting sport and physical activity legacy in Greater Manchester, by getting residents more active, more often. 

£1 from every paid entry into both the adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half goes into the Trafford Active Fund. 

For the latest allocation of funds, we have worked with Trafford Council to identify several community schemes that will in total receive over £10,000 this spring. You can find out more about the latest recipients below, with plans to support more projects in the near future. 

1. Goodwood Fields Parkrun 

 £2246 of the fund will go towards a storage facility for equipment for the new junior parkrun coming to Goodwood Fields in Summer 2023. 

Like it’s sibling event parkrun, junior parkrun is weekly and free, with the junior event featuring a reduced-2km distance for under 14s and their parents. It’s a great way to start the morning and build community ties in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.  

 Without this storage facility for the event’s equipment, this new parkrun could not go ahead, so it is going to be a much-anticipated opening in the summer. We hope you and your little ones will be there! 

2. Old Trafford Boxing Club Growth of Participation Project 

 The Old Trafford Boxing Club will receive £2,000 from the Trafford Active Fund towards growing its resources and encouraging local people to get involved in the sport. The character-building qualities of boxing are well known, and young people and adults learn self- control, self- reliance, self- discipline, fair play and respect for one another. 

 The money will fund the provision of new boxing gloves and kit, as well as floor to ceiling balls and mirrors for the studio. 

3. Partington and Old Trafford Calisthenics Training Centre 

Partington and Old Trafford are some of the most deprived areas in Greater Manchester, with a lack of facilities and many young people unable to afford traditional gym memberships. This deprivation has been linked to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour. 

 In order to improve the lives of people in these areas and benefits wider society, the Trafford Council is working with sports company Calisseum to transform community centres into calisthenic training centres. Calisthenics is a category of bodyweight exercises which often light handheld apparatuses such as rings and bars. 

 Calisseum’s work in their own words: 

 “Calisseum was created to build healthier communities and provide people of all ages, physical abilities and backgrounds the opportunity to improve their physical and mental well-being through the medium of Calisthenics. 

 We deliver community well-being initiatives, youth interventions along with competitive events that give urban athletes of all abilities a platform to showcase their talents, skills and passions”. 

 The centres will be available for children after-school for 1.5 hours, adults in the community for 1-hour sessions and, crucially, for young people that are not in education, employment, or training (youth intervention programme). 

 This potentially life-changing project – which will receive £2,794 from the Trafford Active Fund – is set to be put into motion by Summer 2023 in Partington and Old Trafford. Watch this space! 

 Thank you to all of the event participants over the years and other donators to the Traffic Active Fund. Your efforts go a long way to get Manchester moving!