Families in Colchester, Essex, will have to find other plans this Sunday, 8 March 2026, as the local junior parkrun has been cancelled. Organisers made the decision to stop the event because there were not enough volunteers available to run it safely.
The Colchester junior parkrun is a free, weekly activity held at Old Heath Recreation Ground. It involves a 2km timed run specifically for children between the ages of 4 and 14.
These events are run entirely by community members and often include teenagers aged 14 to 16 who are working towards their Duke of Edinburgh awards. Without a full team of helpers in specific safety roles, the event cannot go ahead under the rules set by parkrun UK.
Organisers are now asking for more people to join their volunteer team to help prevent more cancellations in the future. Anyone interested in helping can get in touch with the local group to ensure the programme continues to run for local children.
