MileShy Club – Inclusive Running with a Mission to Change Lives
MileShy Club
MileShy Club is a community-focused running organisation based in South Manchester, dedicated to helping people who may never have thought running was for them, to take their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
Founded in January 2017, the organisation began with a simple idea: create a beginner running club where nobody feels left behind.
Today, MileShy Club has grown into a large and impactful community organisation, delivering beginner running clubs, walking groups and mental health programmes across Greater Manchester.
How MileShy Club Began
MileShy Club started on 8 January 2017, when founder Jane Dennison turned up at Sale Waterside Plaza to launch a beginner running group.
At the time, there were very few running clubs designed specifically for people who were completely new to exercise.
Jane wanted to create something different — a supportive environment for people who might otherwise feel excluded from traditional running clubs.
Thirty people attended that very first session, and the organisation has grown steadily ever since.
Today, MileShy Club operates:
16 beginner running clubs across South Manchester
Seven beginner walking groups
Two mental health support groups
A range of special projects and community initiatives
The guiding principle remains the same as it was on day one:
No one gets left behind.
An Organisation Built on Inclusivity
Inclusivity is at the heart of everything MileShy Club does.
The organisation works with a wide range of communities and individuals who may face barriers to participating in sport or physical activity.
For example:
A beginner walking group held inside the Trafford Centre, where around 95% of participants have a learning disability
Women-only beginner running clubs, including one in Longsight, one of the most deprived areas of Manchester
Sessions specifically supporting Muslim women, who may never have exercised before
Programmes working with people in drug and alcohol recovery
Support for individuals living with or recovering from cancer
For many participants, the motivation goes far beyond fitness.
Jane explains that many people join MileShy Club to rediscover their identity.
Some participants have spent years focused on caring for others and want to reconnect with themselves. Others are rebuilding confidence after a major health challenge.
And for many, the motivation is simple: improving their health after a difficult conversation with a doctor about conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, Pre-diabetes or Hypertension.
Through supportive coaching and community encouragement, MileShy Club helps people take positive steps towards a healthier life.
Supporting New Runners: The First Steps Matter
MileShy Club focuses strongly on helping people who are completely new to physical activity.
Much of their work follows the structure of the NHS Couch to 5K programme, gradually introducing participants to jogging and running.
The organisation has even been featured in national BBC and NHS Couch to 5K campaigns, helping promote beginner running to a wider audience.
The first few weeks of any programme focus on:
Building confidence
Introducing gentle jogging intervals
Helping participants develop sustainable habits
By breaking running down into small, achievable steps, MileShy Club enables people who once believed running “wasn’t for them” to discover that it can be accessible and enjoyable.
Coaching, Training and Volunteer Development
Behind the scenes, MileShy Club has built a strong and highly trained volunteer team.
The organisation currently works with:
65 trained run coaches
Nine personal trainers and yoga instructors
All volunteer run leaders complete the England Athletics Run Leader qualification, and new coaches receive three months of mentoring to ensure they are confident supporting beginners.
Several volunteers have also been funded to complete Level 2 Coaching in Running Fitness qualifications.
To support other organisations and aspiring coaches, MileShy Club has even developed a running coach manual, available through their website, which explains how to deliver inclusive and accessible running sessions.
Activities, Events and Community Engagement
MileShy Club offers activities every day of the week, including:
Couch to 5K programmes
Beginner walking groups
Club running sessions
Community events and fundraisers
The organisation also collaborates with other groups, such as Run The Streets, to deliver unique events like music runs.
The aim is always to create supportive spaces where people can connect, move and improve their wellbeing.
A National Moment on BBC Breakfast
One of the highlights for Jane and the MileShy Club team came when the organisation appeared on BBC Breakfast.
Volunteers were invited to represent beginner running on national television, encouraging people across the UK to start their own Couch to 5K journeys.
During the broadcast, Jane had the opportunity to sit on the famous BBC Breakfast sofa alongside broadcaster Jo Whiley and speak about the importance of helping people become more active.
For MileShy Club, it was a proud moment that showcased the impact grassroots organisations can have in promoting health and wellbeing.
Looking Ahead: Growing a Sustainable Community Movement
The future looks bright for MileShy Club.
The organisation is continuing to grow and has ambitious plans for expansion.
Upcoming initiatives include:
Expanding mental health activity groups
Launching workplace Couch to 5K programmes, allowing employees to get active during lunch breaks
Connecting workplace participants with MileShy Club’s beginner running groups across Greater Manchester
Ultimately, the long-term goal is to make the organisation financially sustainable without relying entirely on funding, allowing the team to grow and reach more communities.
Jane’s vision is bold:
To build a movement similar to parkrun, accessible to people across the UK — and potentially beyond.
As Jane puts it: “Go big or go home.”
Supporting MileShy Club Events
MileShy Club continues to host community running events throughout the year, encouraging hundreds of people to take part in their first ever 5K runs.
Events regularly attract 300–400 participants, many of whom are completing their first ever parkrun.
Celebrating those achievements with memorable and sustainable medals helps reinforce the positive experience for new runners taking their first steps into the sport.
Sustainable Medals for Running Events
https://sustainablemedals.com/eco-medals/