A ‘homeless’ free running group, who were recently turned down for planning permission on their long-awaited site in Biggleswade, have found a temporary home at the Harpur Centre, right in the heart of Bedford.
Set up in 2012, Spiral Freerun is a hugely popular Community Interest Company (CIC) which runs high-quality educational and fun parkour/free running sessions for anyone aged four and over. Over the summer of 2023, more than 3,000 children took part in their workshops.
After their rent at Trinity Arts and Leisure Centre was set to rise by over £10,000 in April 2023, director, Luke Brown, set up a crowdfunding appeal to help them create their own space.
Read: Popular sports club makes urgent appeal for premises
A hoped move to Ravensden fell through last summer and a proposed move to a new facility in Biggleswade has been beset by planning issues. Their most recent temporary accommodation at Wyboston Lakes has been flooded, so the offer of a temporary home at the Harpur Centre could not have come at a better time.
The group’s new home is in the former Argos unit at the Harpur Centre, which – for the first time – will provide a ‘window’ into their workshops.
And their new home means that they will be able to extend their opening hours and offer a wider range of classes, giving access to even more young people.
“Bedford is where we want to be located,” said Luke.
“Being pushed out to Wyboston has come with its fair share of challenges to say the least, but with our new location being situated right on the edge of the Harpur Centre not only are we visible from the roadside, but we are being stumbled upon by thousands of members of the
community every single day.
“This has made a huge difference in comparison to our previous locations in which you would need to know where we are in advance, to find us.
“This will provide us an incredible opportunity to showcase to Bedford not only the benefits that parkour/freerunning can provide but also to bring the community together in ways that are better than we have ever been able to do.”
Luke and the Spiral Freerun team have spent the last week renovating the site and are looking forward to making their new landlords proud.
“[Harpur Centre Manager] Sam Laycock, Neil Hockin, the landlord and the rest of the team at The Harpur Centre have absolutely no idea how much they have saved us by providing us with this opportunity to occupy a space of our own in such a prime location,” said Luke.
“I honestly feel like crying, I’m so grateful. If it wasn’t for this opportunity, there was a genuine concern that Spiral Freerun would have to shut its doors after 12 years of sasuccessful operations, as a result of external circumstances which were out of our control.
“A promise from us to the Bedford community is that you will not be disappointed. Spiral HQ will become the talk of the town and attract people of all ages, races, religions and backgrounds in one cohesive communal fashion.
“I’d also keep an eye on our Instagram because some of the ideas we already have for projects/ movements will be sure to blow the town away with the skillset that we hold as athletes and coaches within Spiral Freerun.”
Samantha Laycock, Harpur Centre manager said they were thrilled to welcome Spiral HQ to the centre, saying: “The store concept is really cool and we’re sure it will be a huge hit with our visitors.
“Their commitment to the local community is really inspiring and mirrors our values here at Harpur Centre.”
Luke said that since they’d announced on social media that they would be operating from the Harpur Centre they have been inundated with emails from members.
“Possibly due to our departure from Bedford earlier this year, the attention we have been receiving as a result of the move has been monumental and it’s been incredibly heartwarming to see the return of our old members who have come in to visit us, drop in cakes and drinks and generally just check up on the progress of our vision in our new home,” he said.
Evan Sawyer, of Harpur Centre owners, Tellon Capital said, “We are pleased to have helped Spiral Freerun find a new location, we look forward to them opening for trade and bringing a new offering to the centre.”
You can find out more about Spiral Freerun’s timetable and forthcoming events at their website here.
