Personal Best Foundation
Personal Best Foundation is a UK registered charity affiliated to England Athletics that delivers free athletics programmes — Community Athletics Hubs, schools programmes, and a small grants fund — to disadvantaged children and young people aged 4–18, funded primarily through donations, corporate partnerships (notably Citroën), and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Personal Best Foundation does
Personal Best Foundation (PBF) is an independent UK registered charity (Charity No. 1200354; Company No. 13884416) founded in November 2022 and headquartered at Athletics House, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. Affiliated to and supported by England Athletics, the foundation's stated mission is to address inequality and poverty that prevent around 4 million UK children and young people from accessing sport, by delivering free athletics programmes in underserved communities.
PBF's core offering comprises Community Athletics Hubs (free weekly 45–60 minute sessions built on England Athletics' funetics curriculum for ages 4–11), a Schools Programme delivering free after-school athletics with teacher training, a Young Leaders volunteer pathway, and a Small Grants Fund (£500–£2,000 per award). Delivery is executed through a network of specialist local partners including Street Futures, Aspire and Succeed, The Pioneer Group, free@Last, Unity Hubb, Sporting Way CIC, plus StreetGames and Access Sport for system-level engagement. The flagship commercial relationship is with Citroën UK, supporting 15 primary schools across Coventry, Ellesmere Port and Rugby. Research and insight work is delivered via a partnership with Leeds Beckett University's Centre for Social Justice in Sport and Society ('Beyond the Physical' study).
Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-off, monthly, Gift Aid), corporate partnerships (Citroën, Enertor, JogOn, The Will Guys for legacy giving), fundraising events (galas, online auctions, prize draws), and grants (Zurich Community Trust, trusts and foundations). There are no customer fees; the operating model is a charity donation-and-grant structure rather than a sales model. Governance is via a Board of Trustees including Chair Mark Lawrie, Vice Chair Michelle Carney, Treasurer Ali Smith (Paralympian), and England Athletics CEO Chris Jones, with delivery managed by a small staff led by a Foundation Manager. The foundation has expanded from launch to operations spanning five Birmingham wards, Lewisham, and selected school sites within roughly three years.
Personal Best Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Personal Best Foundation
- Legal name
- Personal Best Foundation
- Website
- https://personalbestfoundation.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Personal Best Foundation is a UK registered charity affiliated to England Athletics that delivers free athletics programmes — Community Athletics Hubs, schools programmes, and a small grants fund — to disadvantaged children and young people aged 4–18, funded primarily through donations, corporate partnerships (notably Citroën), and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Personal Best Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Sport Charity Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
Keywords
Where Personal Best Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Personal Best Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-off and monthly donations from individuals, with Gift Aid benefit (25% extra at no cost to donor). Fundraising appeals and personal challenges (marathon runners, birthday fundraisers).
- Corporate Partnerships: Charity of the year partnerships, commercial partnerships (cause-related marketing), corporate donations, event sponsorship, and gifts in kind (skills, expertise, products). Citroën is flagship corporate partner.
- Fundraising Events: Gala dinners, online auctions, prize draws (Sporting Chance Prize Draw). Inaugural launch gala raised over £20,000.
- Grants: Grants from trusts and foundations such as Zurich Community Trust (£5,000 for Birmingham pilot). Small grants fund (£500-£2,000) awarded to community clubs.
- Legacy Giving: Gifts in Wills through partnership with The Will Guys free Will service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free community athletics programmes |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Personal Best Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Personal Best Foundation is a registered charity that provides free community athletics programmes for children and young people aged 4-11 from disadvantaged backgrounds in England. The foundation delivers Community Athletics Hubs through trusted local delivery partners (such as Street Futures, Aspire and Succeed, and The Pioneer Group) and Schools Programmes in primary schools in underserved areas, using the funetics curriculum focused on running, jumping, and throwing skills. Services are entirely free to beneficiaries and funded through donations, corporate partnerships, grants, and fundraising events.
Product overview
Personal Best Foundation operates as a charitable foundation offering a portfolio of community-focused athletics programmes for disadvantaged children and young people in England. The core offering centres on Community Athletics Hubs providing free weekly funetics sessions (running, jumping, throwing skills for ages 4-11) delivered through trusted local partners, supplemented by Schools Programmes with teacher training, a Young Leaders pathway, and a Small Grants Fund supporting external clubs. The foundation also provides fundraising support services, corporate partnership opportunities, and research initiatives including the 'Beyond the Physical' study. Key partnerships with Citroën, England Athletics, StreetGames, and Access Sport enable delivery at scale, particularly in underserved communities facing poverty and inequality.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- funetics: England Athletics' fun and inclusive athletics programme for children aged 4-11, focusing on running, jumping and throwing skills through games and activities.
Products and services
- Community Athletics Hubs Free weekly community athletics sessions for children aged 4-11 delivered through trusted local partner organisations in Birmingham and Lewisham. Sessions focus on running, jumping and throwing skills through funetics programme, providing 45-60 minutes of physical activity in inclusive, safe environments.
- Schools Programme (funetics) Free after-school athletics programmes delivered in primary schools in underserved communities, focusing on fundamental movement skills development through running, jumping and throwing activities. Includes teacher training to embed athletics in curriculum.
- Young Leaders Programme Volunteer and career development pathway for young people removing financial barriers to participation in athletics leadership opportunities.
- Small Grants Fund Grants of £500-£2,000 awarded to clubs and community programmes supporting children from low-income families or under-represented ethnic and faith-based communities.
- Corporate Partnership Programme Partnership options including Charity of the Year, Employee Fundraising, Commercial Partnerships, Corporate Donations, Sponsorship, and Gifts in Kind for companies aligned with the foundation's vision. Citroën is the flagship corporate partner.
- Online Auction Fundraising auction platform hosted by Superstars offering sporting experiences, memorabilia and hospitality packages to raise money for disadvantaged children's athletics programmes.
- Beyond the Physical Research and Insights Research study conducted with Leeds Beckett University examining the social impact of athletics on young people, providing an evidence-based framework for programme design focusing on session climate, leadership and delivery of learning.
- Fundraising Support Tools and resources for individuals and organisations to raise funds for the foundation, including joint online fundraising pages through People's Fundraising platform, event support, and charity partnership opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 42% of young people in Birmingham meet recommended 60 minutes daily activity (vs 49% nationally)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Personal Best Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Personal Best Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Personal Best Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Access SportcorePartner in Community Athletics Festival at Alexander Stadium and Beyond Framework social impact model. Specialist in inclusive sport delivery working with PBF on SEND-focused provision at hubs.
- StreetGamescoreUK charity dedicated to transforming lives of young people from underserved communities through sport. Partner in Beyond Framework and Community Athletics Festival, bringing expertise in doorstep sport delivery.
- Street FuturescoreBirmingham charity and primary delivery partner for Community Athletics Hubs. Delivers funetics sessions in Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East. Part of StreetGames network supporting underserved young people.
- Citroën UKflagshipFlagship corporate partner supporting free after-school athletics programmes in 15 primary schools across Coventry, Ellesmere Port, and Rugby. Partnership includes school programmes, talent pathway support, and national events. In first year helping 700+ children access athletics.
- Sporting Way CICcoreNon-profit delivery partner for inaugural Personal Best Community Athletics Hub in Lewisham. Founded by Bradley Pritchard, focused on using sport to engage young people and support wellbeing.
- Leeds Beckett University (Centre for Social Justice in Sport and Society)coreResearch collaboration with Carnegie School of Sport conducting 'Beyond the Physical' study on social impact of athletics on young people. Provides evidence base for programme design.
- JogOnminorCollaboration to collect and redistribute pre-loved running shoes and spikes to clubs working with disadvantaged young people. Addresses equipment cost barrier to participation.
- EnertorcoreOfficial partner charity of leading global insoles brand. Enertor encourages online donations at point of sale and has partnered since 2023 to support children and young people access athletics.
- The Will GuysminorFree Will writing service partnership allowing supporters to write or update Wills at no cost (£9.96 P&P only). Encourages legacy giving to PBF while providing valued service.
- England AthleticscoreEngland Athletics established Personal Best Foundation as its official charity. PBF is affiliated to and supported by the national governing body, gaining access to 1,600+ affiliated clubs, national events, and the funetics programme. CEO Chris Jones serves as founding trustee.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Personal Best Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Youth Sport Trust: UK charity focused on PE, sport and physical activity in schools. Comparable in mission and delivery channel (schools-based programming for children) and is a likely competitor for the same CSR funding pool PBF targets.
- Lord's Taverners: UK charity focused on giving young people, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities, a sporting chance. Direct peer — comparable beneficiary focus, sport-for-development ethos, and reliance on corporate partnerships and high-profile ambassadors for fundraising.
- StreetGames: UK charity dedicated to transforming lives of underserved young people through doorstep sport. Directly comparable: overlapping mission (sport-for-disadvantaged-youth), shared delivery model via local partners, and even overlapping governance (PBF Chair Mark Lawrie is StreetGames' former CEO).
- Dame Kelly Holmes Trust: UK charity helping disadvantaged young people through sport and mentoring, leveraging elite athlete ambassadors. Direct peer — uses high-profile athlete credibility to drive youth engagement and employability outcomes, structurally similar to PBF's ambassador-led model.
- Access Sport: UK charity making sport accessible to disadvantaged young people, with focus on inclusive and SEND provision. Direct peer — PBF lists Access Sport as a strategic partner in the Beyond Framework and Community Athletics Festival, and both target the same beneficiary cohort via community-based delivery.
- Greenhouse Sports: UK charity providing long-term sports coaching and mentoring to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Comparable beneficiary base, school-based delivery model, and reliance on corporate partnerships for funding.
Broad incumbents
- The Prince's Trust: Major UK youth charity supporting disadvantaged young people through education, training and personal development programmes including sport. Broader mission but overlaps on beneficiary cohort and corporate-partnership-led fundraising model; represents the scale of brand and funding that PBF could aspire to.
- Sport England: National body for sport in England, distributing significant public and Lottery funding into grassroots sport. A broad incumbent — not a direct competitor, but a major potential funder and policy shaper whose funding priorities materially affect PBF's addressable grant pool.
- England Athletics: National governing body for athletics in England. PBF's founder-affiliate and parent ecosystem — not a competitor, but the institutional platform on which PBF's distribution moat (1,600+ clubs, funetics curriculum) is built.
Emerging players
- Special Olympics Great Britain: UK disability sport charity providing year-round sports training and competition. Comparable in mission (sport-for-disability-inclusion), and PBF Vice Chair Michelle Carney was formerly its CEO — strong governance adjacency even though Special Olympics focuses on competitive disability sport rather than grassroots access.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Personal Best Foundation social profiles
Digital presencePersonal Best Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Personal Best Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Personal Best Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Personal Best Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Personal Best Foundation
What does Personal Best Foundation do?
Personal Best Foundation is a registered charity that provides free community athletics programmes for children and young people aged 4-11 from disadvantaged backgrounds in England. The foundation delivers Community Athletics Hubs through trusted local delivery partners (such as Street Futures, Aspire and Succeed, and The Pioneer Group) and Schools Programmes in primary schools in underserved areas, using the funetics curriculum focused on running, jumping, and throwing skills. Services are entirely free to beneficiaries and funded through donations, corporate partnerships, grants, and fundraising events.
Is Personal Best Foundation a public or private company?
Personal Best Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Personal Best Foundation founded?
Personal Best Foundation was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Personal Best Foundation based?
Personal Best Foundation is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Personal Best Foundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, fundraising Events, grants and legacy Giving.
Who are Personal Best Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Youth Sport Trust, Lord's Taverners, StreetGames, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, Access Sport and Greenhouse Sports. Broad incumbents are The Prince's Trust, Sport England and England Athletics. Special Olympics Great Britain is listed as an emerging player.
Does Personal Best Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Personal Best Foundation.
What industry is Personal Best Foundation in?
Personal Best Foundation's product category is Youth Sport Charity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of MPAKAKAK, Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support). Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.