CITROËN ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH ENGLAND ATHLETICS AS 73% OF PARENTS SAY THEIR KIDS DON’T GET RECOMMENDED LEVELS OF EXERCISE

• Citroën announces partnership with England Athletics, the development body for grassroots running and athletics in England, and its official charity partner, the Personal Best Foundation
• Survey by Citroën found that 73% of parents say their children do not get the minimum amount of exercise recommended by UK Chief Medical Officers*
• Citroën will support the Personal Best Foundation to deliver an after-school athletics programme starting with 15 schools in Coventry, Warwickshire and Ellesmere Port all close to their Headquarters
• Citroen will be the headline partners for England Athletics’ National and Age Group Athletics Championships in the Summer
• Citroen will offer support to 16 athletes on the England Athletics talent pathway programme, with the aim of helping them to develop the skills, competencies, knowledge, and resilience to progress and succeed at senior championships and international level, whilst gaining a positive life experience from the journey
• The partnership will be focused on battery electric vehicles and will give members of England Athletics preferential terms on Citroën’s range of battery electric vehicles (EVs), highlighting the brand’s commitment to making EVs accessible to all and consistent with England Athletics’ principles of sustainability
• The partnership is being launched at Sowe Valley Primary school, Coventry with Team GB Paralympian and Personal Best Foundation Ambassador, Hannah Cockroft CBE, and dignitaries including Mary Creagh CBE Labour MP for Coventry East, John Slinger Labour MP for Rugby, Chris Theobold Sales and Operations Director for Citroën UK and Chris Jones CEO of England Athletics.

Citroën has announced a new partnership with England Athletics, the development body for grassroots running and athletics in the UK, as well as its official charity partner, the Personal Best Foundation. The partnership comes on the back of research by Citroën to parents that found, on average, British children spend 4.75 hours a week exercising, while the Chief Medical Officers recommend at least 60 minutes every day. The partnership was announced at Sowe Valley Primary school, Coventry with Team GB Paralympian and Personal Best Foundation Ambassador Hannah Cockroft CBE.

England Athletics purpose is to inspire individuals of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to take up running, fulfil their potential and develop a lifelong love of the sport. Through the new partnership, Citroën will support England Athletics to grow opportunities for children and young people, allowing them to experience the benefits of athletics and running at an early age, and then continue throughout school and into adulthood.

According to Sport England’s annual Active Lives survey 2023/24, only 47% of children are meeting the UK’s Chief Medical Officer’s recommended daily activity levels**, with children from low-income families and underserved communities the least likely to be active. According to Citroen’s own research, it found that a lack of time and interest were cited by over a third of parents as the main barriers to getting their children to exercise.

Around one in eight toddlers and primary school-aged children in England are categorised as obese. In year 6, the prevalence of obesity alone in children is 22.7% and for those living in the most deprived areas this increases to 30.2%. *** The UK has some of the poorest child mental health outcomes globally, with the cost of living crisis further limiting opportunities for physical activity.

Inequality and poverty put the opportunity for organised exercise and activity beyond the reach of around 4 million children and young people across the UK. The partnership between Citroën, England Athletics and Personal Best Foundation will help to change this, as initially 15 primary schools -  prioritising those with the greatest need and children most at risk of inactivity - in Coventry, Warwickshire and Ellesmere Port, close to Citroen Headquarters will benefit from free weekly after-school athletics programmes. In addition, free training for the teachers in the schools will allow the programme to be continued and ensure that running, jumping and throwing have a place in the curriculum.

The partnership will also support young up and coming athletes in England through England Athletics’ National and Age group championships and its Talent Pathway Programme, which aims to help gifted young athletes progress to be the international athletics stars of the future.

England Athletics, Chief Executive Officer, Chris Jones, said: “We are proud to welcome Citroën into the England Athletics family. This partnership supports our shared commitment to sustainability and making athletics more accessible for young people. Through our Personal Best Foundation, Citroën’s support will help young people in schools across England experience athletics and will open the doors of opportunity for some of the most disadvantaged children and young people in England.  Citroen’s backing of our national events and talent programmes - supported by Citroen’s electric vehicles -  aligns with our drive for a more sustainable future and our approach to encourage our network of athletes and clubs to adopt more sustainable practices.”

Chris Theobold, Sales and Operations Director, Citroën UK added: “We’re proud that our partnership with England Athletics will give young people access to sport and exercise, help improve young people’s lives and offer support to the next generation of talent. The statistics on childhood inactivity and health is very concerning and we are very happy to be able to make running, jumping and throwing more accessible, just as we are making electric vehicles accessible to all. In partnering with England Athletics and its official charity, we believe we can help make a difference and give school children in some of the country’s less fortunate areas the chance to enjoy the benefits of athletics, be active and have fun. Whilst also supporting elite talent on the pathway to success.”

Mary Creagh CBE, Labour MP for Coventry East said: “An early love of athletics lasts a lifetime, and changes lives, bringing health benefits, friendships, self-discipline, and teamwork. I welcome the focus that Citroen, England Athletics and the Personal Best Foundation have on making running, jumping and throwing accessible for young people – especially those from disadvantaged families – to be healthy, active and have fun.”

Hannah Cockroft CBE, Personal Best Foundation Ambassador and England Athletics Sustainability Ambassador, said: “It’s fantastic to be part of this exciting new partnership between England Athletics, the Personal Best Foundation, and Citroën. It was a privilege to meet the school children today and see first-hand how powerful sport can be in changing lives and helping young people discover what they are truly capable of. I passionately believe that every young person should have the access and the opportunities to experience the physical and mental benefits of sport irrespective of their background or personal circumstances. It’s also great to see a partnership with a real commitment to sustainability, promoting a healthier, more active, and more responsible future.”

You can find out more about the partnership and England Athletics here XXX

ENDS

*Survey of 2,000 parents in England conducted in partnership with OnePoll, May 2025

** (Sport England Active Lives Children and Young People)

***(Health Survey for England 2022 Part 2)

Citroën

Since 1919, Citroën has been creating automobiles, technologies, and mobility solutions to respond to changes in society. A brand of boldness and innovation, Citroën places peace of mind and well-being at the heart of its customer experience, and offers a wide range of models, from the distinctive Ami, an electric mobility object designed for the city, to saloons, SUVs, and commercial vehicles, most of which are available in electric or rechargeable hybrid versions. A pioneer brand in the services and attention paid to its private and professional customers, Citroën is present in 101 countries and has a network of 6,200 points of sale and service throughout the world. Citroën UK media website: www.media.stellantis.com/uk-en/citroen