Participate World
Community Through Sport

Founded by global community sport leader Tom Williams, and diplomat Chris Lomax MBE, Participate World works to unleash the full national and international potential of grassroots & community sport.

Our Services

Community Sport Advisory

Drawing on 25 years of global community sport leadership, including Tom’s decade as Global COO at parkrun and our expert advisory group, we guide organisations through the myriad challenges faced when striving for sustainable impact at scale. 

From five-day operational audits to long-term close collaboration, we take a bespoke approach in developing a deep understanding of your organisation.

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Global Development and Diplomacy

Whether for national or international outcomes, we advise governments, international organisations and community leaders on leveraging sport to deliver health, societal, and foreign policy outcomes - delivering economic as well as social benefit.

With our practitioner partners, we create multi-sport, high-level strategies and social development projects that deliver high impact, at comparatively low cost.

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Mentorship and Board Support

Confidential 1-on-1 mentorship for leaders across community sport, sport for development, and sport for diplomacy. Grounded in Tom's decade scaling parkrun globally and Chris' 20+ years in international diplomacy and foreign policy.

We also support boards and trustees, building the operational and strategic understanding needed to lead mission-driven sport organisations.

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Participate World is built on proven, global leadership in sport and diplomacy, with an unrivalled network of world-leading associates:

  • Tom co-led parkrun’s expansion from 4 events in 1 country to 2,500 events across 23 countries.

  • Chris has 20 years experience of international diplomacy and multi-lateral negotiations, awarded an MBE whilst working at the UN.

  • Both are active members of the UK Government’s Sport Diplomacy Working Group.

  • Together they are building a ‘Community Sport Collective’ of leaders and practitioners, stemming from the Leeds Summit.

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  • "I'm still thinking about our conversation a week later, how empowering and validating it felt - and honestly how few conversations like this I've had over the past 10 years with people right at the coalface of building grassroots communities from the ground up."

    MEL BOUND OBE, Founder, This Women Runs

  • "Tom and the team at Participate World have been an invaluable partner in helping shape future strategy, energise our teams through meaningful workshops, and navigate complex challenges leading a growing national initiative like 5k Your Way."

    DAVID HENDERSON, CEO, Move Against Cancer

  • "Over the past year, the mentorship we’ve received from Tom has been transformative for both me as a leader and for The Man Walk’s future."

    MARK BURNS, CEO, The Man Walk

  • “The potential of community grassroots sport underpinned by the right values is what Tom believes passionately in. He is uniquely placed to help unlock this potential all across the world. Thank you so much for the amazing support, encouragement and inspiration.”

    TIM HOLTAM, Co-founder and Director, Brighton Table Tennis Club

The Why

Participation in community sport leads to transformational health and social outcomes, and is exceptionally cost effective at scale. It can also build bridges within and between communities.

This matters in an increasingly digital world where health, mental wellbeing, and social cohesion are deteriorating. Where health and social services are struggling to cope.

The How

Community sport organisations often lack the expertise and bespoke support needed to achieve impact at scale, to realise their full potential. Or the connections to operate globally.

We enable community sport organisations, with proven potential and desire, to scale nationally - even globally. Transforming lives, and forging connections between organisations.

We also build connections with governments and international organisations, as we believe that this represents one of the most powerful, prescient opportunities to strengthen global society.