Movement
that means something.

Across Preston, free-running is more than a sport. It’s a way for young people to challenge themselves, build confidence, and find belonging. This pioneering academy gives hundreds of children and teens a safe space to push limits, express themselves, and discover what they’re capable of. It’s more than a gym, it’s a hub that brings together young people and families from across the city and beyond.

The programmes combine structured training with freedom to experiment, teaching resilience, physical skill, and self-expression. For many, it becomes a positive outlet that replaces risk-taking or disengagement. As the team says, “when they are out there, they are just expressing themselves. There is no pressure, it is about what you as an individual want to do and challenge yourself with.”

Inclusion is at the heart of the academy. The team has worked hard to shift negative stereotypes about free-running and show it as a force for personal growth and community connection. Parents and staff regularly highlight how participation lifts spirits, boosts confidence, and gives young people something meaningful to commit to.

In 2024, the academy was recognised at the Be Inspired Business Awards, winning Best Leisure/Travel Business. Judges celebrated its genuine impact on the community, the difference it makes for young people, and its role as an alternative to more traditional sports or youth activities.

Their Ashton-on-Ribble base is more than a training floor. It’s a social space with a welcoming vibe, a viewing area for families, and somewhere young people can train, socialise, or just hang out. Membership sits around 650, with students travelling from across Lancashire to be part of it.

Street Monkeys is not just a free-running academy. It’s a pioneering community — offering opportunity, connection, and a way for young people to turn energy into empowerment. They show that with the right space, guidance, and community, movement can open pathways to confidence, skill, and belonging.

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