Fellow's Profile
Claire Poole
Fellow's Profile
Claire Poole
How neglected urban spaces can support sport and nature, to tackle climate, health and social gaps
Fellowship
- Themes
- Focus
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How marginal urban spaces can support sport and nature, to address climate, health, social inequity
- Countries
- Fellowship year
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2026
- Locality
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South East
Biography
I founded Sport Positive to leverage the immense power of sport to increase action on the climate crisis and tackle biodiversity loss. As part of this work, we convene the global sports industry to support the transition to a low-carbon future, I host a podcast, we share information by newsletter and social media, and I sit on a number of advisory committees and boards. In 2025, I received a special award from the British Association of Sustainable Sport, for being 'one of the most influential voices in sustainable sport globally'.
People across the UK, especially in urban communities, can lack access to nature and safe green space, which feeds in to wider challenges of isolation and mental and physical health issues. I have long imagined neglected pockets of city space I have walked past over the years as vibrant, inclusive and accessible hubs for recreation and sport, alongside biodiversity and nature.
The purpose of my Fellowship is to learn from projects in the USA, Denmark and Norway that have created infrastructure to support recreation and nature and, importantly, have built thriving communities around them. These learnings will be brought to the UK to create similar spaces.
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
