The Team
Sport for Confidence proudly introduces you to the dynamic, innovative and passionate individuals who play their parts.
Our team comprises of Occupational Therapists, an Operational Team, Coaches and Occupational Therapy Assistants, each and every one has an important role to play.
To find out a little bit about each team member see below
Lyndsey Barrett
Co-Founder and Lead Occupational Therapist
Lyndsey has 20 years’ experience as an active Occupational Therapist working with people with learning disabilities, and mental heath issues. It was her love for sport that planted the idea of sport as a tool for assessment and developing life and social skills with her clients. Lyndsey has grown Sport for Confidence from just one participant to where it is today. But she won’t stop there, Lyndsey is committed to seeing an OT in every leisure centre in the country.
Lyndsey Barrett
Co-Founder and Lead Occupational Therapist
Lyndsey has 20 years’ experience as an active Occupational Therapist working with people with learning disabilities, and mental heath issues. It was her love for sport that planted the idea of sport as a tool for assessment and developing life and social skills with her clients. Lyndsey has grown Sport for Confidence from just one participant to where it is today. But she won’t stop there, Lyndsey is committed to seeing an OT in every leisure centre in the country.
Jake Turner
Director of Operations
Jake has a FdSc in Analysis & Intervention in Intellectual Disabilities after studying at The Tizard Centre, Kent University. Jake has gained many years of experience working with people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions & physical disabilities across a range of different challenging settings. Jake joined Sport for Confidence as a Practitioner over 4 years ago and has recently progressed to Director of Operations. Jake is a keen sports enthusiast and aims to deliver therapeutic interventions for individuals through physical activity ensuring anyone's first visit to a leisure centre is a positive experience.
Louise Tollick
Digital Content Manager & Administrator
Louise joined the team in 2020 and brings over 25 years of experience in admin and social media marketing having worked for a broad range of sectors including the arts, property management, recruitment and the NHS. She is passionate about fitness and encouraging more people to be active as a means to improve their mental wellbeing and self confidence as well as their physical health and hopes to help achieve that in any way she can by being a part of and supporting the Sport for Confidence team.
Natasha Di Carlo
HR Manager
(Currently on Maternity Leave)
Natasha joined the team in April 2021 as our HR Manager. She is an HR generalist with a wealth of experience working in the HR field. During her time working as a former HR consultant, Natasha became a specialist in talent and performance management. Natasha has a deep rooted enthusiasm for workplace diversity and inclusion, well-being at work and learning and development. Natasha strives to ensure that the SfC team are happy, continuously growing and feel fully supported on each of their unique career journeys. Natasha is a keen linguistic and loves travel and exploring new cultures.
Jake Turner
Director of Operations
Jake has a FdSc in Analysis & Intervention in Intellectual Disabilities after studying at The Tizard Centre, Kent University. Jake has gained many years of experience working with people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions & physical disabilities across a range of different challenging settings. Jake joined Sport for Confidence as a Practitioner over 4 years ago and has recently progressed to Director of Operations. Jake is a keen sports enthusiast and aims to deliver therapeutic interventions for individuals through physical activity ensuring anyone's first visit to a leisure centre is a positive experience.
Louise Tollick
Digital Content Manager & Administrator
Louise brings over 20 years of experience in admin and social media marketing having worked for a broad range of sectors including the arts, property management, recruitment and the NHS. She is passionate about fitness and encouraging more people to be active as a means to improve their mental wellbeing and self confidence as well as their physical health and hopes to help achieve that in any way she can by being a part of and supporting the SfC team.
Natasha Di Carlo
HR Manager
(Currently on Maternity Leave)
Natasha joined the team in April 2021 as our HR Manager. She is an HR generalist with a wealth of experience working in the HR field. During her time working as a former HR consultant, Natasha became a specialist in talent and performance management. Natasha has a deep rooted enthusiasm for workplace diversity and inclusion, well-being at work and learning and development. Natasha strives to ensure that the SfC team are happy, continuously growing and feel fully supported on each of their unique career journeys. Natasha is a keen linguistic and loves travel and exploring new cultures.
Rachel Goodwin
HR Assistant
Rachel joined the team in October 2022 and supports our HR Manager. She has 20 years generalist HR experience, working across a number of different sectors and graduated with her CIPD in 2014. Rachel is passionate about supporting people and employee engagement. Rachel is also a florist and grows her own flowers and enjoys running in her spare time.
Caroline Bellett
HR Manager - Maternity Cover
Rachel Goodwin
HR Assistant
Rachel joined the team in October 2022 and supports our HR Manager. She has 20 years generalist HR experience, working across a number of different sectors and graduated with her CIPD in 2014. Rachel is passionate about supporting people and employee engagement. Rachel is also a florist and grows her own flowers and enjoys running in her spare time.
Liz Fletcher
System Partner Lead &
Senior Occupational Therapist
Liz is passionate about physical activity being inclusive for all, regardless of someone’s health condition or social circumstance. An OT since 2006, Liz has worked in various healthcare settings including forensic, community, inpatient and crisis teams. In recent years, Liz has taken a more strategic approach in imbedding physical activity into healthcare by leading projects, using research and evidence to design and deliver training and events.
Megan Potts
Clinical Lead
Senior Occupational Therapist
(Currently on maternity leave)
Megan has a BSc in Psychology and a background in amputee rehabilitation. Whilst Megan was completing her master’s degree Occupational Therapy, she was introduced to Sport for Confidence and witnessed first-hand the positive physical, mental and social impact it has on the service user’s health and well-being. This then led her to volunteer at Sport for Confidence alongside studying. Since qualifying Megan has then worked as an OT in the community learning disabilities team. Meganis an avid runner and an aerial circus performer in her spare time, she has always valued the importance of participating in physical activity in creating a balanced lifestyle.
Hannah Webster
Senior Occupational Therapist
Hannah has worked in social care alongside people with physical disabilities, mental health issues and learning disabilities for 10 years. Learning through first-hand experience she is enthusiastic about sharing the range of physical and psychological benefits that come from engaging in sporting activities in a supportive accessible environment. Hannah is passionate about combating social isolation, improving lives and facilitating individuals to reach their full potential, all while having fun.
Robert Walker
Clinical Lead
Senior Occupational Therapist
Rob joined the team in December 2021. After qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2020, Rob worked in a mental health team based in the community where he helped develope seated exercise groups in several care homes for participants with a diagnosis of dementia. Rob also co-developed a virtual skills and support group to help individual learn and development strategies with managing their mental health needs. Rob has followed the journey of Sport for Confidence since his first year of university and has a passion for promoting equity and inclusivity into sport and communities. He is extremely enthusiastic about championing the positive impact that sport and physical activity have to an individual’s physical health, mental health and social environment. Rob is an extremely keen sportsman with a specific love for cricket, rugby and running. He also loves music and taking his Labrador, Hendrix, for long walks in the country.
Lucy Goldup
Senior Occupational Therapist
Lucy has worked as a qualified Occupational Therapist for the last 9 years in Learning Disability and Mental Health Services. She has a passion for working within the Learning Disability field and believes that activity and accessing mainstream services attributes to individuals health and well-being. It allows individuals to develop important life skills as well as having a positive impact on their self-esteem and confidence. The sports for confidence initiative plays a key role in this.
Aimee Nuttall
Head of Primary Care Network
Senior Occupational Therapist
Aimee has worked as an Occupational Therapist since 2014 in the NHS, Social Care and Private Sector. Before training to become an Occupational Therapist, Aimee volunteered at a local Learning Disability Charity and found her love of supporting people to reach their potential, feel a sense of belonging and have fun! Aimee is passionate about breaking down barriers for people to enable them to do the things they want to do. In her spare time, Aimee can usually be found with a crochet hook in her hand or working on a DIY project. Aimee is also completing a master’s degree in Mental Health Recovery and Social Inclusion.
Lisa Westhorpe
System Partner Lead
Senior Occupational Therapist
Lisa has always been passionate about promoting health through meaningful physical activity. During her 10 years as a qualified occupational therapist in schools, acute and community physical health settings, and learning disability services, Lisa has been involved in initiatives to ensure physical activity is available to all, including setting up seating exercise classes, supporting clients to access leisure facilities, and supporting new mums to return to exercise safely after having their baby. Lisa is a strong supporter of DEI initiatives and is now supporting inclusion through her work in the National Team, where she is working on connecting OTs who are interested in using physical activity in their practice, and virtual placements for students to promote and share Sport for Confidence’s mission. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys being active through netball, running and yoga, and loves hiking in the countryside with her husband and two young daughters.
Sam Studdert
Senior Occupational Therapist
Sam joined the team in September 2021. Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2019, Sam has worked with different patient groups at Colchester General Hospital and has also worked with Adult Social Care, supporting older adults. Being passionate about playing sport and music, Sam has always been interested in how Occupational Therapy can be used in a variety of settings to support people in enjoying the activities they love. He joined Sport For Confidence in September 2021 and is committed to making activities accessible to everyone. Sam is a keen footballer but he really just enjoys any sport where he can run after a ball.
Ava Thomas
Occupational Therapist
Ava joined the team in September 2021. Ava gained her first degree in BSc Psychology and continued her studies qualifying as a Level 3 Personal Trainer in 2014, as she loved participating in exercise alongside her education. Ava worked in technology for a few years, supporting the elderly and people with disabilities to use technology, leading her on to study Postgraduate Occupational Therapy in London. She is passionate about physical activity and mindfulness and wanted to combine this alongside a career in Occupational Therapy. Ava will be working at the Westminster Model, joining the team in late 2021.
Jamie Squires
Occupational Therapist
Jamie qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2022 and has a background in exercise and health. He has recently worked as a wellness coach for individuals with neurological conditions who may find it difficult to get enough physical activity. Jamie has over 10 years’ experience in exercise instruction and has always been a proponent for the benefits of exercise and the impact that it can have on a person’s, social, psychological, and physical wellbeing.
Jamie decided to become an Occupational Therapist to help individuals increase their participation in activities that are important to them, improve health and wellbeing and improve quality of life. He believes every person should have equal opportunities to take part in the activities they want and need to with the use of skills gained from work, recreation, and socialisation.
Jamie loves going to the gym and has previously competed in strongman and powerlifting.
Michelle Armitt
Senior Occupational Therapist
Michelle joined the team in 2022 after being inspired by the Occupational Therapists, Coaches and participants she met as our very first Occupational Therapy student. During this time she experienced first-hand the therapeutic benefits of sport for physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Michelle is passionate about everyone having the opportunity to access the things they love to do, alongside seeing participants’ confidence and skills grow and transfer into their day to day lives.
She enjoys a split role working in a leisure centre and National Team as the main link for the next generation of students, as well as supporting the development of online learning.
Previously Michelle has worked in inpatient, community mental health, horticulture therapy, and learning disability teams.
In her spare time she can be found practicing yoga, singing, and hiking in the great outdoors.
Andy Chapman
Occupational Therapist
Andy joined the team in September 2022 and lives near Manchester.
Andy previously worked in Investment Banking but was inspired attending the 2012 London Paralympics to have a completely new career change. Andy lives with Cerebral Palsy and before training to be an OT he participated in InstructAbility, a Sport England funded fitness instructing course, for those living with disabilities. Andy studied at Twickenham Rugby Stadium and then worked at Aspire’s National Leisure Centre, Europe’s first fully accessible leisure centre. Andy finds engaging in sport and physical activity to be so valuable for his confidence, but he does like others encounter challenges participating on an equal basis. Andy discovered Sport for Confidence after accessing OT services and while looking for accessible opportunities to be active.
Andy is delighted to have a role focused on utilising participants’ lived experiences and helping the therapeutic benefits of sport and physical activity become nationally recognised.
Sarah Davison
Senior Occupational Therapist
Sarah joined the team in May 2023 as an Occupational Therapist for our North Essex delivery team. Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2016, Sarah has worked alongside both children and adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, mental health difficulties and sensory processing disorder. Sarah is a Sensory Integration Practitioner and is passionate about overcoming the barriers sensory processing disorder may present for individuals who want to access their local leisure centres and who are motivated to participate in physical activity.
Outside of work Sarah is a keen runner and a member of her local running club, she has completed multiple marathons and enjoys trail running.
Jack Samways
Senior Occupational Therapist
Jack joined our National Team in May 2023. He qualified as an Occupational Therapist in October 2021 and worked in an NHS mental health rehab service for the past 18 months. Jack became aware of Sport for Confidence during this time, working with a member of the national team to set up a bouldering group, providing access to a new sport and community for service users.
Jack is very passionate about accessibility, about removing barriers and opening up communities and spaces for people.
Outside of work Jack loves spending time outdoors, camping with his partner and dog, photography, and gaming.
Jack is excited to be part of the National Team at Sport for Confidence and to be involved in the delivery of the Golf in Society research project.
Jennifer Brookland
Senior Occupational Therapist
Jennifer joined us towards the end of 2022 as part of our delivery team for Westminster. Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist, Jennifer has worked in a range of settings including hospitals, the community and schools. She has experience in paediatrics, learning disabilities and stroke amongst other areas.
Outside of work Jennifer loves pilates, staying active and walks in the country and enjoys socialising and travelling to new places.
Kimberley Dutton
Senior Occupational Therapist
Kimberley joined the team in May 2023 as part of our Specialist Provision team based in Brentwood. Kimberley has worked as an Occupational Therapist since 2017, working in a hospital setting with adults and children with burn injuries particularly in intensive care and rehabilitation wards. She is passionate about promoting and participating in physical activity and evenmore so making it fun and enjoyable, and she is very excited to integrate this into her occupational therapy practice.
Outside of work Kim is a big animal lover, enjoys any activity you can do out doors, socialising and travelling to new places.
Nicky Bonney
Senior Occupational Therapist
Nicky joined Sport for Confidence at the beginning of September 2023 and her main responsibility is coordinating the Stronger My Way Programme at Basildon Sporting Village for participants who have suffered falls or are at risk of falling, this is part of the Strength and Balance Pathway with NHS and community partners.
Nicky has been an Occupational Therapist for 26 years and has worked mainly in neurological settings including stroke rehabilitation, a specialist chronic fatigue service and with people with long term neurological conditions, she has also worked with amputees in a Specialist regional service. Her most recent post before joining Sport for Confidence was as Therapy Lead for the Essex and East London Division of the North Thames Environmental Control Service which provided access to Electronic Assistive Technology for patients with profound physical disabilities.
Nicky has the same passion for inclusion in sport for everybody as she does for inclusivity in technology. She has always had a keen interest in sport in particular tennis and has been an active club and team member for many years. She has always admired the good and unique work that Sports for Confidence does and has seen in her previous role how being a participant in Sport for Confidence can make a difference to the quality of life of people with long term neurological conditions.
Nicky is very excited about joining the Sport for Confidence team and is very passionate about supporting participants to enjoy sport despite the challenges that they encounter.
Nicky is also a keen dog lover and misses her beloved Munsterlander Elke who sadly passed away this year aged 11 , but loves looking after her 5 grandchildren on her days off.
Georgia Wills
Senior Occupational Therapist
Naomi Tucker
Occupational Therapist
Naomi joined Sport for Confidence in November 2023 and is part of the Specialist Provision team working on a new project tackling health inequalities for those with learning disabilities.
Naomi graduated as an Occupational Therapist from Coventry University in June 2023. Her work experience includes working in Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) supporting young people and their families in an Autism and ADHD diagnostic service and enabling them to reach their full potential. Naomi is passionate about promoting equity and enabling people to stay well and achieve their personal ambitions. Naomi enjoys being active and participates in a variety of activities outside of work which include walking, running, and playing squash.
Victoria Cornwell
Senior Occupational Therapist
Victoria joined the team in January 2024 to lead our delivery team at Claton Leisure Centre. Vic graduated as an Occupational Therapist in 2005 from London Southbank University. She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Victoria has practiced across mid and north Essex in adult social care services and in independent practices including mental health, brain injury, stroke, palliative care, reablement and early intervention. Victoria strives to ensure professional values and behaviours and is humanistic in her approach whilst ensuring the adult, their family and carers are at the heart of the services she provides.
Victoria is especially interested in older people’s health and wellbeing along with hospital admission avoidance and Cardiac and Stroke rehab, encouraging people to reach their set goals and aspirations especially around independence and improving their quality of life. Victoria wants to make a difference by helping others to live their best lives by helping them to break down the barriers that might stand in their way.
Having briefly experienced ill physical health Victoria is passionate about ensuring services are available to all and that knowledge is shared to support all without prejudice.
Outside of her work, Victoria enjoys socialising with family and friends. She enjoys travel and culture, West End musicals and theatre, walking in the countryside, kayaking and swimming.
Victoria Chesterman
Occupational Therapist
Victoria joined the team in March 2024 as part of the delivery team at Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford. Victoria has been a qualified Occupational Therapist for 10 years and has worked across a variety of settings including both physical and mental health and Learning Disability services.
Victoria's main areas of interests include Parkinsons and maintaining physical activity into older age. She has a real passion to include everybody in sports, whatever their size, shape or additional needs and feels sport should be adapted to meet everybody’s individual needs.
In her spare time Victoria enjoys running, kickboxing and hiking.
Eve Mujinya
Occupational Therapist
Amber Brogden
Occupational Therapist
Amber joined the team April 2024 as an Occupational Therapist at Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre. Amber has post graduate experience working in mental health but has a keen interest in how sport and exercise can help improve people’s overall well-being. Amber qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2023 and afterwards worked part time for the NHS in acute mental health. Amber believes that physical activity can really help with developing lots of skills that can be used in all areas of everyday life and is keen to make it enjoyable and accessible for as a many people as she can. Outside of work Amber loves playing hockey and has played for university & currently in a local team.
Hannah Webster
Senior Occupational Therapist
Hannah has worked in social care alongside people with physical disabilities, mental health issues and learning disabilities for 10 years. Learning through first-hand experience she is enthusiastic about sharing the range of physical and psychological benefits that come from engaging in sporting activities in a supportive accessible environment. Hannah is passionate about combating social isolation, improving lives and facilitating individuals to reach their full potential, all while having fun.
Liz Fletcher
System Partner Lead & Senior Occupational Therapist
Liz is passionate about physical activity being inclusive for all, regardless of someone’s health condition or social circumstance. An OT since 2006, Liz has worked in various healthcare settings including forensic, community, inpatient and crisis teams. In recent years, Liz has taken a more strategic approach in imbedding physical activity into healthcare by leading projects, using research and evidence to design and deliver training and events.
Ava Thomas
Occupational Therapist
Ava joined the team in September 2021. Ava gained her first degree in BSc Psychology and continued her studies qualifying as a Level 3 Personal Trainer in 2014, as she loved participating in exercise alongside her education. Ava worked in technology for a few years, supporting the elderly and people with disabilities to use technology, leading her on to study Postgraduate Occupational Therapy in London. She is passionate about physical activity and mindfulness and wanted to combine this alongside a career in Occupational Therapy. Ava will be working at the Westminster Model, joining the team in late 2021.
Megan Potts
Clinical Lead
Senior Occupational Therapist
(Currently on maternity leave)
Megan has a BSc in Psychology and a background in amputee rehabilitation. Whilst Megan was completing her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, she was introduced to Sport for Confidence and witnessed first-hand the positive physical, mental and social impact it has on the service user’s health and well-being. This then led her to volunteer at Sport for Confidence alongside studying. Since qualifying Megan has then worked as an OT in the community learning disabilities team. Meganis an avid runner and an aerial circus performer in her spare time, she has always valued the importance of participating in physical activity in creating a balanced lifestyle.
Lucy Goldup
Senior Occupational Therapist
Lucy has worked as a qualified Occupational Therapist for the last 9 years in Learning Disability and Mental Health Services. She has a passion for working within the Learning Disability field and believes that activity and accessing mainstream services attributes to individuals health and well-being. It allows individuals to develop important life skills as well as having a positive impact on their self-esteem and confidence. The sports for confidence initiative plays a key role in this.
Robert Walker
Clinical Lead & Senior Occupational Therapist
Robert joined the team in December 2021. After qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2020, Rob worked in a mental health team based in the community where he helped develope seated exercise groups in several care homes for participants with a diagnosis of dementia. Rob also co-developed a virtual skills and support group to help individual learn and development strategies with managing their mental health needs. Rob has followed the journey of Sport for Confidence since his first year of university and has a passion for promoting equity and inclusivity into sport and communities. He is extremely enthusiastic about championing the positive impact that sport and physical activity have to an individual’s physical health, mental health and social environment. Rob is an extremely keen sportsman with a specific love for cricket, rugby and running. He also loves music and taking his Labrador, Hendrix, for long walks in the country.
Aimee Nuttall
Head of the Primary Care Team
Senior Occupational Therapist
Aimee has worked as an Occupational Therapist since 2014 in the NHS, Social Care and Private Sector. Before training to become an Occupational Therapist, Aimee volunteered at a local Learning Disability Charity and found her love of supporting people to reach their potential, feel a sense of belonging and have fun! Aimee is passionate about breaking down barriers for people to enable them to do the things they want to do. In her spare time, Aimee can usually be found with a crochet hook in her hand or working on a DIY project. Aimee is also completing a master’s degree in Mental Health Recovery and Social Inclusion.
Lisa Westhorpe
System Partner Lead & Senior Occupational Therapist
Lisa has always been passionate about promoting health through meaningful physical activity. During her 10 years as a qualified occupational therapist in schools, acute and community physical health settings, and learning disability services, Lisa has been involved in initiatives to ensure physical activity is available to all, including setting up seating exercise classes, supporting clients to access leisure facilities, and supporting new mums to return to exercise safely after having their baby. Lisa is a strong supporter of DEI initiatives and is now supporting inclusion through her work in the National Team, where she is working on connecting OTs who are interested in using physical activity in their practice, and virtual placements for students to promote and share Sport for Confidence’s mission. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys being active through netball, running and yoga, and loves hiking in the countryside with her husband and two young daughters.
Jennifer Brookland
Senior Occupational Therapist
Jennifer joined us towards the end of 2022 as part of our delivery team for Westminster. Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist, Jennifer has worked in a range of settings including hospitals, the community and schools. She has experience in paediatrics, learning disabilities and stroke amongst other areas.
Outside of work Jennifer loves pilates, staying active and walks in the country and enjoys socialising and travelling to new places.
Sam Studdert
Senior Occupational Therapist
Sam joined the team in September 2021. Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2019, Sam has worked with different patient groups at Colchester General Hospital and has also worked with Adult Social Care, supporting older adults. Being passionate about playing sport and music, Sam has always been interested in how Occupational Therapy can be used in a variety of settings to support people in enjoying the activities they love. He joined Sport For Confidence in September 2021 and is committed to making activities accessible to everyone. Sam is a keen footballer but he really just enjoys any sport where he can run after a ball.
Jamie Squires
Occupational Therapist
Jamie qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2022 and has a background in exercise and health. He has recently worked as a wellness coach for individuals with neurological conditions who may find it difficult to get enough physical activity. Jamie has over 10 years’ experience in exercise instruction and has always been a proponent for the benefits of exercise and the impact that it can have on a person’s, social, psychological, and physical wellbeing.
Jamie decided to become an Occupational Therapist to help individuals increase their participation in activities that are important to them, improve health and wellbeing and improve quality of life. He believes every person should have equal opportunities to take part in the activities they want and need to with the use of skills gained from work, recreation, and socialisation.
Jamie loves going to the gym and has previously competed in strongman and powerlifting.
Andy Chapman
Occupational Therapist
Andy joined the team in September 2022 and lives near Manchester.
Andy previously worked in Investment Banking but was inspired attending the 2012 London Paralympics to have a completely new career change. Andy lives with Cerebral Palsy and before training to be an OT he participated in InstructAbility, a Sport England funded fitness instructing course, for those living with disabilities. Andy studied at Twickenham Rugby Stadium and then worked at Aspire’s National Leisure Centre, Europe’s first fully accessible leisure centre. Andy finds engaging in sport and physical activity to be so valuable for his confidence, but he does like others encounter challenges participating on an equal basis. Andy discovered Sport for Confidence after accessing OT services and while looking for accessible opportunities to be active.
Andy is delighted to have a role focused on utilising participants’ lived experiences and helping the therapeutic benefits of sport and physical activity become nationally recognised.
Michelle Armitt
Senior Occupational Therapist
Michelle joined the team in 2022 after being inspired by the Occupational Therapists, Coaches and participants she met as our very first Occupational Therapy student. During this time she experienced first-hand the therapeutic benefits of sport for physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Michelle is passionate about everyone having the opportunity to access the things they love to do, alongside seeing participants’ confidence and skills grow and transfer into their day to day lives.
She enjoys a split role working in the leisure centre and national team as the main link for the next generation of students, as well as supporting the development of online learning.
Previously Michelle has worked in inpatient, community mental health, horticulture therapy, and learning disability teams.
In her spare time she can be found practicing yoga, singing, and hiking in the great outdoors.
Sarah Davison
Senior Occupational Therapist
Sarah joined the team in May 2023 as an Occupational Therapist for our North Essex delivery team. Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2016, Sarah has worked alongside both children and adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, mental health difficulties and sensory processing disorder. Sarah is a Sensory Integration Practitioner and is passionate about overcoming the barriers sensory processing disorder may present for individuals who want to access their local leisure centres and who are motivated to participate in physical activity.
Outside of work Sarah is a keen runner and a member of her local running club, she has completed multiple marathons and enjoys trail running.
Kimberley Dutton
Senior Occupational Therapist
Kimberley joined the team in May 2023 as part of our Specialist Provision team based in Brentwood. Kimberley has worked as an Occupational Therapist since 2017, working in a hospital setting with adults and children with burn injuries particularly in intensive care and rehabilitation wards. She is passionate about promoting and participating in physical activity and evenmore so making it fun and enjoyable, and she is very excited to integrate this into her occupational therapy practice.
Outside of work Kim is a big animal lover, enjoys any activity you can do out doors, socialising and travelling to new places.
Jack Samways
Senior Occupational Therapist
Jack joined our National Team in May 2023. He qualified as an Occupational ThJack joined our National Team in May 2023. He qualified as an Occupational Therapist in October 2021 and worked in an NHS mental health rehab service for the past 18 months. Jack became aware of Sport for Confidence during this time, working with a member of the national team to set up a bouldering group, providing access to a new sport and community for service users.
Jack is very passionate about accessibility, about removing barriers and opening up communities and spaces for people.
Outside of work Jack loves spending time outdoors, camping with his partner and dog, photography, and gaming.
Jack is excited to be part of the National Team at Sport for Confidence and to be involved in the delivery of the Golf in Society research project.
Nicky Bonney
Senior Occupational Therapist
Nicky joined Sport for Confidence at the beginning of September 2023 and her main responsibility is coordinating the Stronger My Way Programme at Basildon Sporting Village for participants who have suffered falls or are at risk of falling, this is part of the Strength and Balance Pathway with NHS and community partners.
Nicky has been an Occupational Therapist for 26 years and has worked mainly in neurological settings including stroke rehabilitation, a specialist chronic fatigue service and with people with long term neurological conditions, she has also worked with amputees in a Specialist regional service. Her most recent post before joining Sport for Confidence was as Therapy Lead for the Essex and East London Division of the North Thames Environmental Control Service which provided access to Electronic Assistive Technology for patients with profound physical disabilities. During her 19 years working for the service, she was passionate about providing access to technology and communication for all regardless of their disability, and the rapid improvements in technology and increase in resources and funding made this become more of a reality in recent years, with the team growing from one Occupational Therapist to now include more Occupational Therapists a Clinical Scientist and an engineer.
Nicky has the same passion for inclusion in sport for everybody as she does for inclusivity in technology. She has always had a keen interest in sport in particular tennis and has been an active club and team member for many years. She has always admired the good and unique work that Sports for Confidence does and has seen in her previous role how being a participant in Sport for Confidence can make a difference to the quality of life of people with long term neurological conditions.
Nicky is very excited about joining the Sports for Confidence team and is very passionate about supporting participants to enjoy sport despite the challenges that they encounter.
Nicky is also a keen dog lover and misses her beloved Munsterlander Elke who sadly passed away this year aged 11 , but loves looking after her 5 grandchildren on her days off.
Georgia Wills
Senior Occupational Therapist
Read more about Georgia
Georgia joined the team in August 2023, leading the Single Point of Access Service. Georgia has experience working alongside children and adults with mental health difficulties, physical disabilities, Autism and learning disabilities. Georgia previously worked in a unique therapy farm setting, using nature, animal, and farm-based therapeutic interventions. She also has experience working in a range of settings such as individual’s homes, schools, and hospitals.
Georgia is passionate about accessibility and every person having an equal opportunity to engage in meaningful activities. She is enthusiastic about the use of therapeutic interventions in a non-clinical environment to promote physical and mental health and wellbeing, skill development and community access.
Outside of work Georgia enjoys hiking, travelling, and socialising with her friends and family.
Naomi Tucker
Occupational Therapist
Naomi joined Sport for Confidence in November 2023 and is part of the Specialist Provision team working on a new project tackling health inequalities for those with learning disabilities.
Naomi graduated as an Occupational Therapist from Coventry University in June 2023. Her work experience includes working in Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) supporting young people and their families in an Autism and ADHD diagnostic service and enabling them to reach their full potential. Naomi is passionate about promoting equity and enabling people to stay well and achieve their personal ambitions. Naomi enjoys being active and participates in a variety of activities outside of work which include walking, running, and playing squash.
Victoria Chesterman
Occupational Therapist
Victoria joined the team in March 2024 as part of the delivery team at Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford. Victoria has been a qualified Occupational Therapist for 10 years and has worked across a variety of settings including both physical and mental health and Learning Disability services.
Victoria's main areas of interests include Parkinsons and maintaining physical activity into older age. She has a real passion to include everybody in sports, whatever their size, shape or additional needs and feels sport should be adapted to meet everybody’s individual needs.
In her spare time Victoria enjoys running, kickboxing and hiking.
Amber Brogden
Occupational Therapist
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Amber joined the team April 2024 as an Occupational Therapist at Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre. Amber has post graduate experience working in mental health but has a keen interest in how sport and exercise can help improve people’s overall well-being. Amber qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2023 and afterwards worked part time for the NHS in acute mental health. Amber believes that physical activity can really help with developing lots of skills that can be used in all areas of everyday life and is keen to make it enjoyable and accessible for as a many people as she can. Outside of work Amber loves playing hockey and has played for university & currently in a local team.
Victoria Cornwell
Senior Occupational Therapist
Read more about Victoria
Victoria joined the team in January 2024 to lead our delivery team at Claton Leisure Centre. Vic graduated as an Occupational Therapist in 2005 from London Southbank University. She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Victoria has practiced across mid and north Essex in adult social care services and in independent practices including mental health, brain injury, stroke, palliative care, reablement and early intervention. Victoria strives to ensure professional values and behaviours and is humanistic in her approach whilst ensuring the adult, their family and carers are at the heart of the services she provides.
Victoria is especially interested in older people’s health and wellbeing along with hospital admission avoidance and Cardiac and Stroke rehab, encouraging people to reach their set goals and aspirations especially around independence and improving their quality of life. Victoria wants to make a difference by helping others to live their best lives by helping them to break down the barriers that might stand in their way.
Having briefly experienced ill physical health Victoria is passionate about ensuring services are available to all and that knowledge is shared to support all without prejudice.
Outside of her work, Victoria enjoys socialising with family and friends. She enjoys travel and culture, west end musicals and theatre, walking in the countryside, kayaking and swimming.
Victoria joined the team in January 2024 to lead our delivery team at Claton Leisure Centre. Vic graduated as an Occupational Therapist in 2005 from London Southbank University. She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Victoria has practiced across mid and north Essex in adult social care services and in independent practices including mental health, brain injury, stroke, palliative care, reablement and early intervention. Victoria strives to ensure professional values and behaviours and is humanistic in her approach whilst ensuring the adult, their family and carers are at the heart of the services she provides.
Victoria is especially interested in older people’s health and wellbeing along with hospital admission avoidance and Cardiac and Stroke rehab, encouraging people to reach their set goals and aspirations especially around independence and improving their quality of life. Victoria wants to make a difference by helping others to live their best lives by helping them to break down the barriers that might stand in their way.
Having briefly experienced ill physical health Victoria is passionate about ensuring services are available to all and that knowledge is shared to support all without prejudice.
Outside of her work, Victoria enjoys socialising with family and friends. She enjoys travel and culture, west end musicals and theatre, walking in the countryside, kayaking and swimming.
Eve Mujinya
Occupational Therapist
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Jack Edgar
Lead Coach
With an impressive array of coaching qualifications in a wide range of sports, Jack is responsible for the development and implementation of the Sport For Confidence coaching programme and the mentoring of Grant and our newest apprentice Fanuel. Together the team work to ensure the programme remains progressive and encourages core skill development, social integration and fun.
Tom Doughty
Lead Coach & Data Entry Lead
In his full-time role at Sport For Confidence, Tom will oversee coaching at Witham, and will also supervise Colchester and Clacton programmes and coaches, working alongside an allied health professional. Tom coaches a range of sports including multisports, boccia, swimming and dodgeball. In addition to coaching weekly sessions, Tom is also responsible for engaging with local community groups including GPs, nursing teams, carers, and schools.
Charlie Collins
Coach & Project Co-ordinator
Charlie is a coach at The Feel Good Centre, Waltham Forest and is also a Netball for Confidence coach at Basildon. Charlie has been Personal Training and Coaching for 7 years, having previously worked in social research. Her particular passion is netball, having played for 25 years. Charlie loves sharing the fun of sport and watching people grow with the confidence they have gained from sport and implementing it into other areas of their lives.
Korun Mehmet
Coach
Korun joined the team in August 2022 as coach at Basildon Sporting Village and The Brentwood Centre and has a BSc degree in Exercise, Nutrition & Health with the focus of the degree on using physical activity as an alternative to medication. Korun has a passion for physical activity and the benefits it possesses in terms of having a positive impact on peoples physical and mental health. Outside of work, Korun loves playing football and coaches children part-time in a variety of sports.
Karen Briggs
Coach
Karen joined the team in April 2022 as Coach at our Westminster locations. After many years working in the fashion industry, Karen had a change of career in her 40s and qualified as a personal trainer with the YMCA in Central London. After working with general population clients, she took the Exercise and Fitness after Stroke course with Later Life Training at Portsmouth University, putting the qualification to good use taking small group classes for the Stroke Association.
She is currently working on short courses on exercise for Parkinson's and pre/during/post menopause. Her aim is to help as many people as possible live life to the fullest by staying active and encouraging movement at all ages and stages of life.
Jessica Wybrow
Coach
Jess joined the team in August 2022 as a Coach at Waterside Farm leisure centre, Harrow Lodge leisure centre and Basildon Sporting Village. Jess trained at a musical theatre college for two years, receiving a diploma in dance and shortly after began teaching dance and fitness sessions to children in schools around Essex. Jess’ main aim is to get everyone to experience the fun created through sport and the confidence it can bring to individuals as well.
Jessica Woods
Coach
Jess officially joined the team in September 2022 as a coach in Colchester, Clacton and Witham after leading our dance sessions in Clacton since March 2022.
Jess is passionate about helping to improve the confidence of our participants by supporting them to express themselves in an active and creative environment.
Jess has been dancing since the age of 9 and has been running a dance school in Clacton since 2021. The best part about coaching/teaching for Jess is watching her students achieve things they never thought they could do and allowing them the freedom to discover their own unique style and personality along the way.
Jess has a teacher’s qualification in Associate Freestyle dance as well as a coaching qualification in Acrobatics.
James Adams
Occupational Therapy Assistant
James joined the team in August 2021 as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Previously, James was a gymnastics coach for almost 10 years which he enjoyed but when he heard about the opening of a role as an OTA at Sport for Confidence it was an opportunity he couldn’t miss as he has such a love of sport and a passion for helping others to achieve their goals.
There's not a day at work that James doesn’t look forward to and always goes in with a smile on his face. James loves football and has played for the same team since he was 11, he is also fishing obsessed and loves to be outside as much as possible.
Kerys Davies
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Kerys joined the team in August 2023 as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Previously Kerys was a professional dancer and worked across the world in films and music videos, then Kerys worked in healthcare alongside people with mental health, learning disabilities, Autism and physical disabilities for 5 years. Within her role as a carer Kerys supported an individual to attend Sport for Confidence sessions and saw how inclusive and person centred the sessions were. Kerys decided to become an Occupational Therapist Assistant as she believes it is important that every person should have equal opportunities to take part in meaningful activities and improve their quality of life. Kerys favourite part of the day is seeing the smile on our participants faces and how they can work towards and achieve their goals.
Out of work Kerys enjoys, camping, dancing, travelling to new places and walking in the countryside.
Nel Smith
Assistant Coach
Corban Boyle-Smart
Assistant Coach
Chris McLeod
Assistant Coach
Rob Coin
Assistant Coach
Caroline Bellett
HR Manager - Maternity Cover
Sam Downing
Assistant Coach
Aaromal Dcruz
Coach
Aaromal joined Sport for Confidence in November 2023 as a coach at Moberly Sports Centre and, now at, Queen Mothers Sports Centre in London. Aaromal graduated with an MSc in Sports Management, Politics, and International Development from Loughborough University after his MA (Development Studies) and BA (Economics) from India. He is determined to work in sports to drive development and inclusivity in communities.
Other than work, Aaromal loves finding parks in London to escape the city and playing as much sports as possible.
Jack Edgar
Lead Coach
With an impressive array of coaching qualifications in a wide range of sports, Jack is responsible for the development and implementation of the Sport For Confidence coaching programme . Together the team work to ensure the programme remains progressive and encourages core skill development, social integration and fun.
Tom Doughty
Lead Coach & Data Entry Lead
In his full-time role at Sport For Confidence, Tom oversees coaching at Witham, and also supervises our Colchester and Clacton programmes and coaches, working alongside an allied health professional. Tom coaches a range of sports including multisports, boccia, swimming and dodgeball. In addition to coaching weekly sessions, Tom is also responsible for engaging with local community groups including GPs, nursing teams, carers, and schools.
Karen Briggs
Coach
Karen joined the team as Coach in our Westminster locations. After many years working in the fashion industry, Karen had a change of career in her 40s and qualified as a personal trainer with the YMCA in Central London. After working with general population clients, she took the Exercise and Fitness after Stroke course with Later Life Training at Portsmouth University, putting the qualification to good use taking small group classes for the Stroke Association.
She is currently working on short courses on exercise for Parkinson's and pre/during/post menopause. Her aim is to help as many people as possible live life to the fullest by staying active and encouraging movement at all ages and stages of life.
Charlie Collins
Project Co-ordinator & Coach
Charlie is our coach at The Feel Good Centre, Waltham Forest and is also a Netball for Confidence coach at Basildon. Charlie has been Personal Training and Coaching for 7 years, having previously worked in social research. Her particular passion is netball, having played for 25 years. Charlie loves sharing the fun of sport and watching people grow with the confidence they have gained from sport and implementing it into other areas of their lives.
Korun Mehmet
Coach
Korun joined the team in August 2022 as coach at Basildon Sporting Village and The Brentwood Centre and has a BSc degree in Exercise, Nutrition & Health with the focus of the degree on using physical activity as an alternative to medication. Korun has a passion for physical activity and the benefits it possesses in terms of having a positive impact on peoples physical and mental health. Outside of work, Korun loves playing football and coaches children part-time in a variety of sports.
Jessica Wybrow
Coach
Jess joined the team in August 2022 as a coach at Waterside Farm leisure centre, Harrow Lodge leisure centre and Basildon Sporting Village. Jess trained at a musical theatre college for two years receiving a diploma in dance and shortly after began teaching dance and fitness sessions to children in schools around Essex. Jess’ main aim is to get everyone to experience the fun created through sport and the confidence it can bring to individuals as well.
Jessica Woods
Coach
Jess officially joined the team in September 2022 as a coach in Colchester and Witham after leading our dance sessions in Clacton since March 2022.
Jess is passionate about helping to improve the confidence of our participants by supporting them to express themselves in an active and creative environment.
Jess has been dancing since the age of 9 and has been running a dance school in Clacton since 2021. The best part about coaching/teaching for Jess is watching her students achieve things they never thought they could do and allowing them the freedom to discover their own unique style and personality along the way.
Jess has a teacher’s qualification in Associate Freestyle dance as well as a coaching qualification in Acrobatics.
James Adams
Occupational Therapy Assistant
James joined the team in August 2021 as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Previously, James was a gymnastics coach for almost 10 years which he enjoyed but when he heard about the opening of a role as an OTA at Sport for Confidence it was an opportunity he couldn’t miss as he has such a love of sport and a passion for helping others to achieve their goals.
There's not a day at work that James doesn’t look forward to and always goes in with a smile on his face. James loves football and has played for the same team since he was 11, he is also fishing obsessed and loves to be outside as much as possible.
Kerys Davies
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Kerys joined the team in August 2023 as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Previously Kerys was a professional dancer and worked across the world in films and music videos, then Kerys worked in healthcare alongside people with mental health, learning disabilities, Autism and physical disabilities for 5 years. Within her role as a carer Kerys supported an individual to attend Sport for Confidence sessions and saw how inclusive and person centred the sessions were. Kerys decided to become an Occupational Therapist Assistant as she believes it is important that every person should have equal opportunities to take part in meaningful activities and improve their quality of life. Kerys favourite part of the day is seeing the smile on our participants faces and how they can work towards and achieve their goals.
Out of work Kerys enjoys, camping, dancing, travelling to new places and walking in the countryside.
Aaromal Dcruz
Coach
Chris McLeod
Assistant Coach
Sam Downing
Assistant Coach
Rob Coin
Assistant Coach
Corban Boyle-Smart
Assistant Coach
Nel Smith
Assistant Coach
At Sport for Confidence, we are governed and supported by an incredibly talented Board of Directors – to find out more about each director please click here.