Board of Directors  

Sport for Confidence is supported by a talented Board of Directors who each bring a wealth of experience, talent and skills. 
 
Meet our talented Board 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, Aspergers 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. 
Steve Mitchell 
Co-Founder & Chair 
 
 
Dan Black 
Co-Founder  
 
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. 
Stuart Palma 
Non Executive Director 
Stuart is a qualified physiotherapist, originally working clinically across Sussex, before taking on a range of local and national leadership roles, including the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and latterly as Head of Allied Health Professions (AHPs) at NHS England, wherein he held the Professional & Systems Leadership portfolio on behalf of the Chief AHP Officer for England, Suzanne Rastrick. Within the role, Stuart led the development of several key pieces of leadership policy and guidance, which can be found here. Stuart also played a key part in the development of significant health and care related legislation and subsequent Policy, including the Health & Care Bill (2022), specifically Integrated Care System strategy and policy – including the Clinical and Care Professional Leadership Guidance for ICBs. 
 
In August 2022, Stuart moved to NHS Sussex, as the Director of All-Age Continuing Care (AACC), leading the transformation of three legacy CCG services into a single pan-Sussex delivery service. In June 2023, Stuart became the Chief AHP and Director of AACC at NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB). Stuart provide professional leadership on a number of other ICB portfolios, including Integrated Community Teams (ICTs), End-of-Life Commissioning and, Clinical and Care Professional Leadership. Stuart is also the nominated system lead, for the National NHS England AACC programmes. 
 
Outside of his NHS role, Stuart is a qualified Executive Coach & Mentor, Programme Manager and has been a Board Trustee at St Barnabas Hospice Group Ltd, including St Barnabas, Chestnut Tree House and the Martlet’s Hospices’. He is passionate about the impact of leadership on patient outcomes, health inequalities and ensuring equitable access to services. 
 
Stuart resides in Sussex. 
Julia Skelton 
Non Excutive Director 
Julia is an Occupational Therapist and recently retired from The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) as the Director of Professional Operations. Prior to this, she worked and led the occupational therapy service for Essex County Council. 
Jamie Hooper 
Non Executive Director 
During his 10 years working in the physical activity sector, Jamie has established himself as a leading specialist in creating inclusive cultures and driving behaviour change. Through his Diversity and Inclusion work with key organisations including Swim England and Sport England, Jamie has consistently driven a person-centred approach to decision making, helping extend opportunities to be active to all segments of the community. 
 
In 2019 Jamie founded Inclusive Cultures to work with stakeholders and organisations to drive a culture of equality, inclusion and diversity in physical activity and sport. He also sits on the board for the Federation of Gay Games and the Black Swimming Association. 
Carol Slade 
Non Executive Director 
Carol joined the Board in August 2024 and is currently a semi retired self employed IT consultant working with a range of businesses migrating systems. 
 
Carol's working career has been varied, with a number of years within the third sector of a large disability charity, and understands the environment and the challenges it faces. Carol spent a number of years in different roles working closely with the CEO and acting as Board Secretary, Company Secretary and lead on Board governance. Prior to this, her experience was primarily in the commercial sector.  
At heart Carol is an entrepreneur, thinking strategically and innovatively. She uses this range of skills in whatever she feels passionate about. Carol can certainly say she feels passionate about the ethos and mission of Sport for Confidence and its vision into the future. 
 
As a disabled person, Carol views from a lived experience perspective, and the difference support and socialisation can change individual’s lives. Carol believes innovative approaches; removing barriers; offering choice; and empowering people provides inclusion to all those who would otherwise be ignored or forgotten. 
Ben Beevers 
Non Executive Director 
Ben joined the Board in August 2024. He has worked in the leisure / health and fitness for over 30 years, starting as a lifeguard and progressing to the position of Group Development Director for Everyone Active, one of the UK’s largest and most reputable leisure operators. During that time, Ben has built vast knowledge of the leisure sector and understanding of its unique challenges. 
 
Ben is passionate about activity and the benefits it can bring to everyone. On a personal level activity played a key role in Ben's recovery from cancer and he remains active, regularly playing a number of sports and undertaking endurance events. 
 
Ian Moss 
Non Executive Director 
Ian joined the Board in August 2024 and has worked as a lawyer and negotiator in the music, film and TV industries for more than 30 years. 
He currently works for an independent music company where he has responsibility for everything legal, commercial and HR related. 
Ian is also a qualified mediator, Portsmouth FC season ticket holder and pickleball addict. 
Scott Baker 
Non Executive Director 
Scott joined the Board in August 2024. After obtaining a degree in Sports Science, evaluating leadership styles of sports coaches, his early career involved working in the sports and leisure industry. While this fulfilled his passion for exercise, he then became a qualified physiotherapist and has worked in the field of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy in the NHS, private sector and elite sport. Scott has held several clinical and managerial roles within the NHS where he was the MSK Clinical Lead for NHS East of England. He was one of the early Physiotherapy pioneers in obtaining qualifications in injection therapy and independent prescribing. 
 
Scott has always had a passion for collaborative leadership and the impact on patient care and experience which has seen him complete a master’s in leadership. He then become the first ever recipient of the FMLM’s Collaborative Fellowship award to accredit non-medical practitioners for their healthcare leadership and management experience. 
 
Scott currently is the Clinical Director for Allied Health Professionals and Leadership for Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Broad. He is passionate about enabling everyone to achieve their potential and reducing health inequalities while challenging social barriers by promoting equality of opportunities.