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 the National Head of Allied Health Professions at NHS England and NHS Improvement. A physiotherapist by background, he has worked locally, regionally and nationally in clinical, management and leadership positions within the NHS. After several years in the NHS, Stuart left to work for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, taking on many roles, including Public Health Lead and latterly, Head of Programmes and Projects. In 2016, Stuart became the first Honorary AHP NHS Innovation Fellow, supporting the development of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. 
 
Stuart is responsible for Professional and Systems Leadership, encompassing a wide range of national workstreams, working to develop and influence national strategy and policy to support NHS providers and systems to develop the capacity and capability of the AHP workforce. 
 
Stuart is also the programme director for the national AHP Equality, Diversity and Inclusion workstream, working to improve the diversity of the AHP workforce, to better reflect the people and populations we serve. Stuart is passionate about inclusion - firmly believing that for a team or organisation to achieve it's true potential, it must not only be diverse, but must strive to foster a culture that is inclusive, embracing difference, challenge and debate. 
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. 
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