The Board
To find out a little bit about each Board Member see below
Lyndsey Barrett
Director
Co-founder of Sport for Confidence, Lyndsey has worked as an Occupational Therapist for 20 years with extensive experience working within both learning disabilities services and community mental health. The sport and leisure sector is not a context in which Occupational Therapists are conventionally employed or practicing within. Lyndsey’s work has changed that. She is passionate about using sport to transform lives and in 2015 she co-founded the unique Sport for Confidence model and placed occupational therapists directly alongside sports coaches and leisure centre staff, to make adjustments that create truly accessible sports opportunities.
The existence of Sport for Confidence has promoted the contribution of Occupational Therapy at both a local and national level, her work was recognised in NHS England’s Allied Health Professionals Into Action, which included Sport For Confidence as an example of innovative practice and Lyndsey has been involved in its dissemination at a national level. Her work extends the boundaries of the occupational therapy profession and delivers occupational therapy in new and innovative contexts. Lyndsey has truly dedicated herself to delivering sports and physical activity-based interventions for a range of marginalised groups, in order to meet their occupational needs and ensure they benefit from its transformative potential.
Steve Mitchell
Executive Chairperson
Mitch has spent his career working extensively at the interface between skills and employment across the sport and physical activity sector. As the son of a speech and language therapist he saw from an early age the power of inclusive environments & behaviours to improve life chances.
Having spent 10 years in the public sector, he has now been working independently for over 6 years developing a business portfolio where his clients include CEO’s & decision makers across NGB’s, commercial businesses, leisure operators, 3rd sector organisations, Active Partnerships and leading educational institutions. He co-founded Sport for Confidence CIC after meeting Lyndsey through Active Basildon in 2014 & supporting her transition out of the NHS. Mitch is ideally placed to chair the board and provide leadership support for the directors as the business scales outside Essex and into new domains across the sport and physical activity sector. Specifically, as the development of training and workforce development opportunities emerge working with CIMPSA & other sector stakeholders, his networks will ensure business grows in line with policy directives from Sport England and UK Active. His broader portfolio helps the business with examples of best practice in apprenticeship delivery, new business opportunities and organisations on the front line who want to get ahead of the game when it comes to developing their next generation of coaches and leaders.
Dan Black
Director
A highly experienced hands-on creative with a talent for helping clients discover, define and establish themselves through strategic and effective design. An extensive track record of premium brand development and direction across all media, both online and offline.
Always taking time to listen, learn and work towards understanding every aspect of the project in order to achieve the best creative results that exceed expectations.
Lyndsey Barrett
Director and 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
Non Executive Chairman
Mitch is focussed on the development of people in, through and across sport. A passionate believer in the importance of high quality education, Mitch’s wealth of experience includes designing the AASE programme in 2004 across 20 sports. Further to this Mitch is a Board member of Active Essex, the County Sports Partnership for Essex.
Dan Black
Director
Dan brings to the table twenty years’ experience of creating high quality branding and graphic design. Dan shaped the Sport for Confidence brand to cleanly articulate the core values of the organistion. Dan is the founder and Creative Director of Detail Design Consultants; a dynamic Leatherhead-based design consultancy dedicated to delivering the very highest quality branding and design solutions across a wide range of media.
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.
Victoria Wells
Non-Executive Director
Victoria has been the National Lead for Targeted Interventions at the Youth Sport Trust for over a decade. In this role, she drives positive social action and addresses inequalities that exist for young people, through the power of inclusive PE, school sport and physical activity. Prior to this, she held several roles in sports development and also a senior position, responsible for overall management of a health club which included provision for all, financial accountability plus brand and marketing.
Vicci is a National SEND Advocate, and has been a Global Change Mentor for the Special Olympics. She also holds several governance roles within education (including one as Chair). To inspire others into board roles I create content for the Young (ish) School Governor blog and regularly contribute to other industry articles.
Dr Amy-Jo Lynch
Non-Executive Director
Amy-Jo is an Executive Assistant at what3words and previously worked for Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Before joining MCC, she was a Senior Consultant at Perrett Laver, the global executive search firm, where she supported Sport England in their campaign to increase diversity across sports boards. Amy-Jo also created the BME Leadership Network to support both aspiring and experienced leaders across sectors.
Amy-Jo previously worked for Academic Health Solutions as Relationship Manager and Executive Assistant to the Executive Chairman, having made the transition from working on the frontline as a health and social care professional. Amy-Jo completed a PhD in Psychology at the University of Kent, is a Qualified Social Worker and Governor for her former secondary school.
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.
Victoria Wells
Non-Executive Director
Victoria has been the National Lead for Targeted Interventions at the Youth Sport Trust for over a decade. In this role, she drives positive social action and addresses inequalities that exist for young people, through the power of inclusive PE, school sport and physical activity. Prior to this, she held several roles in sports development and also a senior position, responsible for overall management of a health club which included provision for all, financial accountability plus brand and marketing.
Vicci is a National SEND Advocate, and has been a Global Change Mentor for the Special Olympics. She also holds several governance roles within education (including one as Chair). To inspire others into board roles I create content for the Young (ish) School Governor blog and regularly contribute to other industry articles.
Dr Amy-Jo Lynch
Non-Executive Director
Amy-Jo is an Executive Assistant at what3words and previously worked for Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Before joining MCC, she was a Senior Consultant at Perrett Laver, the global executive search firm, where she supported Sport England in their campaign to increase diversity across sports boards. Amy-Jo also created the BME Leadership Network to support both aspiring and experienced leaders across sectors.
Amy-Jo previously worked for Academic Health Solutions as Relationship Manager and Executive Assistant to the Executive Chairman, having made the transition from working on the frontline as a health and social care professional. Amy-Jo completed a PhD in Psychology at the University of Kent, is a Qualified Social Worker and Governor for her former secondary school.
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.
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.
Last year, 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.
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.
Last year, 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.
Julia Skelton
Non-Executive Director
Julia is an occupational therapist 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.
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.