Cookies help our website to remember you and your preferences. For more information or to update your cookie settings, please go to our privacy policy.

Accept Decline
Skip to content.

The national charity and leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity

Menu. Open and close this menu with the ENTER key.

Team

Our two office hubs are in Loughborough and Manchester. Many of us work remotely across England. Our Board is made up of highly experienced volunteers with a variety of skills to support our charity's strategy, policies and vision.

Please see below the details for staff, Board and Advocates. You can also use the contact us form for general information.

Find a team member

Found 28 team members.

  • Dawn Hughes

    Strategic Partnership Advisor (East Midlands)

    Dawn is our relationship lead for work across the East Midlands and also heads up our national work with the leisure sector. This includes raising the profile of our renowned Inclusive Fitness Initiative. She is on hand to support leisure providers and operators to embed inclusive practice into their facilities. Dawn likes to run, and is known to sign up to a physical challenge or two!

    Phone
    07788 423277

  • Emma Chadwick

    Project Officer

    Emma is one of our programmes team Project Officers. She joined the organisation in April 2023 after spending 10 years working in the Middle East. Emma wants to see an inclusive approach to sport and activity for everyone. When not working, you’ll often find Emma hiking in the Peak District with her rescue dog, enjoying a good book or watching sports on the TV.

    Phone
    07792 459803

  • Helen Derby

    Strategic Lead - Programmes

    Helen joined Activity Alliance in 2016, having worked within the health and education sector engaging disabled people in sport and physical activity. Helen leads on Activity Alliance programmes such as the Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme supporting disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together. Outside work Helen loves the outdoors, taking her dog for walks as well as supporting both her son’s active sports schedules!

    Phone
    07764 291662

  • Helen Newberry

    Get Out Get Active Workforce Lead

    Helen is part of our programme's team, working on Get Out Get Active, having been the Engagement Advisor for the South West. Working with a wide range of partners, she is at the heart of developing and implementing workforce plans for the programme. A keen athlete, Helen can be found taking part in many running events. She is also a fabulous baker!

    Phone
    07967 573345

  • Jannine Walker

    Head of Events and Programmes

    With over 20 years of expertise in events and inclusion, Jannine is an experienced professional dedicated to fostering inclusive and accessible opportunities. Her extensive background includes expert event planning and delivery from international events to inclusive resource creation to support disabled people in being active and included. Showcasing a commitment to creating inclusive and impactful events and programmes. Jannine leads an experienced team of programme and events staff that bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for creating sustainable participation opportunities for all.

    Phone
    07725 273158

  • Jayant Mistry

    Impact and Learning Advisor

    Jayant supports our engagement and programmes teams to embed better practices in their work. This could be through improvement plans or effective monitoring. Among his many sporting achievements, Jayant is a four-time Paralympic wheelchair tennis player and twice inaugural grand slam doubles champion. He was the Wheelchair Tennis Sport Manager at the London 2012 Games and part of the wheelchair tennis coaching team at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Jayant believes we can create a more open and inclusive society by increasing people’s confidence and competence. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Loughborough University and is an avid Leicester City fan.

    Phone
    0808 175 6991

  • Jessica Flavell

    Senior Research and Insight Advisor

    Jess provides research support, managing projects and evaluating the impact of our programmes. This helps us and our partners to understand more fully disabled people’s experiences and supports providers to be more inclusive. Jess is particularly interested in challenging inequalities in all forms, and breaking down barriers through inclusive research and coproduction. A keen cyclist, Jess loves to venture to the countryside or coast in her free time.

    Phone
    07817 787542

  • Kat Southwell

    Head of Operations and Impact

    Building on 15 years of inclusive programme management experience, Kat now leads on Activity Alliance’s Operations and Impact function. This includes developing the approach to business and operational planning and ensuring maximum efficiencies and impact through delivery. Outside of work Kat, loves to be outside, active and with friends!

    Phone
    07967 573343

  • Lorraine Harris

    Strategic Partnership Advisor (South West)

    Lorraine joined our partnerships team in 2021 as South West Strategic Partnership Advisor. Lorraine’s background includes supporting communities across Devon to lead more active lifestyles, and supporting organisations to provide more accessible and inclusive opportunities for Deaf and disabled people. With more than nine years’ experience, Lorraine is passionate about everyone having the choice to live the life they choose.
    For fun, Lorraine plays rugby and is part of Crediton RFC’s first female ladies’ team. Her highlight so far is being awarded the most improved player after her first season. Her biggest achievement was climbing Kilimanjaro and being the second group to the summit. She is now busy planning her next trip to the mountains!

    Phone
    07436 245815

  • Molly O'Brien

    Senior Research and Insight Advisor

    Molly joined the research team in 2022. She works closely with colleagues across the charity providing research support to understand disabled people’s experiences of being active. Molly is passionate about making a difference through research and insight. She enjoys collecting data and providing evidence that can make a positive difference and improvements for greater accessibility, equality, and inclusion for all disabled people across sport and physical activity. Molly loves being active outdoors, and regularly practises yoga and dance. When she’s not being super active, she loves to read. You will also find Molly cooking up a storm in the kitchen and baking some tasty treats.

  • Nicola File

    Strategic Partnership Advisor (South East)

    Nicola helps organisations to embed inclusive practices in their work, including the Active Partnerships. She was delighted to join our team in 2019 after working closing with Activity Alliance for many years in her previous role. Her biggest joy comes from building relationships with a wide range of people and seeing the difference it makes to disabled people. She is keen for others to see how much inclusion in sport and leisure really does change lives. Away from work, Nicola gets her dancing shoes on, supporting a local dance school. She reaps the mental and physical health benefits from seeing activity in action. It gets her up and about, moving more away from her laptop.

    Phone
    07976 779489

  • Paul Downes

    Strategic Partnership Advisor (Yorkshire and Humber)

    Paul joined the team in January 2023 to head up our partnership work across Yorkshire and the Humber. He has held several sport development roles in the public, private and third sectors. Most recently for a national charity supporting people with complex disabilities. Paul recently ran the London Marathon as a charity fundraiser and was very happy to finish in just under four hours. When he is not out and about with his family you can find him either running, walking the dog or singing and playing his guitar.

    Phone
    07946 069518