A fulfilling first year as Chair, with plenty more to achieve
Adam Paker took on the role of Chair of the Board in October 2025. Here, during Trustee's Week, he reflects on his first 12 months in post.
My first year as Chair of the Board of Activity Alliance has been an incredibly interesting and fulfilling experience. It has been a valuable opportunity to understand the organisation better and see first-hand the difference we make to disabled people’s lives.
One of my biggest highlights has been working with a largely new group of Trustees to build a united Board, with a shared purpose and fresh ambition. I have also really enjoyed developing relationships with our CEO, leadership team and wider staff. Their extraordinary commitment to our vision and values is clear, and it makes me incredibly proud to be a part of this organisation.
Most rewarding of all has been attending our events, including the Include to Improve celebration event and the British Junior Para Swimming Championships. None of the disabled people I have met is asking for sympathy; instead, they are determined to have the right to live life to the full, embracing all the benefits that sport and physical activity can bring them. Seeing the impact of our work in practice, and the positive difference we make to these people's lives, has been hugely motivating. It has also given me the opportunity to see the power of our partnerships to bring inclusion to life.
However, we cannot lose sight of the challenges ahead. Our latest Annual Disability and Activity Survey highlights the scale of the challenge. While 67% of disabled people want to be more physically active, just 52% feel they have the opportunity to be as active as they would like. Almost half also said the increased cost of living has reduced how active they are. These findings are a clear reminder that, despite progress, too many disabled people continue to face significant barriers to participation. We have much more to do to change this.
We are fortunate to have the support of Sport England as our public funder, but we also need to be ambitious in diversifying our income. Developing new relationships with sponsors and grant funders will be important in strengthening our future and increasing our impact.
It has been a busy and hugely rewarding first year, but there is no time to rest on our laurels. I am excited about the next 12 months. My ambition is to nurture and sustain everything that makes Activity Alliance special, while raising the bar on what we can achieve and creating more positive opportunities for more disabled people.
