A charitable company has been established to represent, support and lead the Active Partnerships and increase the individual and collective impact. The company comprises of a staff team and board. Please do not hesitate to contact us whatever your query:
Ethan joined the team in January 2023 as Project Support for the Opening School Facilities Project. Alongside his role at Active Partnerships, Ethan works in events promotions and has worked with clients such as the WWE. Before joining the team, Ethan worked as a Project Support Officer for West Midlands Police to deliver the security operation for the B2022 Commonwealth Games.
As the Project Support for the Opening Schools Facilities project, Ethan aims to help deliver the project effectively and efficiently helping increase participation in sports and physical activity at schools and within wider communities.
In his spare time, Ethan enjoys running, golfing, football, and being physically active. Ethan is a keen Formula One enthusiast and has a passion for delivering live events.
Annie joined the National Team in September 2021 as a secondment from Active Oxfordshire, to provide the strategic health lead supporting Active Partnerships to embed physical activity as a whole systems approach into Health and Care systems. She is also the Live Longer Better Project Manager, working with Sir Muir Gray, national networks and Active Partnerships across the country to develop a new culture – from care to enablement, using activity as the driver to increase healthspan for older adults and reduce dependency on health and social care.
Having started her career as a P.E. teacher, lecturer and assessor, Annie now has extensive experience of Health business at National and European level, with specific expertise in cardiovascular health prevention, treatment and management through activity and exercise interventions, and workforce training. Annie has worked closely with Health Commissioners to provide and manage various community health services across England and Ireland, leading clinical and non-clinical teams.
Annie is passionate about maximising physical activity as a fundamental means of improving physical and mental health for our communities – it is such an untapped resource which needs exploiting! Let’s get on and do it…..
Andy joined the national team as Chief Executive Officer in June 2022, having previously worked at The Football Association, Aston Villa Foundation and Burton Albion Community Trust. Andys role as CEO is to to strategically lead the direction and development of the Active Partnership national team in accordance with strategic plans and the ethos and vision of the organisation.
Andy is a firm believer in the positive role that sport, and physical activity can have on all people’s lives, especially where there are inequalities within our communities.
In his spare time, Andy is Independent Chair of Port Vale Foundation, a manager of a grassroots football team and a keen runner (usually with a Springer Spaniel), currently training for the London Marathon in October 2022, raising money for Alzheimers Society.
Favorite Quote: Don’t find problems, find solutions
Heidi joined the national team in July 2022. She has experience in social enterprise, charity and private sectors.
As Business & Administration Support Officer Heidi’s aim is to help the national team and Board be efficient, effective and impactful. As part of this remit she will be reaching out across the Active Partnership network to draw on and share best practice in the systems and processes that we all need to make the APs effective.
Heidi enjoys being active with family and friends including her two children and dog, Ellie. She feels most at home in the Lake District and loves to cycle around the lanes near her home in Bucks.
Favourite quote: ‘ “I can’t see a way through” said the boy. “Can you see your next step?” “yes” “just take that”, said the horse. By Charlie Mackesy
Nicki joined the national team in September 2010 and has worked across a number of roles which have helped develop the Charity.
As a Relationships Partner Nicki works to connect, enable and support the Active Partnerships and partners across the sector, to maximising strengths and resources to drive collective impact. Nicki leads on a number of themes including marketing and communications, women and girls and active workplaces.
Nicki enjoys encouraging people to be active including her four children and volunteers at a local athletics club. When not at a cycling, gymnastics or athletics event Nicki enjoys walking and running with her cocker spaniel.
Favourite quote: Be someone who makes someone else look forward to tomorrow
Nerys joined the National Team in December 2022, having previously worked as a Finance Manager at a County FA. Nerys is a qualified Chartered Accountant, qualifying with KPMG including a secondment within the Public Sector, before moving to head up a commercial European Finance team.
As Finance Manager, Nerys’ aims are to help connect the finance teams across the network, as well as providing support to the national team. She has a strong belief that finance should be integrated within an organisation, helping it to succeed rather than just simply reporting the numbers!
Outside of work Nerys enjoys spending time with her family, and can be found most weekends watching her two sons play football or rugby, or helping to organise events for the local grassroots youth football league. She also has a love of swimming, and finds it invaluable for both physical and mental health.
Favourite quote: “What’s next?” Jed Bartlet (Aaron Sorkin)
Helen joined the organisation in August 2022 as a Relationships Partner. Prior to taking this role she worked for a Rural Youth Charity in Devon for two years and a Physical Education Teacher for twelve years.
Like her relationship partner colleagues, Helen’s aim is to connect, add value and support to Active Partnerships colleagues and partners across the sector to make a physical activity a social norm for everyone. Helen leads on Children and Young People and is the APNT contact for the South West Active Partnerships.
Outside of the working environment, Helen enjoys taking part in Crossfit as well participating in endurance events including marathons and triathlons.
Favourite quote: Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out
Ali is seconded to the national team one day a week.
Ali joined the Active Together/LRS team as it was at the time back in 2018 to take on a new role for the organisation rolling out the Sport and Economy Growth Plan for the area. Ali's background had been in sports development, fitness, children/family weight management and an integrated healthy lifestyle service prior to joining the team and taking on this role.
In Ali's role for the Active Partnership National Team she aims to connect, enable and support other Active Partnerships to share the learning, projects and successes linked to this huge agenda. Then, use this learning to align to the Partnerships local needs and apply this in a context which works for their areas.
Ali's blog shares more information about this area of work.
Ali enjoys being active, anything outdoors, cycling, running, open water swimming, although fondly remembers a time when her non-work time was her own, rather than trying to catch and hour here and there to got out and move more!!
Graeme joined the national team in March 2014 and held a number of roles before moving into the Relationships Partner role.
Through this role Graeme makes it his mission to change the structures, policies and behaviours that are preventing active lives from being the social norm for everyone. A challenge that he believes can be achieved by bringing people together across organisational boundaries. Building meaningful relationships and mobilising assets to drive collective action and tackle inequalities.
Outside of work Graeme enjoys walking, visiting the Lake District, golf, cricket and football