Mark Hardie CEO Expand Having become hooked firstly as an Access Sport volunteer, Mark subsequently joined the charity in 2008 as a Project Leader and has been CEO since 2010. Previously Mark worked for 15 years as a lawyer specialising in advocacy, crime and human rights. Over the last seven years has led the charity through a period of sustained growth during which time Access Sport has won a wide range of awards for excellence in delivery, including the BT Sports Industry Award for Best Community Sport Project nationally. He is passionate about harnessing the power of sport as a force for good. Mark has a BA from Oxford University in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, an MA in International Sports Law from Anglia Ruskin University and has represented his native Scotland in athletics
Julian Barrell Director of Development Expand Julian Barrell is an experienced charity fundraising leader, with nearly twenty years experience of leading non-profit making organisations to grow income, particularly in the youth sector. His experience includes fifteen years working for The Prince’s Trust, where he established and built the organisation’s pioneering ‘Leadership Groups’ initiative, before spending six years as Director of Fundraising, during which time income grew from £38m to £61m. Entering the world of non-profit fundraising in 1997 Julian started at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution where he ran a successful training appeal. Other organisations he has worked for more recently include Age UK and Young Enterprise. He is also currently a Trustee of the Youth United Foundation. Julian is passionate about growing relationships to ensure that more and more resources can be passed from those who have them to those who do not.
Sue Wheeler Finance Director Expand Sue’s background is in sport from degree courses to working in Sports Marketing on the agency side representing sponsors and running large events for various corporates including drinks brands, insurance companies, newspapers and going to the RWC in 1995 with the England squad (shame!) Sue has worked at Access Sport for 10 years – joining Charlie Beauchamp (founder) in 2006, having previously worked together at Sports Marketing agency MH&P. Her role at AS are the finances, assisted by the Treasurer of Trustees, and overseeing the day to day running of the charity. In her spare time she enjoys playing golf (on a course with no bunkers!), keeping fit and being with family and friends.
Becca O'Neil Senior Programme Leader, Team Operations Expand Becca has worked for Access Sport for nearly 8 years, working across Bristol, London, Manchester and Oxford on several different programmes, including Active Women, Doorstep Sports clubs and High Sheriff. This means she has a good understanding of the Access Sport mission both strategically and with on the ground challenges. She now works to ensure there is standardisation across the programmes and to ensure the processes and policies are efficient for the team. Becca has previously worked for a County Sports Partnership and a National Governing Body developing junior elite pathways in hockey. She also won an International Young Achievers award for her work with the England Hockey Youth Panel. In her spare time Becca enjoys playing a variety of sports and walking the dog with her husband and young son.
Joe McTague Associate Director, BMX Legacy Expand Joe is the Associate Director for Access Sport’s BMX Legacy Programme, working to create a vibrant youth cycling scene in London. Joe’s role involves overseeing the day-to-day running of the programme, ensuring it is realising its aims on time and on budget. Joe also collates the reports and works alongside our CEO to help build relationships with key partners and enhance the case for further investment. In his spare time Joe enjoys playing squash and visiting the pub with family and friends.
Tess Cinamon-Duffield Project Leader, BMX legacy Expand As the Project Leader for the BMX Legacy Programme, Tess has an overview of the day to day delivery of the Programme in London whilst supporting the strategic development of the programme overall. She first started working in the sports industry at LOCOG during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics before going onto work in disability development. Tess loves skiing, but has recently become a regular down at the BMX track during the summer months.
Harriet Plows Women & Girls Development Manager, BMX legacy Expand Harriet leads on Access Sport's women & girls work, ensuring the charity is targeting, engaging and retaining females from disadvantaged areas in sport and physical activity. Harriet’s role focuses on using cycling and BMX as way to get more females active, create more female leaders and up-skill more women and girls. She is working in 7 target boroughs to set up new initiatives and partnerships as well as supporting the rest of the BMX programme at Access Sport. In her spare time, Harriet plays pretty much any sport she can and is especially passionate about the Access Sport 5-aside football team.
Steph Walters BMX Coordinator, BMX Legacy Expand Steph is the BMX Coordinator of the BMX Legacy Programme. Her role oversees the administration of the project and working closely with the coaches to constantly develop and improve the delivery of the sessions. Having a previous coaching background in Netball and Trampolining and studying a BSc Coaching & Physical Education degree, she is passionate about the engagement of young people in sport and developing sports coaching into an athlete centred approach. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching Harry Potter and SHOPPING.
Farran Afflick-Straker Programme Coach & Development Officer, BMX Legacy Expand As the Programme Coach & Development Officer for Access Sport’s BMX Legacy Programme Farran is responsible for delivering quality, structured and progressive outreach coaching sessions at Access Sport’s London partner clubs, supporting the development of other Access Sport coaches and working with the team to support and develop community clubs, competitions and events. Coming from a BMX racing background he has previously competed in national and European races in the amateur ranks. Farran was also part of the British Cycling Talent Team alongside Tre Whyte and Kyle Evans, and brings with him this level of competitive coaching to his current students. For him, the best part of his job is seeing the degree of improvement and progression in his students and how this is reflected in them off as well as on the track. In his spare time, Farran enjoys BMXing, go-karting and watching football.
Nathaniel Martin Go Ride Coach, BMX Legacy Expand Nathaniel is the lead coach for the BMX program. As well as supporting the development of the 15 BMX clubs across London, Nathaniel delivers BMX sessions to young people in schools and community groups, bringing his fleet of BMX bikes and equipment directly to areas where BMX may not be easily accessible. Racing competitively at a national level since 2004 and competing in the BMX World Championships in 2012, Nathaniel has a few years of BMX experience. Hailing from South London’s Brixton BMX Club, he gained his coaching experience working alongside the club chairman AD Martin and worked at Burgess Park BNX Track before joining Access Sport. Predictably, Nathaniel enjoys BMXing in his spare time!
Hayley Barton Associate Director, Ignite Expand Hayley is the Associate Director for Access Sport's Ignite Programme. Ignite aims to improve health and wellbeing for young disabled people living in disadvantaged areas. It currently supports the development of 40 volunteer-led clubs in London and Bristol to effectively engage more young disabled people with sport. In 2013 Hayley completed a PhD in Sport Psychology and also supported several physical activity and childhood obesity research projects. Hayley is dedicated to using her previous research experience to ensure the collection of high quality data that provides insight into getting more disabled and disadvantaged young people active in sport and physical activity. In her spare time, Hayley plays football for Leyton Orient and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Julia Williams Senior Programme Leader, Bristol Expand Julia manages Access Sport in Bristol, developing community sports clubs across the city to enable more young people to have opportunities and experience the profound benefits of participating in sport. Julia is involved with the Bristol Steering Group, exploring ways to raise Access Sport’s profile across the City and also sits on the West of England Inclusive Partnership to help develop a strategy around inclusive sport. Julia has 20 years of experience in the sport, local authority and charity sector, and prior to joining Access Sport in 2013, worked with the FA to develop football across the City, and gained invaluable experience engaging extremely hard to reach young people aged 13-25 with Fairbridge, a young person’s charity in Bristol. In her spare time Julia enjoys participating in a wide range of sports including running, swimming and yoga.
Adam Thomas Club Development Manager, Ignite Expand Adam leads on the BT Supporters Club Project which specifically aims to help more disabled young people participate in Wingz BMX and Flyerz Hockey. Adam has extensive coaching experience having gained his level 2 qualification in cycling, BMX, and athletics, level 1 in handball and is a keen sports leader in various multi-sports. Furthermore, Adam is a sports leaders UK qualified tutor for the delivery of young leader awards. Adam volunteers his own time every Saturday at his local athletics club ‘S Factor Academy’ where he is the disability coordinator and lead inclusive coach, running PAN disability inclusive sessions for local disabled young people in Lewisham. In Adam’s spare time ( & when he is not coaching the inclusive athletics group at S-Factor Academy), Adam enjoys watching inspiring sports films such as Million Dollar Arm, Coach Carter, The Rookie, or his favourite ‘42’!
Kate Page Club Development Manager, Ignite Expand Kate is the CSAF Club Development Manager for the Ignite programme, aiming to improve the provision of sports for young disabled people across London. She works with community clubs to open their doors and offer inclusive sport. Kate completed her placement year with Access Sport in 2015/16 and has returned to the charity after graduating from Brunel University with a first in BSc (Hons) Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences. She has a keen interest for how sport can improve the lives of people with disabilities, with her research dissertation on how sports psychology can improve the wellbeing of amputees. In her spare time, Kate enjoys playing netball, power lifting and walking her cocker spaniel, Rufus.
Pete Lamb Club Development Manager, Ignite Bristol Expand Pete supports the development of Ignite Clubs in Bristol to ensure their long term sustainability, including the coordination of outreach sessions, up skilling volunteers, and enhancing the clubs’ social media and promotional activity. Working part time with Access Sport, Pete also works with the Gloucestershire Cricket Board with a focus to increase participation. In his spare time, Pete enjoys playing cricket and the occasional round of golf.
Josh Heseltine-Smith Club Development Manager, Ignite Bristol Expand Josh supports the development of Ignite Clubs in Bristol to ensure their long term sustainability, including the coordination of outreach sessions, up skilling volunteers, and enhancing the clubs’ social media and promotional activity. Before joining Access Sport Josh worked as a Teaching Assistant, working in one of the most deprived areas in South Wales, coordinating sporting events and running after school sessions. Josh also has a background in youth politics previously holding a seat on the Newport Youth Council as well as the Young People’s Welsh Assembly allowing him to have a say on any decisions that affected young people across Wales. Outside of work Josh is a competitive golfer regularly representing his club and previously playing for his home county culminating in his inclusion in the National Development Squad as a junior. When not on the golf course Josh enjoys traveling to new places and following his local rugby club Caerleon RFC.
Drew Nicholson Club Development Officer, Ignite Bristol Expand Drew is a third year university student studying Sport Development and Coaching Sciences at Bournemouth University. Currently on his year in industry, his work for Access Sport as a Club Development officer focuses on bringing sport to disadvantaged young people in the Bristol area. He is passionate about bringing sport to disadvantaged young people and believes strongly in the extent to which the benefits stretch beyond exercise into valuable life and social skills. In Drew’s spare time he takes part in his local pool league, enjoys playing the occasional 5 a side football match with his father and is a big supporter of his family’s hometown, Middlesbrough.
Mike Power Club Development Manager, High Sheriff Manchester Expand Mike is the Club Development Manager for the High Sheriff Challenge in Manchester. His previous roles include a Community Sports Development Manager focusing on inclusion, A School Games Organiser and Behaviour Mentor. Mike has previously delivered Sports Leaders UK courses and has a good knowledge of their different awards, qualifications and the content of delivery. Mike has also worked with PRUs, with youth offenders and those at risk of social exclusion on alternative curriculum programmes. In addition he is a Level 3 Hockey Coach, coaching a ladies team in the Investec Ladies North Conference National League and coaching at various levels within England Hockey’s Single System Pathway. In his spare time, Mike enjoys playing and watching lots of sports but his favourite thing is spending time with his little boy Alfie, who was 3 in February 2016, exploring the woodlands and going on little adventures.
Conor Savage Club Development Manager, High Sheriff Oxford Expand Conor manages the High Sheriff Programme in Oxford, working with 15 clubs across the city to effectively engage more disadvantaged young people regularly. Conor has more than 10 years’ experience coaching and delivering sports activities to young people in schools, community clubs and disability organisations including hockey, tennis, table tennis and running. Through Conor’s previous work with Oxford City Council’s Youth Ambition Program, he has developed insight into the most deprived wards in the City and the issues affecting young people in these areas. Furthermore, Conor has extensive experience engaging hard to reach groups such as women & girls, disabled people and BMX groups. In his spare time, Conor enjoys spending time outdoors, photography and music.
Ailish Myland-Stokes Fundraising & Events Executive Expand Ailish is the Fundraising & Events Executive at Access Sport, working closely with Sue, Mark and Julian to organise the charity’s fundraising events including the ‘A Question of Access Sport’ Annual Dinner and the cycling sportives, to help raise unrestricted funds. Ailish is a graduate of Sport Development and has spent time with disadvantaged communities in Kenya using the power of sport to enhance the lives of young people, as well as also spending some time with the BMX & Ignite teams at Access Sport. In her spare time Ailish enjoys swimming - most recently developing a love of the open water, and spending time by the seaside or in the countryside.