SPORTED - Key Persons

Alain Cante

Job Titles:

Northern Ireland Delivery Officer
Support Officer

Andrew joined Sported in August 2021, and as Insight Officer co-ordinates monitoring, evaluation, and learning across the organisation, as well as leading on technical research to generate new insight to support Sported's services and strategy. Prior to joining Sported, he studied Modern History at the University of St Andrews and spent over a decade at the University of York, first as a postgraduate researcher and tutor in the History department, and then as part of the impact support team at the university's Humanities Research Centre. Andrew is passionate about sport and the positive impact it can have on people's lives, including for both physical and mental wellbeing. He loves using research and insight to better understand this impact and to help support Sported's members and the sport for development community.

Ann Peace

Job Titles:

EAST of ENGLAND REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICER

Ann joined Sported in January 2023 following ten years in business management in the Early Years sector, developing a small part-time preschool into a year-round low-cost facility for the local community for children from six months to school-age. Previously, her main area of work experience was business development in multiple retail site businesses. Then, Ann specialised in human resources within a range of organisations supporting diverse work forces from postal workers through to corporate boards. For many years, Ann coached both recreational and competitive artistic gymnastics. She continues to volunteer as a regional women's artistic judge for British Gymnastics in the East of England while supporting Hertfordshire County as its secretary. Ann keeps active being part of a national online run group set up during COVID. Given all this, she understands the workload and time pressure of our members trying to balance family, full-time work and committing quality time to clubs for the benefit of their members.

Anneka O'Connor

Job Titles:

VOLUNTEER SERVICES CO - ORDINATOR

Anneka joined Sported in April 2023. She graduated from Liverpool Hope University with a BSc Hons Degree in Information Technology and Sport Studies. Her background is primarily in sports development, coaching and volunteering with experiences working for Wales Netball, Aura Leisure & Libraries and England Netball. Anneka joined Sported in April 2023 from Wales Netball where she was Head of Growth. She is an active Tutor, Assessor and Internal Quality Assessor for several National Governing Bodies and enjoys mentoring learners to achieve their goals. Being an active volunteer herself, Anneka is passionate about volunteering which has been a huge part of her life. She started her volunteering journey with a local hockey club, setting up her own netball club after University and volunteering at her local golf club. Anneka has supported major events as a volunteer, most recently volunteering at the Rugby League World Cup and Commonwealth Games. In her spare time Anneka enjoys travelling, playing golf, netball, rounders and hockey whilst being a F1 and basketball fan.

Carrie Martinson

Job Titles:

Training, Resource and Events Coordinator

Cheddi Gore

Job Titles:

Regional Manager
EAST MIDLANDS REGIONAL MANAGER

Chloe Day

Job Titles:

PEOPLE and CULTURE OFFICER

Chloe Day joined Sported as People and Culture Officer in 2022. Chloe worked for the last nine years at what3words and was involved in a number of projects there from wellbeing and mental health to LGBTQ+ groups and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Outside of work she enjoys yoga, reading (especially Agatha Christie novels) and is a keen but clueless gardener.

Chris Sawyer

Job Titles:

HEAD of DELIVERY

Clare Nichols

Job Titles:

NETWORK SERVICES COORDINATOR

Craig Stephen

Job Titles:

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER SCOTLAND

During his time as a Sports Studies student at the University of Stirling, Craig developed a keen interest in understanding how sport can be used as a vehicle to bring about meaningful change. He quickly became involved in trying to make sport as inclusive as possible, creating opportunities to help the inactive become active and advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusive sport. After graduating in 2020, with a quick pit stop in sport development, Craig joined the Sported team in June 2021. Building and maintaining strong relationships with group leaders and volunteers alike is a priority for him, ensuring that groups receive the best support possible to help their young people thrive. In his spare time, Craig can be found on a basketball court somewhere across Scotland coaching or competing. Otherwise, he's counting down the days until the next Eurovision Song Contest.

Dan O'Driscoll

Job Titles:

CORPORATE LEAD

Dan joined Sported as Corporate Lead in January 2022. Having previously worked in the media industry with Haymarket, then moving on to follow his passion in sport, with strategic partnership management roles at IMG and Super League Triathlon. With a degree in Physical and Sport Education in the Community, Dan has always been passionate about the social impacts of sport and is really excited to see the impact some of the worlds best known brands can have on local communities within our network. Unfortunately, Dan's passion for sport never really manifested itself into talent. So sometimes he can be found in goal during five-a-side games or hacking his way round a golf course to a score of 108. More likely to be found following The Arsenal home and away or in the clubhouse.

Danny Walton

Job Titles:

Regional Support Administrator

Danny graduated from Northumbria University with a Bachelor of science in sport development and then went on to complete a Master of Science in International sport management. Throughout his time at university Danny volunteered for local sport groups in Newcastle, this led to his nomination for young sports leader representing Newcastle which was hosted by the sported foundation. Danny found the event to be inspiring, and this eventually led to working for the sported foundation. Danny has always been passionate about sport from an early age competing in swimming and football. Throughout his early career development he worked in South Africa working on sport for development projects and took part in Camp America as a swimming coach. He has used these experiences to help nurture his education and learning throughout university and is now part of the sported team and dedicated to help local communities across the UK achieve their goals.

Debbie Salman

Job Titles:

HEAD of FINANCE and ADMINISTRATION
HEAD of FINANCE and GOVERNANCE

Debbie joined Sported in late 2018 having qualified as an accountant and worked in accountancy practices for over 30 years. She decided that she would change career track to the charitable sector having been trustee of a small homelessness charity for a number of years and combine her passion for sport with her accountancy experience. She has participated in many sports over the years including Ultimate frisbee, football and hockey as well as doing several sprint triathlons and duathlons in her younger days. She now does (indoor) rowing, commuter cycling and running (slowly) on Hampstead Heath with friends and her dog, Gus. Debbie acts as the Secretary to the Board of Sported.

Debra Barklin

Job Titles:

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER - NORTH WALES

Debra has worked in the sports development sector for over 12 years throughout Mid and North Wales. She has had varied jobs over the years, she started her working life in a local hotel before going to university as a mature student.

Dee Pearson

Job Titles:

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER - SCOTLAND
Scotland National Delivery Manager

Dee previously worked in the Third Sector for nearly eight years for Scope. She works closely with our volunteer mentors, endeavouring to utilise their specialisms within the organisation and also ensure a seamless and strong support to our members across the region. Dee has vast experience coordinating a cross-section of services and is passionate about delivering first class service provision.

EAST OF ENGLAND

Job Titles:

EAST of ENGLAND REGIONAL MANAGER
EAST of ENGLAND REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICER

Ellie Blackstock

Job Titles:

SCOTLAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Ellie joined Sported in February 2021 but before joining Sported Ellie studied Sorts Studies at the University of Stirling, where she established that sport for development programmes were vital in grassroot sports and within communities. Ellie completed a research project on Sport for Development programmes, studying their evidence and evaluation processes, where it was discovered that community groups needed more support in the important work they do for their communities. This inspired Ellie to begin using her knowledge and passion to help change young people's lives for the better through sport. After graduating in 2020, Ellie decided, four years at university wasn't quite enough, and decided to pursue a masters in Sport Management. This allowed her to define her passions and pursue a role in Sport for development and CICs after spending time working with Animalia Apparel in Govanhill in Glasgow, showing her how important the work done by community groups is.

Emily Burns

Job Titles:

NORTH EAST REGIONAL MANAGER

Emily graduated Sheffield Hallam University with a BSc in Sport Development with Coaching. Due to many different volunteer opportunities during her time as a student, upon graduating she trained as a volunteer co-ordinator supporting the students union on various projects and engaging local communities. Emily's involvement in the sport, education and voluntary sectors in the North East spans over 6 years, most recently working for Sports Leaders UK before joining the Sported team. During her career Emily has also worked in America, Australia and Canada, taking in new experiences of working with young children across the world confirmed her passion and love for working with children and young people back in her home region of the North East and she is very excited to be part of the region's development.

Emma Heel

Job Titles:

HEAD of INSIGHT & STRATEGY

Evan Whetsell

Job Titles:

Member Services Coordinator

Evan grew up along the east coast of the United States before traveling and settling in Belfast, and then eventually in London with his partner (his final stop).  He joined the Member Services team at Sported in late 2018. Before joining Sported, Evan worked with Sport and Recreation Alliance on their volunteering programme, including the Olympic legacy brand Join in. He has served in a variety of public facing roles within hospitality, local government and the third sector. His true passion is community development through sport and feels extremely fortunate to support and speak with Sported's members on a daily basis. He brings experience to the team in customer service, digital communications, programme development and database management. He is a former competitive runner turned recreational triathlete. And has an eye on coaching again in the future. If you are looking for someone to talk athletics/cycling/triathlon or representation within sport, you have found the right person.