F.E.A.R.* (For Everything A Reason) - A meeting of sporting minds

I love it when something you feel really passionate about finally comes off – and for me it’s just happened. There’s a new partnership in the high-performance sporting landscape that’s been launched bringing together two charities I care deeply about, and I am delighted that I have been able to play my part.

F.E.A.R. Reason 1

The first charity is SwitchThePlay Foundation (STP) focussing on helping athletes deal with the challenges of transitioning out of the sport(s) they have dedicated their lives to and into an unknown future. I first came across STP when I was CEO of the British Athletes Commission (BAC) as the 1,500 members were obviously a target ‘audience’ for their work. In 2017, as my time at the BAC was coming to a very challenging and toxic end, I was grateful for the support of Rob Young (now CEO) and Chris Brindley (Trustee) who helped me deal with a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation and challenge my integrity. With their help I cleared my name, and I have never forgotten their loyalty and support. I have therefore been delighted to repay it by being the Wellbeing Partner of STP through DOCIAsport and contributed to the growth of the charity however I can.

F.E.A.R. Reason 3

The ambition to create a world leading ‘development community’ really appeals to me because this means it’s not just about the medals – a fixation I’d argue that is harder to shake off in the higher end of Olympic and Paralympic sport on the mainland. This is using sport as the vehicle not only to develop the athletic talent in Sport Aid, but also through sport to help the individuals develop as people for life beyond sport. In Sport Aid there is a genuine willingness to collaborate with others and STP is a natural fit for many reasons for example shared:

– Objectives

– Values

– Trust and transparency

So many of the c 500 Sport Aid athletes supported since inception in 1991 now have access to the broad range of services offered by STP, including mentors, workshops and the Psychological Care Pathway. Those that do so will also, by definition, become part of the STP SwitchedOn community where they will have peer support.

It has given me great pride to bring these two organisations together. There were reasons why I became involved with each separately but bringing the two together to help the Manx athletes was in hindsight perhaps the real reason.

* With thanks to Ian Brown for the idea for this blog. F.E.A.R well worth a listen wherever you get your music.

F.E.A.R. Reason 2

In the first lockdown of 2020 I received an unexpected email from a man I now count as a valued friend. Dr Rich Sille wanted help in creating a mental health strategy for the Talent Pathway for the Isle of Man charity Sport Aid. As Rich is the sports psychologist he’d been charged with its creation and sought my help. What he didn’t know is that my grandfather was born in Peel on the west coast of the island. What I didn’t know was the effect becoming involved in Manx sport would have on me because of my Manx genes. I’m very proud of my heritage and I am grateful for my opportunity to work on this particular talent pathway.

As well as helping recruit and support an Athlete Advisory board, I am now part of a small team led by Paul Jones, the Performance Sport Co-ordinator, with a shared ambition to be the No1 athlete ID and development community in the world by 2029. The year is important as 2029 is the year the Island Games returns to the island.

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