A passionate, experienced team, helping children, young people and families achieve, thrive, and flourish

Community Activities Team

Volunteer Young Leaders

Communities Support Team

Jay - Partnerships & Community Projects Manager (Basildon area)

Vicky - Partnerships Manager (Southend area)

Kelly - Neighbourhood Connector & Volunteers coordinator (Basildon area)

Iwona - Neighbourhood Connector (Southend area)

Jade - Neighbourhood Connector Assistant

Ash - ATF Coach — Ash - Positive Futures Manager

Mira - Neighbourhood Connector Assistant

Senior Support Team

Rachael - Physical Education and HAF Manager

Stuart - Communities Manager and ParkPlay Coordinator

Board of trustees

**Dr David Sollis - Chair of the Board**
A launcher and leader of innovative services, my profile spans a broad array of senior positions, qualifications and voluntary contributions. Building on career foundations in insurance, I found success in academic and vocational education with a PhD in Theology.
For the past 15 years, I have operated within the third sector, delivering optimal outcomes for hundreds of beneficiaries through membership groups, community projects, income generation and fund raising. Currently, I lead a reputed, impactful health & social care charity as its CEO. The role enables me to influence the landscape of health & social care in Essex, and I have led at the highest strategic level, covering integrated care systems, health & wellbeing boards and as a leader within the Essex Assembly.
I have been appointed as a trustee for Active Essex, and I am a member of the St Johns Church PCC, supporting a children’s home and sustainable farm in Romania.

**Lee Monk - Vice Chair of the Board**
Lee is a Relationship Manager and the Children and Young People Lead at Active Essex. Lee has been working in the sport and physical activity sector for the past ten years and joined the ATF board of trustees in March 2021.
Lee has always been passionate about people that spark positive change in their communities and firmly believes that engaging in sport and physical activity is one of the best ways to change lives for the better.
Lee firmly believes that ATF has passionate, highly-skilled staff, volunteers and community assets doing an amazing job and he is proud to be a trustee of a charity that makes such a big difference to so many people’s lives.

**Steve Reid - Trustee**
“Helping kids enjoy sport and exercise means a lot to me. Sport gives children discipline. Sport helps them to learn about teamwork; both valuing each other’s strengths and the importance of communication. And, of course, it helps keep kids moving and all the health benefits that that brings.”
Steve has been an ATF coach for nearly 2 years and feels privilege to be able to share rugby and cricket skills with those who would otherwise not have had access to the game. Seeing first-hand the difference that ATF coaches can make in the local community.
A RFU rugby coach at Rochford Hundred RFC since 2007. Coaching a local club team from age 7 right through to age 18. Dealing with the challenges that brings seeing boys go through adolescence, keeping them focussed, plus tactfully managing parent feedback.
Steve is the Rochford Hundred Rugby Football Club (RHRFC) Schools Liaison Officer and develops and leads weekly sessions at local schools.
Also leading and coaching the weekly RHRFC Little Rascals club, providing a fun experience for 2- to 6-year-olds as their first taste of rugby.
Past Sporting passions were amateur boxing for Rochford ABA 15 years.
In addition to being a coach, over the last 20 years, Steve has been employed as a professional portrait, wedding, and commercial photographer. Prior to this working as a tool-setter for Lighting & Ceiling Louvres Limited Industries and, prior to that for Johnson Controls International.

Jo McPherson - Trustee

Jo has been involved with ATF since a conversation with Stuart, the founding member, back in 2011. At that time, it was just an idea from one man about how sport can breakdown barriers, strengthen communities and create positive futures for young people. Jo has been proud to be part of the continuing journey of ATF.

Jo has worked in the voluntary sector for over 25 years, mainly in project management. She was proud to manage the recruitment, training and deployment of the Essex Ambassadors for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Since 2010 Jo has been a Member of Rochford District Council, has held several cabinet positions and also represented the council on outside bodies such as the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Panel. Through this civic role she has gained a good insight into the benefits that the voluntary sector can bring to the public sector, especially in the delivery of services and engagement with communities.

Jo is also a Trustee for the ‘Rochford Alms houses’ and also ‘The Friends of Wakering Common’.

**Andy Knight - Trustee**
Andy has worked in the sport and leisure industry for over 22 years and has a passion to help people become more active and healthier.
Andy has benefited from working across different sectors within the industry, including working for one of the host Boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic games.
Sport and Physical Activity has always been part of Andy’s life and not just a career choice. Andy played sport from an early age and was fortunate to play hockey for Leicestershire. In addition to playing team sports, he has taken part in numerous endurance events, including marathons, ultra marathons, ironman event and cycling from Lands’ End to John O Groats.
Andy has also volunteered in his local community for many years as a sports coach in both football and Hockey, and more recently as a Park Play Leader at the Great Wakering Park Play. Andy has also volunteered as part of the Operational Team for the Ladies Hockey World Cup which was held in London.
Andy believes that having opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity, as well as the wider relational benefits it brings, is key to people’s health and wellbeing. This is why Andy is passionate to support the work of ATF as a trustee.
*“ATF are changing the lives of not only individual people but whole communities and I am proud to be a part of such an organisation.”*
*-Andy Knight, ATF Trustee*

Millie Downes - Trustee

Growing up in Basildon, Millie has volunteered in a variety of roles over the past 15 years and was fortunate to carry the Olympic Torch through Basildon ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

Millie is passionate about asset-based community development and previously managed Basildon Borough Council’s Communities Team, which was where she saw the power and impact ATF’s work has in the community. Continuing her career in community development, Millie currently works as a Senior Voluntary and Community Development Officer at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, leading on external funding and capacity building in the community.

Millie is incredibly proud to be a trustee of a charity which empowers community leaders and has such a huge positive impact in the community where she grew up and across Essex.