Who We Are

A coach from the age of seventeen, Gary has worked in the coaching and sporting charity sector for over 20 years and has also won medals at major World, European and National triathlon championships. He has been part of the Coach Core programme since its launch in 2012, shaping, tutoring and leading the first London programme, overseeing its successful expansion through to its establishment as the Coach Core Foundation in 2020. Gary also chairs the Sport for Development Coalition employability group and sits on the UK Athletics Childrens Advisory Group, and the Active Surrey trustee board. LinkedIn

Maggie has worked in high-value fundraising for the last sixteen years, building her career in charities that can change the education and employment prospects of young people who can go so much further when they have the right support and opportunities in place. With a BSc in Sport and Exercise and a MSc in Coaching and Sport Science, Maggie brings a love and understanding of the benefits that sport and coaching can bring to young people. A self-confessed running nut, she loves the camaraderie of competing in anything from a 1500m track race to a half marathon. Maggie is a proud member of Marshal Milton Keynes AC.

Amy graduated with a degree in Sport, Physical Education and Coaching Science in 2011. Whilst at university Amy delivered a range of sports coaching sessions in local schools, whilst also gaining voluntary experience with the City of Birmingham Special Olympics and at the World Blind Football Championships. Amy has over 9 years’ experience of delivering sports programmes for the community, specifically for those who may not traditionally have access to sport and physical activity. She has a particular passion for women’s and disability sport and can be found playing football or squash in her spare time.

Laura brings over a decade of experience in the Sport for Development sector, driven by her passion for social change. Within Coach Core, she leads on our Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning model, aiming to enhance strategic decision-making through data and research. Laura priorities amplifying the stories and experiences of our apprentices demonstrating the impact and power of the programme. During her downtime, she enjoys running around after a one-year-old, any water based activity and listening to live music.

After becoming a coach in his teens, Paul fell in love with making people smile and developing them through sport and physical activity. Due to his passion for people development and learning, he has had a number of roles helping people and organisations develop their workforce. Paul has always been extremely passionate about playing his part in trying to truly change the lives and the of young people and has worked for a host of national, regional and local organisations that have allowed him to do this.

James has over 10 years’ experience working in marketing and communications across small organisations. He’ll be using digital and traditional channels to help connect the incredible story of Coach Core, its apprentices and partners, with a wider audience. Having previously dabbled in a few sports he picked up the bug for ultimate (frisbee) at university and has coached at the university, club and national level.

From an early age, Loz knew he wanted to follow his passion which was sport. After graduating from Nottingham Trent University in 2011, he went on to work in operations at the university and then moved in to sport development. For 8 years his main focus was supporting more people from diverse backgrounds into sport, including managing the ‘This Girl Can’ project in Nottingham, where he saw the impact a varied workforce can have on communities.

Emily graduated from Sunderland University in 2017 with a degree in Sports Coaching and PGCE. She has played football from a young age, for teams including Newcastle and Hartlepool and her love of the game comes from a family of footballers including Grandpa John Neal, former manager of Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Wrexham. She is passionate about getting more women and girls involved in sport, and believes sport has the power to heal and bring people together to provide the strength needed to overcome some of the hardest moments in life.

A coach from an early age, Phil has worked in the sports sector since leaving college. He started his coaching journey at a local cricket club, before moving on to work for a variety of coaching providers and then as an Area Membership Manager for a PE training provider, upskilling primary school teachers. Alongside that, Phil has set up his own coaching company with his father, specialising in school PE, clubs and holiday activities. He also set up a cricket academy, offering group and 1-2-1 coaching. He is still involved in both ventures on a part-time basis. Outside of work he loves running, playing golf, cricket and having a season ticket at Arsenal.

Becki discovered the power of sport in her 20s, realising the positive change it could enable and it became an important part of her daily life. She now maintains a high level of fitness, particularly through running and enjoys living a balanced life by finding time to maintain her wellbeing too.

After a background in HR, Becki became an event manager in the sports sector and led large community sports events in Birmingham and the West Midlands. This equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the local sport and physical activity. Realising the potential to use her experience and skills in this sector, she decided to join Coach Core as an Employment Coach.

Becki loves using her passion to positively impact the lives of young people, and finds her role hugely rewarding.