I was never a particularly sporty person and by the time I reached my early 40s and had two children I felt very out of shape.  A local friend joined a running group and encouraged me to try their beginner’s course, and that was the start of a big change in my life.  I’m certainly not a born runner, and I really struggled with the beginner’s course, but sheer stubbornness made me persevere.  To my…

Working a busy job, Sam Barlow realised that she was struggling to meet other parents in the playground. She came up with the idea of asking other mums if they would like to go out for a run and made up a flyer for a teacher at her son’s school to circulate. In that first week in February 2009, there were five knocks on the door, more than Sam had imagined. As the weeks went by, more and more pare…

When trying to find a Zumba class in Liverpool to help her get exercising, Helen couldn’t find one. Eventually she found a class on the Wirral and began to take part. At first Helen’s confidence was low and she started at the back of the class, getting further forward each week as her confidence grew. She loved Zumba so much and knew she could help others to achieve their goals in her local area i…

Hannah’s journey into coaching came as a result of being an accomplished junior rower. As she progressed into becoming a senior, she often gave help and advice to other junior rowers and club members. Hannah has been coaching for 25 years now, but when she started at the age of 15, “everyone in that era was a volunteer, and it was my way of helping the club.” Throughout sixth form, Hannah voluntee…

When Elizabeth went part-time at work prior to retiring, she wanted to find an activity that would help her maintain a good level of fitness as she aged. After attending a Nordic walking taster course delivered by the charity Sustrans, she was hooked. Having participated in Nordic walking for a year, the instructor who was employed moved on. Following a replacement instructor who didn’t work out,…

Just 23 years old, Charlotte Pease has already been coaching on and off since the age of 14. Charlotte became engaged in sport from a young age because of an inspiring PE teacher. “When I was in year eight or nine at school, she got me involved in sports leadership, which I loved. I soon became a Young Ambassador for Amber Valley through the Youth Sport Trust.” While at school, Charlotte’s passion…

If you haven’t heard of Annie Zaidi yet, then trust us when we say it is only a matter of time. Having already won the Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration at the 2015 Sportswomen of the Year Awards, become the first Muslim woman to get her Level 2 coaching badge within her region from the Football Association (FA) and named as one of the Independent’s 50 most influential women in sport, Annie is…

Growing up in London, Michelle Cox was a sporty girl. She played cricket until the age of 11, and after being told she wasn’t allowed to play with the boys any more, she looked to alternative sports. After trying both basketball and swimming, she eventually settled on netball, representing her school and county. ‘I’ve always played netball from that point on, right up until 2013,’ Michelle says, ‘…

Emma’s coaching story begins with an injury and a break from playing football. Consequently, the club she was with at the time, paid for her to complete her level one coaching badge and she has not looked back since. Having previously volunteered at a number of football clubs, Emma started coaching disability sports with Chelsea FC. As a direct result of her reputation, her work load increased and…

Chloe is an 18 year old boccia, kurling and gymnastics coach from Thirsk, a small market town in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, where she runs a session called Primetime. The Primetime programme engages with lonely and isolated members of the local community through age appropriate sports and activities and by incorporating a ‘tea break’ so that it’s participants can chat and socialise…