Active Essex would like to congratulate Lyndsey Barrett, Founder of Sport for Confidence and Stuart Long, Founder of ATF, on receiving a British Empire Medal in the 2021 Queen’s birthday honours.
Lyndsey has been recognised for her incredible work in supporting people living with disabilities to get active around our county. Active Essex values the strong relationship with Lyndsey and the work she does with Sport for Confidence. We have been working with Occupational Therapist Lyndsey since the conception of Sport for Confidence in 2015 and it has been a pleasure to watch the organisation grow and succeed.
Sport for Confidence places health professionals and coaches into leisure centres to provide inclusive sporting opportunities for people who face barriers to participation. This can include those living with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, dementia, autism, physical impairments, homelessness and many other complex health needs.
Lyndsey has played a pivotal role in the work of the Active Essex Local Delivery Pilot, Essex County Council Adult Social Care and Active Essex primary team, helping to support those residents in the county, living with a disability or long-term health condition. Over the years we have seen Lyndsey crowned at Essex’s annual Sports Awards, for her passion and drive to ensure physical activity is inclusive for all. We continue to develop our relationship with Lyndsey and the Sport for Confidence team by sharing learnings and best practice to enable us to create further opportunities for residents in Essex.
On receiving the award, Lyndsey said: “It has been a real privilege to grow Sport for Confidence in Essex and to champion physical activity especially for those who often feel excluded. I am very grateful for the support of Active Essex who work closely with us to try and tackle inequalities and create opportunities for everyone.”
It is great that Stuart has been recognised for the services to his community, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. He works tirelessly to impact many young people, not only around their physical health, but mental wellbeing also. Back in 2018 we crowned Stuart as our December One in a Million for his work in supporting these youngsters and we are proud to see how he has continued to develop the ATF organisation.
ATF has humble beginnings – a simple vision to change the lives of vulnerable young people for the better. The project works with councils, schools, and the probation service to help individuals involved in the criminal justice system and those excluded from mainstream education.
The ATF programme has been supported over the years by Active Essex, Essex Local Delivery Pilot and the Active Essex Foundation, and it’s important to recognise the development and life changing outcomes for the individuals involved. The work Stuart does, proves that by integrating young people from different estates through sport and activity, helps to break down negative territorial attitudes. We have been proud to work with Stuart and the Achievement through Football team and watch the organisation grow across the south of the county.
On receiving his award, Stuart said: “I really have been overwhelmed by the response to the news. We are always so busy, but it has given me a chance to reflect on how far we have come as a charity. To receive national recognition for this work is amazing. We are so grateful to Active Essex for all the support they have given ATF from day one. Firstly, in Southend and now in Basildon. Our activities are really taking off around Pitsea now and we have so many families genuinely grateful for firstly being supported through Covid and now having the opportunity to participate as a community again. None of this would have been possible without Active Essex backing us”.
Jason Fergus, Head of Active Essex commented on Lyndsey and Stuart’s award; “We’re so proud of Lyndsey and Stuart and what they have been able to achieve over the years and it’s been great to watch the journey of Sport for Confidence and ATF, develop into established brands. Both Lyndsey and Stuart’s work are vital in creating physical activity opportunities, that ultimately deliver positive outcomes which benefit other aspects of their participants lives. Congratulations to Lyndsey and Stuart their awards are well and truly deserved.”
