Staff team
EFDS runs across two offices- the national office in Loughborough and another in Manchester. A lot of our team work out of the office a lot of the time, to attend meetings and build relationships with our partners.
Please see below the work areas and contacts for all. You can also use the contact us form for general information.
Chief Executive - Barry Horne
Barry provides leadership to the organisation, working closely with the Board and all staff to make sure that EFDS is able to deliver exceptional results and see more disabled people getting and staying active. Barry can be contacted by e-mail
Director of Development - Chris Ratcliffe
Chris oversees EFDS’s partnership work with NGBs, NDSOs and other key delivery partners, to ensure more disabled people are actively taking part in sport and physical activity. In addition, Chris is responsible for our Inclusive Fitness Initiative and the Disability Sport Events programme. Chris can be contacted via e-mail
Sports Development
Ray Ashley - Partnership Manager (NDSOs)
Ray provides leadership and support for the development and success of the Inclusive Sport programme. Working in close partnership with the seven National Disability Sports Organisations, he oversees the leadership and improvement agenda for the ‘disability sport system’.
Marie Dixon - Senior Sports Development Manager
Marie provides leadership to the sports development team, as well as coordinating the majority of our work supporting NGBs. Additionally Marie provides support to the North West & North East.
Jess Cook - Sport Development Manager
Jess has worked for EFDS since 2007 and is now one of the National Development Managers who has the responsibility to support the East and South East geographically and selected NGBs
Kat Southwell - Inclusive PE Training Coordinator
Kat coordinates the development and delivery of the Sainsbury’s Active Kids for All Inclusive PE training across the four home nations in liaison with project partners and Sainsbury’s.
Engagement
Tom Webster- Engagement Officer (North)
Mark Fosbrook- Engagement Officer (Midlands and South West)
Jon Whittingham- Engagement Officer (South)
To contact our sports development team regarding national governing body work, projects or partnership programmes:
01509 227750 or email
Physical Activity
Dawn Hughes - IFI Manager
Dawn manages the IFI project and leads on the equipment standards, working with manufacturers nationally and internationally to ensure that all future gym equipment is accessible.
Jules Twells - IFI Project Officer
Jules supports the development and delivery of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI). Influencing the health and fitness industry to become inclusive and encourage disabled people to participate in physical activity.
Jules is also responsible for implementing and maintaining an ongoing marketing communications plan and resources for the IFI to raise awareness of inclusive fitness and the benefits of physical activity.
To discuss our physical activity programmes, including the Inclusive Fitness Initiative:
01509 227750 or e-mail
Research and insight
Emma Spring - Research and Insight Manager
Emma is responsible for past and ongoing research knowledge relevant to disabled people in sport. She identifies key needs in existing work in order to influence future insight, providing relevant and appropriate research to fill those gaps.
To discuss past and future insight for disabled people in sport:
0161 228 2868 or e-mail
Disability Sport Events
Jannine Butler - National Events Manager
Jannine has been involved in our Disability Sport Events programme for many years. She now manages the events function within EFDS, developing leading participation opportunities for disabled people to take part in sport at all levels.
Jannine is currently on maternity leave until July 2013. For more events support, please contact the events team
Jamie Blair - National Events Coordinator
Jamie leads on the organising of the Festivals of Sport, Boccia and Table Tennis and assist with the organisation of the national events. Jamie also helps to coordinate volunteers to support the profiling of athletes in a number of sports. In his spare time he volunteer as a Boccia Technical Official and volunteered as a GamesMaker at the London 2012 Paralympics.
Becky Lee- Community Fundraising and Events Officer
Becky supports Jamie to deliver a calendar of events for disabled people. She also looks after the fundraising programme to support participation opportunities.
Lucy Stanbrook - National Events Coordinator
Lucy's role involves working on regional and national events in a variety of sports to raise participation levels, engage with partners and increase volunteering opportunities.
Lucy is currently on maternity leave until February 2014. For more events support, please contact the events team
To contact our events team regarding player pathways, inclusive competition or supporting your activities:
0161 228 2868 or e-mail
Fundraising
To discuss fundraising ideas or sponsorship opportunities:
0161 228 2868 or e-mail
Marketing and Communications
Sarah Marl - Marketing and Communications Manager
Sarah has been involved in sport for disabled people for several years. She now leads and oversees the marketing and communication function across the whole organisation, ensuring EFDS’s position is developed positively for all internal and external stakeholders.
Dan West - Communications and Information Officer
Dan supports the work of the Marketing and Communications Manager with website administration. He also assists with collating case studies and better practice examples. Dan is a Paralympic athlete and competed in his fifth games during London 2012.
To discuss how we can assist in marketing and communicating to disabled people in sport:
0161 228 2868 or e-mail
Finance and administration
Christine Envis - Personal Assistant
Christine provides full secretarial and administrative support to the Chief Executive and Development Director. She works closely with the Board, Members and all staff, assisting in the day to day running of the organisation.
Matt Green - Finance Manager
Matt is responsible for managing the finance function of EFDS. He manages the day-to-day operations, providing systems and procedures to support EFDS’s finance
Joan Massie - Finance and Administration Assistant
Joan's role supports the Finance Manager, IFI Team, Partnerships Manager and Sports Development Managers with all their administration needs. Joan is also the first point of contact on for the Loughborough main line telephone queries and Federation email enquiries. Joan also provides website administration assistance
To discuss any financial matters or administration support
01509 227750 or email