Active Partnerships welcome three new trustees to the National Board

Active Partnerships are delighted to welcome Born Barikor, Julie Amies and Jack Shakespeare as new trustees to the National Board.

Dave Capper Chair, Active Partnerships National Board said: “I am delighted to welcome Born, Julie and Jack to the National Board. The Active Partnership Network exists to help make physical activity the norm for everyone. To do this effectively we need to work with local and national partners to help bridge the equity gap that exists in our society.  Born, Julie and Jack will all play key roles in helping drive positive change within the National Team, Board and wider network”.

Born is CEO and founder of Our Parks which aims to get 1 million participants fit for free by 2025 by bringing free, group exercise classes, led by fully qualified instructors to parks across the country in partnership with local authorities, and online on-demand content specifically targeting inactive people. Born has developed key partnerships across the charitable and commercial sector. Born is also a trustee of on Active Surrey, LTA, British Olympic Foundation, British University of Colleges and Sport (BUCAS). As an ex athlete Born is passionate about capturing video moments and creating content that inspires others to share and become more active.

Julie is CEO of Energise Me, one of the 43 Active Partnerships across England. Previously Head of Sport for Hampshire County Council (HCC), Julie led Energise Me’s transition out of HCC and into an independent charity. Julie brings strong leadership and cross-sector experience from the public, private and voluntary sectors. Her commitment to collaboration is evident in the Partnership’s whole systems approach to building happier, healthier and stronger communities. She is a keen squash, racket ball, tennis, padel tennis, table tennis player. Basically put a racquet in her hand and she’ll chase a ball around.  Julie is passionate in her belief that physical activity and sport can change people’s lives.

Jack is moving into the role of Director of Strategic Projects at 4Global and will join the board in June 2023. Jack has worked at ukactive since 2017, most recently as Director of Research, Policy & Communication overseeing the Research & Insight, Policy & Public Affairs, Risk & Standards, and Communications teams. He was responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships across the sector, including central and local government departments, to bring about positive change. Jack also is a member of the Physical Literacy Expert Group led by Sport England & Liverpool John Moores University and a Board Trustee of Mytime Active.

Born Barikor said “I am delighted to be part of the National Board. So much of what I do and what I advocate for at Our Parks is very much in line with the work of Active Partnerships. I have experience from grassroots to building new communities that function in unconventional systems, and I believe that together we can all strengthen the sector to make exercise accessible to all. I am excited to get started with my role”.

Julie Amies said: “I have always believed that physical activity and sport can change lives. Across the network, we see evidence of this every day through the stories we hear. We also see and hear that opportunity is not the same for everyone. The Active Partnership Network can help us to bring change, connecting us with each other and with people and organisations who share or could share our ambition. I am looking forward to working with colleagues who I know are equally passionate about supporting people to live active lives”.

Jack Shakespeare said: “It is a massive honour to join the Active Partnership national board and an exciting opportunity to be part of this dynamic group working with the national team to drive this next strategic phase. Having had the privilege to engage and work directly with Active Partnerships across the country, I am looking forward to supporting the network in my capacity as a national board member”

For more information on the Active Partnership Board visit https://activepartnerships.org/about-us/meet-board