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OUR TEAM

THE MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE FOR PROFESSIONAL SPORTSPEOPLE

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

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COLIN BLAND

Chief Executive Officer

Colin has over two decades of experience of managing and leading in charities delivering mental health and emotional wellbeing services. For much of this time he has led services specialising in addiction and working with clients and systems with particularly complex needs.

Colin has over two decades of experience of managing and leading in charities delivering mental health and emotional wellbeing services. For much of this time he has led services specialising in addiction and working with clients and systems with particularly complex needs. He joined Sporting Chance in 2012 and put in place systems and structures that we believe are key to achieving our vision: "When any sportsman or woman has the courage to reach out for help, there needs to be a professional and safe place for them to go. Sporting Chance can be that place."

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His sporting C.V is slightly pathetic, although it does include a spell in Cornish rugby. He considers his lack of familiarity with the 'Who's Who' of the sporting world an unusual strength in his role.

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Colin is answerable to the board of trustees and is charged with developing the reach and quality of our service in line with our stakeholders' expectations.

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SHELLIE HEATHER 

Chief Operating Officer

Shellie joined the charity in 2011 following a successful career in teaching and school leadership. Her experience of mainstream and sports education spanned over fifteen at her time of joining Sporting Chance.

Shellie joined the charity in 2011 following a successful career in teaching and school leadership. Her experience of mainstream and sports education spanned over fifteen at her time of joining Sporting Chance. Her organisational ability was key in the re-structuring of the charity's services and the creation of the national network of counsellors and therapists. Shellie oversees all the charity's service departments ensuring governance, administrative and financial systems are robust and fit for purpose. Her understanding of sports administration and the financial structures that support it enables our services to be delivered to those in need with efficiency and the minimum of red tape.

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Shellie has a thorough understanding of Sporting Chance combined with an ability to communicate how our services fit in the world of professional sport and ultimately help the player in need. Shellie trained as a dancer in her younger life and therefore has first-hand experience of the discipline, routine and commitment required in the world of the physical athlete.

CLINICAL SERVICES

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CRAIG DEXTER

Head of Clinical Services

Craig took up this full-time role with Sporting Chance well aware of the history of our charity and the work that we do; up until that point he had been a valued member of our counselling network for a number of years, supporting current and former professional sportspeople in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Craig took up this full-time role with Sporting Chance well aware of the history of our charity and the work that we do; up until that point he had been a valued member of our counselling network for a number of years, supporting current and former professional sportspeople in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. Since qualifying as a therapist, Craig has worked with individuals to address a wide range of issues that might be causing them problems in their personal lives.

 

As well as building up his own private practice over the last decade, he has also worked at a community-based substance misuse service in Hull, initially in the role of a counsellor, then senior practitioner and latterly as a team leader, responsible for managing the treatment team and treatment delivery. Having made the move to Sporting Chance, Craig now has oversight of all of the charity’s clinical operations as well as our longstanding relationship with Rugby League. He has an enviable collection of vinyl records.

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MARCIA EWEN

Residential Therapist

Marcia is a humanistic counsellor with over 20 years’ experience of working in 12-step treatment facilities motivated by her own experience of addiction. She originally joined the Sporting Chance counselling network before becoming part of the team as a residential therapist at our Hampshire clinic in early 2021.

Marcia is a humanistic counsellor with over 20 years’ experience of working in 12-step treatment facilities motivated by her own experience of addiction. She originally joined the Sporting Chance counselling network before becoming part of the team as a residential therapist at our Hampshire clinic in early 2021.

 

Her career began at a crisis intervention centre in London and she continued this work for many years working in substance abuse-detox, residential, and crisis intervention initiatives in Sussex and London before taking on a multifaceted and rewarding role at a women’s refuge project in Brighton.

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Marcia progressed to managing a highly successful 12 Step Day Programme for several years and continued to work at highly reputable treatment and recovery centres in the South of England. Marcia has enjoyed her work in developing and delivering training programmes for professionals, volunteers and clients on a range of subjects including addiction, trauma, sexual violence and abuse. Away from the clinic, Marcia enjoys reading, meditation, yoga and long walks with her dog.

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BARRY TROTT

Senior Practitioner

Barry trained as a humanistic therapist in 2001, motivated by his own experience of addiction and the interventions which helped him to turn his life around. He views sustainable recovery as a holistic package of the ‘three thirds’ of the human condition - mind, body and spirit

Barry trained as a humanistic therapist in 2001, motivated by his own experience of addiction and the interventions which helped him to turn his life around. He views sustainable recovery as a holistic package of the ‘three thirds’ of the human condition - mind, body and spirit - and has brought this philosophy into his extensive work in addiction-focused settings over the last two decades, primarily in residential treatment, but also in a successful day programme in the south of England.

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Stepping up from session work to a full-time role when the clinic expanded in 2019, Barry works with clients on both longer and shorter-term residential treatments. He is a keen follower of test cricket and local football in Hampshire, and is also a regular runner, with exercise playing an important part in his long-term recovery. In his own words he has been ‘daft enough to complete five marathons - despite the excruciating physical and mental pain on each and every occasion’.

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SHANAZ SAWYER

Therapist

Dr Shanaz Ali Sawyer is a mental health therapist in with more than 20 years of experience. Her educational pursuits include: a B.Sc. in psychology (University of Florida), M.Sc. in psychology with a focus on mental health counselling (Nova Southeastern University), Ph.D. in clinical mental health (University of Florida), and JD law degree (Stetson University College of Law). She is a registered member with BACP and holds a license to practice in Florida.

Dr Shanaz Ali Sawyer is a mental health therapist in with more than 20 years of experience. Her educational pursuits include: a B.Sc. in psychology (University of Florida), M.Sc. in psychology with a focus on mental health counselling (Nova Southeastern University), Ph.D. in clinical mental health (University of Florida), and JD law degree (Stetson University College of Law). She is a registered member with BACP and holds a license to practice in Florida.

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Dr Sawyer has worked in clinical and private practice settings with clients in recovery from addiction, abuse trauma, domestic violence, couples and family therapy, career development, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, social anxiety, and life transitions to name a few presenting concerns and has worked extensively with clients and athletes from different national, cultural and religious backgrounds. Dr Sawyer is passionate about mental health advocacy, addressing stigma and equity in mental health care and helps clients address today’s social justice issues that impact mental health and wellbeing. She has spent the last five years working with athlete mental health within one of the largest university athletic associations in the US, with clients in many different sports who they compete nationally and internationally. Dr Sawyer has returned home to the UK and recently joined Sporting Chance.

CASE MANAGEMENT

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CLAIRE JONES

Case Management Team

Claire joined Sporting Chance in 2020 following two decades travelling the world as cabin crew, where she excelled in customer service. The wealth of experience and the wide-ranging transferable skills that she demonstrated in this role made Claire the ideal person to join our Case Management Team, where she combines her professional attributes with her passion for people, sport, and mental health.

Claire joined Sporting Chance in 2020 following two decades travelling the world as cabin crew, where she excelled in customer service. The wealth of experience and the wide-ranging transferable skills that she demonstrated in this role made Claire the ideal person to join our Triage Team, where she combines her professional attributes with her passion for people, sport, and mental health.

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Claire has recently returned to education and is studying for a degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Her dedication to both mental and physical wellbeing is strongly aligned with the ethos of Sporting Chance.

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Claire provides a kind, empathetic and positive voice for sportspeople contacting Sporting Chance. She has excellent communication and organisational skills, which ensures that clients experience a sense of security, compassion, hope and direction when speaking to her.

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ROSIE SQUIRE

Case Management Team

After graduating with a degree in psychology from the University of Nottingham, Rosie has worked in the charity sector for over eight years, in a number of roles including support work on the frontline and managing volunteers. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in relation to the issues faced by people who will be contacting Sporting Chance, thanks to her work in various fields including mental health, drug and alcohol support and domestic abuse.

After graduating with a degree in psychology from the University of Nottingham, Rosie has worked in the charity sector for over eight years, in a number of roles including support work on the frontline and managing volunteers. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in relation to the issues faced by people who will be contacting Sporting Chance, thanks to her work in various fields including mental health, drug and alcohol support and domestic abuse.

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As part of Rosie’s commitment to help those with mental health difficulties she has volunteered at numerous charities supporting those in distress over the phone and for the past four years has provided face to face support to those who feel life is no longer worth living.

NON CLINICAL SERVICES

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ALEX MILLS

Head of Non-Clinical Services

Alex joined the charity’s Education Department in 2016, a department which has since expanded to oversee the charity's non- clinical activity. His team have a simple primary function - to increase the number of professional athletes who are aware of Sporting Chance and how its services can help them.

Alex joined the charity’s Education Department in 2016, a department which has since expanded to oversee athlete engagement in all forms. His team have a simple primary function - to increase the number of professional athletes who are aware of Sporting Chance and how its services can help them.

 

Alex’s role is still primarily focused on the management of an education programme that delivers a wide range of mental health related content to athletes and support staff across the bulk of professional sport in the UK. He works with athletes to understand the problems that impact their lives, and with therapists to best communicate the solutions that can change athletes’ lives for the better, influenced by his previous career as a specialist recruiter of headteachers and senior educationalists.

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He has a degree in English Literature from the University of Newcastle. His fondness for reading and cricket was nurtured by his father who was a leading UK sports journalist.

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LAUREN FISHER

Education Lead

Following the completion of her degree in psychology from Durham University Lauren has transitioned from her internship at Sporting Chance to take on the role of Education Lead. Beyond her studies, Lauren has played Premiership rugby and has, in previous years, competed at the age-group international level in both the 7s and 15s format of the game.  

Following the completion of her degree in psychology from Durham University Lauren has transitioned from her internship at Sporting Chance to take on the role of Education Lead.

 

Beyond her studies, Lauren has played Premiership rugby and has, in previous years, competed at the age-group international level in both the 7s and 15s format of the game.

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Lauren hopes to combine her experience as a player, with the knowledge gained within her degree, to provide engaging and informative sessions to athletes. She hopes to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the support offered by Sporting Chance and understand why and how they may access this support.  

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