Welcome to the first edition of The Cast from CIMSPA.

The Cast brings you news and updates from the team at CIMSPA and features interviews with CIMSPA members sharing their experiences of the sport and physical activity profession.

This edition includes:
- Tara Dillon, CEO discussing the recent report from the Health Foundation.
- Andy Heald, CIMSPA member and Chair of the Community Professional Development Committee.
- Helen Hiley, Education Manager providing an update on our work with HEIs following the recent focus on graduate employability.
- Colin Huffen, Head of Workforce Policy and Public Affairs on the new professional standard for working with women and girls.
- Natasha Eason, Head of Education with an update on CIMSPA's new quality assurance framework.

The Cast is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast - Episode 1

The Cast brings you news and updates from the team at CIMSPA and features interviews with CIMSPA members sharing their experiences of the sport and physical activity profession.

This edition includes:
- Marc Woods, Chair of the CIMSPA Board of Trustees sharing his thoughts on the new strategy from DCMS, Get Active.
- Catherine Kane, Careers Hub Manager discussing the relaunch of CIMSPA's career development resources.
- Phill Wright, Head of Insight and Business Transformation with an update on member webinars.
- Dani Halsall and Andy Gray, Skills Hub Managers talking about their work with employers.

The Cast is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast - Episode 2

The Cast brings you news and updates from the team at CIMSPA and features interviews with CIMSPA members sharing their experiences of the sport and physical activity profession.

This edition includes:
- George Sheldon and Jason Leker from the CIMSPA Membership Team discussing careers support for members, CIMSPA benefits and becoming Chartered.
- Simon Barnes, Skills Hub Manager for the South West in conversation with Paul Critchley, CEO of Active Cornwall.
- Sean Longhurst from Propel Teams with an update on the Digital Marketing Hub accelerator programmes.
- Dani Halsall and Andy Gray, Skills Hub Managers with part two of their conversation about their work with employers.

The Cast is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast - Episode 3

In this edition of The Cast Extra, we speak to Baz Moffat from CIMSPA Education Partner, The Well HQ about their important work helping practitioners and organisations ensure that physical activity and sport meets the needs of women and girls.

We're also joined by Scott Donnelly, Regional Manager and Kerry Spark, Personal Trainer from The Gym Group who share their experiences of being part of an innovate professional development pilot project with The Well HQ that has benefited both personal trainers and customers.

More information on The Well HQ and The Female Body Course is available here: https://www.thewell-hq.com/

The Cast Extra is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast Extra - The Well HQ and The Gym Group

The Cast brings you news and updates from the team at CIMSPA and features interviews with professionals across the sport and physical activity sector sharing their experiences and work.

This edition includes:
- Tom Armstrong, Regional Manager at CIMSPA in conversation with Susannah Challis, Workforce Development Officer at Active Suffolk (www.activesuffolk.org) discussing the fantastic skills development work that has been taking place in Suffolk.
- Phill Wright, Head of Insight with an update on the CIMSPA Workforce Insight Report 2023.
- Micki Ruggins, Technical Education Officer sharing details of new support to help learners starting a career in the sport and physical activity sector.
- Sara Byrne, Education Manager with an update on developments with Further Education Colleges.

The Cast - Episode 4

In this edition of The Cast Extra, we speak Jo McEwan and Christien Bird from CIMSPA Education Partner, Menopause Movement about the work that they are doing to support physical activity practitioners and service providers to enhance their services and more confidently teach and train women pre, peri and post-menopause.
We also speak to Charlotte Riddle and the team from Places Leisure, a CIMSPA Employer Partner, who are piloting dedicated programmes to engage women in their communities in being more physical activity.
And we are joined by CIMSPA member, Cathy Houghton, from Blossom Health Coaching who has developed her practice as a personal trainer to enhance the service that she provides to clients.

More information is available via the following links:
Menopause Movement  www.menopausemovement.co
Places Leisure  www.placesleisure.org
Blossom Health Coaching  www.blossomhealthcoaching.co.uk

The Cast Extra is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast Extra - Menopause Movement, Places Leisure and Blossom Health Coaching

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, this special episode of The Cast explores some of the great work taking place across the sector to help people start and progress their career via Apprenticeships. The episode also explores the benefits of the Apprenticeship pathway for organisations.
This episode features:
- Colin Huffen, Associate Director of Policy and Professional Services at CIMSPA 
- Jack Garner, Regional Director at Serco Leisure
- Paul Thompson, Director of People and Learning at Coach Core

The Cast - Episode 5 - National Apprenticeship Week Special

The Cast brings you news and updates from the team at CIMSPA and features interviews with professionals across the sport and physical activity sector sharing their experiences and work.

This edition includes:
- Liam McCaffrey MCIMSPA(Ch), Personal Trainer and Clinical Exercise Specialist shares his career journey and his experience of becoming Chartered.
- Part two of the conversation between Tom Armstrong, Regional Manager at CIMSPA and Susannah Challis, Workforce Development Officer at Active Suffolk (www.activesuffolk.org) discussing the fantastic skills development work that has been taking place in Suffolk.
- Clare Dunn, Associate Director of Business Engagement at CIMSPA with a quick explainer about the work that is happening across the UK to develop skills through Local Skills Accountability Boards (LSABs).

The Cast is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast - Episode 6

The Cast brings you news and updates from the team at CIMSPA and features interviews with professionals across the sport and physical activity sector sharing their experiences and work.

This edition includes:
- Adam Hill, CIMSPA Senior Manager Chartered Fellow who is CEO of Mansfield District Council. Adam shares his career journey from Lifeguard to Chief Executive and how the skills that he developed through working in sport and physical activity have helped him throughout his career. Adam also shares his experiences of the positive impact that sport and physical activity has on communities and the importance of place-based collaboration.
- Ben Hulson, CIMSPA Regional Manager and Wellbeing Lead talking to Sam Perks, Physical Activity Operations Manager at Mind (www.mind.org.uk) about the support that is available to support practitioners and employers with mental health and wellbeing. They also look ahead to Mental Health Awareness Week.
- Natasha Eason, Associate Director of the National Training Academy and Education at CIMSPA with an update on our Quality Assurance Framework for education providers.

The Cast is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast - Episode 7

In this edition of The Cast during Mental Health Awareness Week, Ben Hulson, Regional Manager and Wellbeing Lead at CIMSPA has been finding out more about the Centre for Mental Health, Sport and Physical Activity at Edge Hill University from Professor Andy Smith. 

Ben and Andy discuss the work taking place at the Centre, the important role that the sector has in mental health and wellbeing, and how the University is preparing the sport and physical activity professionals of the future.

You can find out more about the Centre here: https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/research/cmspr/

The Cast - Episode 8 - Mental Health Awareness Week

In this edition of The Cast Extra, we’re speaking to Steve Osborne, Principal Lecturer in Sport Management and Development in the Cardiff School of Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University.CIMSPA has been working in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University to develop a new learning opportunity for those working in the sport and physical activity sector who are working as a manager, or aspiring to a management role.This new, flexible course uses the micro-credentialing model to allow professionals to complete a recognised, bite-sized learning modules that, over time, can be stacked with other micro-credentials to achieve an accredited qualification.Steve explains the micro-credentialling approach and how this learning opportunity has been developed in close collaboration with the sector.Steve is joined by Andy McGill, CIMSPA Higher Education Manager and George Sheldon, Chartered Membership Manager. George has recently participated in the pilot programme, completing the first micro-credential alongside his full-time role.You can find out more about this course here: https://www.cimspa.co.uk/news-blog/news/2024/all-new-sport-management-training/The Cast Extra is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast Extra - Cardiff Metropolitan University and micro credentials

The Cast from CIMSPA shares the latest news and updates from the CIMSPA team and showcases innovative work taking place across the sport and physical activity sector.

In this episode:

- Tara Dillon, CEO discusses what government policy on health might mean for the sector and offers a sneak peek at CIMSPA Conference, Connecting the Dots, which takes place on 24th September 2025. You can find out more about the conference by visiting https://www.cimspa.co.uk/cimspa-events/calendar/240925-CIMSPA-Conference-2025/.

- Mark Whitwood, CEO of Active Sports Group and member of the Merseyside LSAB, shares his career development in the sector and the power of collaboration. You can listen to Mark's own podcast at https://theactivejourney.buzzsprout.com/

- Teresa Wheatley, Head of Education at Fitpro, provides an update on the latest CIMSPA member benefit and discusses the importance of skills development and CPD.

- Natasha Eason, Associate Director of Education, updates on the latest developments with the Training Academy for Sport and Physical Activity.

The Cast is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications.

The Cast - Episode 9

The Cast Extra – Phoenix Lifestyle Foundation 

In this special edition of The Cast Extra, we’re speaking to CIMSPA member and employer partner Lewis Baker from Phoenix Lifestyle Innovations and Charmain Clayton from CIMSPA Education Partner Buckinghamshire New University about an amazing project called Wellness Warriors, delivered by the charity Phoenix Lifestyle Foundation www.phoenixlifestylefoundation.org.uk. 

Wellness Warriors supports individuals who are navigating some of life’s most challenging circumstances, using physical activity, social interaction and tailored support to improve physical and mental wellness, self-esteem and positive outcomes. 

Lewis and Charmaine share their story and the drive behind creating Wellness Warriors. The project initially set out to support individuals recovering from addiction but has grown to also provide support for survivors of domestic violence, those undergoing cancer treatment and others facing social isolation and life challenges. 

By providing an accessible way to engage with physical activity which is led by professionals with lived experience, Wellness Warriors is creating opportunities for people who wouldn’t ordinarily participate in exercise to benefit not only in terms of improved physical and mental health, but also from community, camaraderie and a sense of purpose. 

This inspirational story highlights the impact that non-traditional activity, driven by professionals who are representative and understand the challenges that communities face, has in relation to increasing physical activity. 

The Cast Extra is hosted by Annette Wade-Clarke, Director of Marketing and Communications at CIMSPA.

The Cast Extra - Wellness Warriors

CIMSPA is The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity.

We are the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector, committed to supporting, developing and enabling professionals and organisations to succeed and, as a result, inspire our nation to become more active.

Together we’re developing a vibrant, UK-wide sport and physical activity sector, with the highest standards of service delivery.

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