Vote here: https://www.ukactive.com/events/forthcoming-events/flame-awards-2016/spirit-of-flame-vote-now
Nicky has worked in the Sports Industry for over 25 years starting as a recreation assistant and making her way up the ranks to her current role as Senior Leisure Services Manager at the innovative charity based at the Brentwood Centre. Nicky is described by Brentwood Leisure Trust CEO Roger Davinson, as the heart and soul of sport in Brentwood.
Over three years ago, Nicky started working on a new initiative to support local people with experience of mental ill health to get more active, and improve their mental, physical and social wellbeing – and, from a name suggested by Nicky herself, the Fitness In Mind programme was born. Lobbying of Sport England Directors opened discussions around improved funding and support for a disability often ignored – mental illness. Nicky’s proudest achievement was made six months later when Sport England announced plans to invest more in sport and mental health, and then when £2M was allocated to MIND to deliver a new national programme. Whilst Nicky describes herself as a small cog in the system, without her determination and persistence the funding may have never been sourced.
Outside of her main job, Nicky developed the Fitness In Mind model, recognised today as an innovative sustainable programme, which has already won awards for ‘Physical Activity Project of the Year’ and ‘Services To Disability Sports’. Nicky is a Director of Fitness In Mind UK – a not-for-profit community interest company – and tours the country advising steering groups and presenting the model has best practice in sport and mental health.
In recognition of this work Nicky has now been nominated for the UK Active Spirit Of Flame Award.
Martin Corck, Sported Mentor for Fitness In Mind UK, said “I have worked with many physical activity focussed programmes over a long period of time and the early success of the Fitness in Mind team is down to the strength of its leadership. Nicky Smith is part of a great anchor team and her skills, determination and experience provides the project with a real ‘Mother Ship’ figure. Nicky is selfless in her giving, highly personable and engaging in her manner and is efficient in all she does.”
Roger Davinson, CEO of Brentwood Leisure Trust, has been pleased and impressed to see how Nicky’s personal development has grown and how she is able command a room full of people with her presentation skills and talk with authority to an audience – overcoming her own issues with mental health and using them to her advantage.
