Active Partnerships Welcome New Chair

Active Partnerships are delighted to announce the appointment of Dave Capper as Chair of the National Board. Dave will officially join the board in January 2023.

Ali Shipway, Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director said: "We are greatly looking forward to working with Dave. He is truly passionate about our vision bringing a wealth of professional and lived experience developed over many years, as well as exciting new perspectives, ideas and energy - I am confident he will be a strong advocate for our mission and valuable addition to the expertise of our Board of Trustees. We play a vital role in helping shape the direction and ethos of the Active Partnerships National Team and are very lucky to have a fantastic range of committed people. It has been a privilege for me to step in as Acting Chair and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the excellent work of Active Partnerships which I'm sure Dave will find as equally personally rewarding. "The decision to appoint Dave was taken by the Board, and approved by our member network, following a robust, collaborative and innovative recruitment process designed to reflect our values and align with our needs for the next chapter of our work.

It was encouraging to see so many people interested in the role and network, with Dave the outstanding candidate in a field of excellent applicants. "We are collectively excited about the future as we now focus on developing our next strategic phase, supporting our CEO Andy Taylor and driving and celebrating the brilliant work of our National Team and local Active Partnerships". As CEO of the Westfield Health Group, Dave has spent the last 15 years in the health and wellbeing sector and is actively involved in helping the businesses and communities to stay physically and mentally fit by reducing barriers to physical activity.

This includes supporting numerous community based projects that are aimed at improving the quality of life and peoples physically and mental wellbeing. Recently this involved working with the new Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, providing input into their economic recovery plan which places the need to reduce health inequalities through physical activity at its heart. Dave has been responsible for leading a cultural transformation programme at Westfield Health, placing the health and happiness of colleagues at the heart of their business strategy, which has seen the company being ranked #1 in the sector when it comes to leadership and culture. Dave Capper said: "My day job means that I see day in, day out, the significant impact that the current levels of health and social inequality is having on society.

The impact on our people, our economy, and our over stretched health system is both inacceptable and unsustainable. So, the opportunity to join the national board of Active Partnerships as Chair, in addition to my current role as CEO of Westfield Health, seemed a perfect fit in order to have a greater influence on the public sector and to make a greater impact within the community. "Sport and physical activity can make a difference and help unite people together and I believe Active Partnerships are ideally placed to play a lead role as part of a wider eco-system to help make this happen."

Andy Taylor CEO, Active Partnerships National Team said: "On behalf of the Board, staff and network, we are delighted to welcome Dave to his new role as Chair of the Active Partnerships. "Dave shares the deep passion and energy for the role that sport and physical activity can have in terms of changing people's lives. Dave has a fantastic record as a leader and for building trusted relationships with partners and key decision makers locally, nationally and internationally. These collaborative leadership skills were a key factor within the recruitment process as we ensure that we work as a network to ensure that sport and physical activity plays a pivotal role within our communities, especially where there are inequalities.

(Source: Active Partnerships)