Our Board
The Get Doncaster Moving Advisory Board is made up of senior representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors who share a common vision. The Board represents and advocates Get Doncaster Moving at a strategic level; their role is to:
- Understand and influence the dynamics of the physical activity system for Doncaster.
- Provide leadership and momentum in addressing the challenge of inactivity.
- Oversee the direction of the GDM strategy and lead its implementation.
- Drive the GDM strategy through their work area to help deliver the outcomes.
- Broker conversations on inactivity to create new audiences from different sectors.
- Implement and influence changes within their system that will support GDM.
- Oversight of the objectives and actions within their defined areas – ensuring they are on track and making progress.
- Gather and feed in local intelligence.
GDM Advisory Board Members:

Councillor Nigel Ball
Chair of the Get Doncaster Moving Advisory Board
Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure, Culture and Planning

James Brown
Get Doncaster Moving Advisor Board Member
Director of Local Support and Partnerships, Yorkshire Sport Foundation
I am part of the Senior Leadership Team for Yorkshire Sport Foundation, the Active Partnership for South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. The organisation is committed to creating a vibrant, healthy and prosperous Yorkshire through everyone moving more. We believe physical activity and sport has a big role to play in improving the physical and mental health of the region, supporting the economy, connecting communities and rebuilding a stronger society for all.
What do you do to keep active?
I'm a keen runner, walker and like to dust off my mountain bike every so often. My ethos of 'never stop exploring' keeps me and my family active in lots of different ways.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start moving more?
I'm keen to ensure that everyone in Doncaster is able to benefit from living active lives and the positive impact this can have for individuals, communities and the district as a whole. Our efforts and resources are focused on working with people and groups who are more likely to be inactive and who can benefit the most.

John Davis
Get Doncaster Moving Advisory Board Member
Chief Executive Officer, Club Doncaster Foundation
My role places me at the heart of an organisation that is seeking to use the brand and reach of sport to positively affect the Borough of Doncaster. Inactivity is one of the prominent challenges facing the Borough and we're here to work with people to provide solutions to this, whether that's engaging with young people through schools outreach delivery or bringing people back into exercise through Fit Rovers – we are here to provide an inclusive approach to this agenda.
What do you do to keep active?
Amongst my very average sporting careers in football and squash, I have always enjoyed running and continue to do this on a weekly basis. It's something I can just do with a moments notice when there's a gap in my schedule, which really works for me.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start moving more?
My advice is to find something that works for you, so try a number of activities and find the ones that fit and that you enjoy. I've met some of my best friends through sport and exercise and I find this community to be one of the most welcoming.
Michael Hart
Get Doncaster Moving Advisory Board Member
Chief Executive of Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust (DCLT)
We run leisure venues across the borough and as well as providing gyms, pools and outdoor activity spaces we work in the community to make sure that we are offering people of all ages activities that are suitable to them. We work closely with NHS colleagues and provide rehabilitation sessions for people who are recovering from illness and we strive every year to get even more people exercising and focusing on keeping healthy.
What do you do to keep active?
I find running a great way to clear my mind and order my thoughts. Some of my best ideas come to me as I am running! You see so many people running, jogging or walking, just taking things at their own pace but moving and making an active choice to do something about their health and fitness.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start moving more?
To quote a famous brand, just do it, you can sit and think about it and think about it some more but actually taking the first step and going for a walk or booking a session in the pool, an induction to the gym or trying a class is the best way to get started, You might have to try a few activities to find the one you love but unless you take that first step and give it a go you'll never know!

Lynda Phillips
Get Doncaster Moving Advisory Board Member
CEO, British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM)
BASEM is a membership association for medical professionals engaged in the speciality of sport and exercise medicine, which includes doctors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, sports coaches, scientists, and many other disciplines. BASEM advocates physical activity as a means of improving health and wellbeing, and preventing disease and illness.
What do you do to keep active?
I like variety, and as such I often find new activities to keep me interested. However, right now I attend a boxfit class and a Zumba class every week. In between, I enjoy swimming and walking. In good weather, I pretend to know what I'm doing in my garden and I do lots of digging!
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start moving more?
Do a little bit more of an activity you enjoy when you can. Find like-minded people to be active with. And not all gyms are full of Lycra clad, well-toned bodies!

David Ridge
Get Doncaster Moving Advisory Board Member
Head of Street Scene, Doncaster Council
As Head of Street Scene for Doncaster Council I am responsible for the maintenance and development of parks, open spaces, woodlands and streetscape – so providing safe spaces for users to exercise, relax and explore.
What do you do to keep active?
Walking the dog and I'm just in the process of getting another dog to walk!
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start moving more?
First and foremost find something that you enjoy doing. Don't choose something that is or becomes a chore. So for example, wandering around parks and woodlands can both help with your physical health and mental wellbeing by being closer to nature.

Dr Rupert Suckling
Get Doncaster Moving Advisory Board Member
Director of Public Health, Doncaster Council
My role includes keeping the importance of physical activity high up on everyone's agendas, helping to set the strategy together with other local leaders, finding the resources to do the work, ensuring what we do is effective and then making sure we tell people what we are doing.
What do you do to keep active?
Not as much as a could do! I've found building activity into my day is the best way, and that generally means walking. I played a lot of sport when I was younger and run occasionally.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start moving more?
Just do it! There's no wrong way to start moving more, do what you enjoy. I always ask myself if I can make the journey on foot, then I build the time in to my day.

Russell Turner
Get Doncaster Moving Advisory Board Member
Place Relationship Manager, Sport England
I am the Place Relationship Manager for Sport England working with the Get Doncaster Moving Local Delivery Pilot. I feel really privileged to be part of this work alongside colleagues in Doncaster to reduce inactivity levels. We want to transform lives with and through physical activity and sport.
Doncaster are part of a Sport England pilot programme (along with 11 other places across England) that look at different ways to support people to be active and change the local conditions to make this a reality. We know that certain groups of people do not have the routes to physical activity that many access with ease and by routine. We realised that we needed a different conversation but one that started from people's lives and the local context and local environment in which they live – working with and alongside people and not doing to.
What do you do to keep active?
I run most days; 20 minutes keeps me moving and refreshes the day. I love being outside generally – often walking, often gardening. Truthfully I'm no athlete – the best description is someone who is an enthusiast but lacks any talent. As someone who is asthmatic being active helps me manage the disease and minimise the days when I can't.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start moving more?
Start small and build. Find things to do that you enjoy. Mix it up until you find a combination you can accommodate within the course of your day. Finally on the days when you don't feel like doing it – do it anyway.