Jane Sowerby
CEO
After sustaining a spinal injury in 2003, Jane was introduced to adaptive skiing and was instantly hooked. In 2010 she represented Team GB at the Winter Paralympics in Vancouver. She now works as an adaptive ski instructor and adaptive waterski instructor. She's also a keen wakeboarder, kayaker, kiter & handbiker.
Jane believes passionately that sport can have a powerful positive impact following a life changing injury. Jane's sense of achievement these days comes from introducing other people with disabilities to these types of activities through Access Adventures, and hopes they will benefit in the same way she did.
Jane, Clare & Tim met through the British Disabled Waterski & Wakeboard Association, volunteered with them for many years, and founded Access Adventures together in 2015
Clare Williams
Operations Manager
Clare is a physiotherapist, specialising in spinal injury and amputation, currently working at a rehabilitation centre for injured military at Standford Hall (was Headley Court).
Clare is an adaptive waterski instructor and adaptive yoga teacher. She believes that engaging with outdoor activities is important to attain a healthy body and mind.
Clare is also crazy enough to have done the Ironman challenge. 3 times! In 2019 she also successfully completed an official English channel swim.
Tim Farr
Fundraising Manager
Tim broke his back on a skiing trip in 2004 - just one year later and he was back on the slopes. Also a Paralympic racer on the British Disabled Ski Team for several years, he's now strictly a powder hound! A great waterskier, handcyclist, kiter and general adaptive adventurer.
Tim specialises in corporate fundraising in the charity sector.
Caite Skelly
Site Manager
Caite has been involved in the watersports industry her whole life. Her family started an accessible Waterski School in 1996 in Northern Ireland. Caite started waterskiing at the age of 3 and at the age of 9 learnt how to barefoot, going on to gain the title of All Ireland Champion.
Caite is an experienced boat driver and paddlesports coach. She is passionate about making watersports accessible for all!
Melissa Swinkels
Trustee
Mel comes from a background in the charity sector and shares our belief in the power of adaptive sport. Despite damaging her spinal cord at C7 in 2001, she has gone on to prove what can still be achieved with a high level injury.
Mel has been a strong supporter of the charity from the start and we're excited to work with her to continue driving things forward
Gordon Bloor
Trustee
Gordon’s involvement as a volunteer with the British Disabled Waterski & Wakeboard Association stretches back for over 30 years. He has served as a Trustee on a number of occasions and historically ran the tournament division supporting the British Team in its many successful European and World championship campaigns. He re-joined the board of trustees in 2016 at the request of the chairman.
He is fully supportive of the progressive developments underway and has helped define the strategy for the merger of the BDWWA with Access Adventures.
Professionally, Gordon’s career has been City based serving as a CEO and Director of a number of Companies and he also serves as a Trustee of a non-related charity, Benevolent Society of Blues.
Stephanie Kaye
Trustee
Stephanie joined BDWWA initially as Membership Secretary and progressed on to become a Trustee in 2017.
With a background in Human Resouces Consultancy/Change Management, she has worked for several retail companies both here and in the USA. She also spends time working as a Special Educational Needs Governor for a Multi Academy Trust and is an experienced Peer to Peer Counsellor.
A busy Mum with 3 boys (one with ASD) she came to a group day with her sons over 10 years ago and still enjoys all the challenges that being an active part of Access Adventures brings.
“I’ve always felt like I want to give something back to our amazing charity as a thank you for all the wonderful opportunities that they have brought to my family and for the smiles that they have put on so many other faces."
Duncan White
Trustee
Duncan has always had a passion for sports, in his youth he was a competitive gymnast and also a keen skateboarder.
Since a spinal cord injury, in 2004, he has recreationally snow skied and handcycled for many years.
He was first involved with Access Adventures as a participant on a waterskiing weekend in 2018. A year later he travelled to Norway for the 'IWWF World Disabled Waterski Championships' with team GB, finishing 3rd in the team event.
He is passionate about the impact that this charity has made in his life, and is excited to be made a trustee, with the opportunity to inspire others.