We are delighted that Oliver has joined our BRIT Ambassador family. Oliver is a Registered Psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society. He has supported a wealth of National, university and youth teams as both a Performance and Sport Psychologist. Oliver is a Professional Sailor and has been a Adult, Youth and Junior Coach with the Royal Yachting Association for over 10 years. He represented Great Britain in the both the 49er and 29er Class at both UK Championships and in numerous International and European competitions.
“As a student at the University of South Wales, and a former student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, and as a psychologist and coach who has worked with young adults and students, I know that a vast amount of young adults are living with mental health challenges. COVID-19 is compounding existing mental health difficulties faced by students throughout the UK and there has never been a more important time to ensure they receive appropriate professional support when they need it.
I am delighted that BRIT has partnered with PAPYRUS – Prevention of Young Suicide, Nightline Association, Student Minds and the Charlie Waller Trust. This means that all donations raised by the BRIT 2021 Challenge will be shared equally between five mental health charities who support students and young adults.
Providing students and young adults with feel-good, fun and interactive physical challenges is vital to support and improve their mental health. Often these challenges are limited and not always fully inclusive, therefore the BRIT 2021 Challenge has been designed to be inclusive and enables students and staff of all abilities to take part; by hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding). I hope every UK university, college and student union sees the impact they can have throughout the UK if they embrace the BRIT 201 Challenge, enters teams and encourage their students and staff to take part; at home or on campus.
Olympians, Paralympians and athletes are being invited to join the BRIT Ambassador family so young adults and students at every university and college are inspired to take part in the BRIT 2021 Challenge. This is a fantastic opportunity for current and retired athletes to unite and have a positive UK-wide impact by supporting students at universities and colleges of their choice. It is also a super opportunity to maintain their own good mental health and add their voice to improving young adult mental health that will undoubtedly reduce stigma and raise positive awareness.
I am thrilled to be joining the BRIT Ambassador family to help support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK. I look forward to encouraging students and staff at the University of South Wales, University of Derby, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Oxford Brookes University to take on the BRIT 2021 Challenge and supporting them as they complete their 2,021 miles. I also urge TASS athletes throughout the UK to support their university and college by adding distance to their team’s 2,021 mile targets.”
Oliver was educated at Oaklands Catholic School and then between 2009 and 2012, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Science at the University of Wales, Cardiff. From 2008 to 2010, Oliver worked as a professional sailor with Alex Thompson Racing, in boat development with RS Sailing and as a national Team Coach with US Sailing. Oliver has been the owner of Sail 2 Win Racing since 2008 and a Professional Sailor since 2012.
Between 2012 and 2014, Oliver completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology at the University of Derby. Oliver was a National Coach with the Norwegian Sailing Federation between 2012 and 2015. Between 2014 and 2015, Oliver was Performance Communications Researcher with Team INEOS UK and then in 2016, with the Provezza Sailing Team. Oliver completed his Master’s degree in Sports Psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University between 2014 and 2015. Between 2018 and 2019, Oliver was a Team Psychologist with both the Celtic Dragons Netball Team and the Welsh Netball Team. Between 2017 and 2020, Oliver obtained his Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). Oliver is currently studying for a Doctorate in Psychology (Psychological Counselling) at the University of South Wales to broaden his practice into athlete mental health. Since 2017, Oliver has been a Communication Performance Consultant with Peak Dynamics, the Performance Sport Psychologist with BUCS Super Rugby and Head of Performance Sport Psychology and Athlete Wellbeing with Cardiff Met Rugby Football Club at Cardiff Metropolitan University and the Sport Psychologist with the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) at Oxford Brookes University . For the past six years, Oliver has worked with Think 2 Win as both a Performance Consultant and Sport Psychologist, and as a Performance Psychologist. For the past 10 years, Oliver has been a Youth and Junior Coach with the Royal Yachting Association.