About

Our Story

During lockdown Helen and Liz met up one sunny afternoon at a garden centre. We didn’t know each other, but Liz had looked at Helen’s website www.thinkbelieveperform.co.uk and was curious about her sport psychology work. During lockdown, Liz had the start of an idea which turned out to be very similar to Helen’s – to create something to support young people with life skills in a creative and imaginative way through sport.

Helen, an experienced teacher of 25 years and more recently a chartered sport psychologist wanted to give something back to the teaching profession.  Liz, a former Blue Peter presenter and champion of young people had a desire to use her creative talents to support children through sport.

Together, over a cup of tea, School Sport Psychology was formed!

Inspired by researchers at University of Central Lancashire (read more on their ideas here: PDF ) and following extensive conversations and ‘Zoom’ meetings with headteachers, PE teachers and schools, School Sport Psychology has evolved with pupils and teachers ‘testing’ out our ideas in schools and PE lessons, giving us valuable views, opinions and feedback. We thank them all for their insights, we couldn’t have done it without you!

We are very proud of School Sport Psychology and hope you and your pupils enjoy using it and learning how sport psychology can help and support all of us in our day-to-day lives.

Helen Davis

Co-founder

Helen is a chartered sport psychologist and qualified primary school teacher with over 25 year’s experience working in education and 5 years working as a sports psychologist. She has worked in a variety of different primary schools in the UK, schools in Boston, USA and currently works with athletes, coaches and teams in sport. Her clients have included World, Paralympic and Commonwealth champions, national and regional athlete scholars, and she is the sport psychologist for the Cambridge University Women’s boat race crews. Helen is passionate about combining her background in education and her knowledge as a sport psychologist to bring psychology into the PE curriculum in schools. She aims to support children develop mindset skills that will help them for the rest of their lives.

She is Mum to 3 children.

Liz Barker

Co-founder

Liz is a former Blue Peter presenter where she appeared on the programme for 6 years reporting from all over the world. She has interviewed sporting stars at the top of their game including Lewis Hamilton, Jonny Wilkinson and David Beckham. She played rugby with the Harlequins women team, played tennis with Elaina Balcatcha at Wimbledon, presented a world cup film from Argentina about Maradona, won a bronze medal at the British Winter Championships in Bobsleigh. She has performed a synchronised swimming routine, coxed a winning Cambridge side in boat race victory, competed in various horse riding events including participating in a rodeo and riding the world famous Lipizzaner horses. She held a Guinness world record and took part in various daring stunts. Since leaving Blue Peter she has presented Totally Dr Who, a local radio show, and worked as a voice over artist whilst raising 4 sporty children. She is passionate about all sport and giving all children the opportunity to realise their potential. She has a wealth of experience in working with primary aged children through her PTA commitment and qualification as a Childline counsellor.

 

Blue Peter the BBC’s longest running children’s television show has a new sports badge designed by surfer and skateboarder Sky Brown – any child who gets active and tries a new sport for the first time can win one. Follow this link to find out more