Leisure centre operator Everybody Health and Leisure has announced the appointments of high-profile patrons including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson (pictured) and Prof Steve Peters.
As well as Lady Grey-Thompson, retired Paralympic athlete, disability campaigner and sitting member of the House of Lords, and Prof Peters, consultant psychiatrist and best-selling author of the “Chimp Paradox”, the patrons are Philip Bland MBE and Zoe Davidson.
Thomas Barton, chief executive of Everybody, said: “It is with great pride that we announce the appointment of our first charity patrons.
“All four are leaders in their own fields, who have chosen to lend their considerable influence and huge expertise to help us in our mission to help the people of Cheshire East live well, and for longer.
“You can expect to see more of our patrons in the coming weeks and months as they start campaigning on our behalf.”
He said the appointment of Lady Grey-Thompson underlined the charity’s commitment to providing top quality opportunities to people with disabilities in the borough.
The charity offers a range of opportunities to enable people with impairments, additional support needs or long-term medical conditions to participate in sports activities for their own enjoyment or to enable them to become physically and socially active.
This inclusive service provides activities for all ages, which include para-netball, adult boccia, inclusive cycling, multi-sport activity hub along with activities during school holidays.
Lady Grey-Thompson said: “I have been working with Everybody as the host of its annual awards for a number of years now, and every year I am so impressed by the passion and dedication of the awards winners and the Everybody team when it comes to providing these life-changing services, not only for people with disabilities but for everyone in the community.
“I look forward to continuing my work with the team and being a champion for this charity in the House of Lords and beyond.”
Prof Peters is a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in the functioning of the human mind. He has worked in the clinical field of psychiatry for 30 years and authored four books.
He has supported Everybody in the past, donating his time and expertise to raise money and awareness for the charity’s partnership with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and the To Macclesfield, Love Mia project, which will see 1,400 school leavers screened for heart conditions in the town.
Mr Bland was one of Everybody’s founding trustees serving as the chair of its Finance and Risk Committee from 2014 until 2026. He was appointed an MBE for Services to the water industry.
Ms Davidson was another founding trustee, serving for 10 years from 2014 to 2024. She has had a long career working in consultancy at KPMG and now Deloitte, where she advises on and leads large-scale regeneration projects.
Everybody was recently assessed for its social value and was found to provide £22.08 worth of community benefits for every £1 it receives in funding.
