We are delighted that Hayley has joined our BRIT Ambassador family.
Hayley competed as an elite diver and specialised in individual and synchronised springboard events. She won the bronze medal, along with her partner Tandi Gerrard, in the women’s 3 metre synchronised springboard event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Hayley represented Great Britain 32 times and also achieved 10 Great Britain National titles. She represented Great Britain, with Tandi, at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
“Working with young adults with mental health conditions and learning difficulties, coaching diving to children and young adults, and as a student myself, I have first-hand knowledge and experience of the physical and mental health challenges that many young adults struggle to cope with.
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting existing mental health challenges and the demand for support from mental health services and charities is increasing; this is not a short-term need and it is vital that charities receive our support to enable them to continue their work. I am delighted that BRIT are partnering with PAPYRUS – Prevention of Young Suicide, Nightline Association, Student Minds and the Charlie Waller Trust, so that all donations raised by the BRIT 2021 Challenge will be shared equally between five mental health charities who support students and young adults.
The BRIT 2021 Challenge is a super opportunity to help support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK. It is great to see that the challenge has been designed to be inclusive and enables students and staff of all abilities to take part; this is particularly important for young adults with mental health challenges and learning difficulties, so they can contribute their distances and feel part of their team’s efforts.
I hope every UK university, college and student union embraces the BRIT 2021 Challenge, enters teams andencourages their students and staff to take part.
I urge my fellow retired and current Olympians, Paralympians and athletes to join our BRIT Ambassador family and unite to both encourage universities and colleges to enter teams and inspire young adults and students to take part in the BRIT 2021 Challenge.
I look forward to supporting students and staff at the University of Hertfordshire, the Open University, Hertford Regional College and North Herts College as they take on their BRIT 2021 Challenge.”
In the course of her career as an elite athlete, Hayley won 26 County Championship titles representing Hertfordshire, won 10 Great Britain National titles and represented Great Britain 32 times at international events.
A great deal of her strength and conditioning preparation took place at the University of Hertfordshire.
Hayley specialised in individual and synchronised springboard events. She won bronze, with her partner Tandi Gerrard, in the women’s 3 metre synchronised springboard event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. Hayley and Tandi competed in the same event at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
With over 20 years of diving experience, Hayley has worked with elite athletes including six years as a Performance Diving Coach; her coaching successes include National Age Group and National Skills Champions and medallists in UK diving competitions.
Between 2014 and 2017, Hayley was the Development Officer at the Inspire Sports Centre, Luton, where she coached competitive divers from the age of 5 years old up to 16 years old; she was also the Swim 21 coordinator and responsible for the safeguarding of children.
Hayley has been a Fina International Diving Judge for over eight years at events including the World Cup 2016 Olympic qualifiers, Youth Olympic Games, European Games, European Championships, European Junior Championships, Grand Prix Circuit and GB Nationals.
Hayley studied Health and Social Care at Hertfordshire Regional College, between 2011 and 2012, and North Herts College between 2013 and 2014.
She is currently studying for her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with the Open University.
Hayley works with young adults with mental health conditions and learning difficulties, helping them access as many opportunities they can to transition into adulthood and enable them to live the best quality of life.
In her spare time, Hayley has been a natural disaster volunteer with Smart Response; rebuilding homes and schools that have been demolished through natural disaster, making a difference to less fortunate countries and helping to provide a better life for those that need it the most.
For more information about swimming in Great Britain, please visit the British Swimming website.