Joe Thompson

Areas of Work

• Helping to shape the strategic direction and operation of the organisation, and supporting an extensive network of partners and stakeholders across South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and nationally.
• Leading the team that support the development of the following strategy themes - Children and Young People, Active Education, Active Design, Active Environments, Active Travel, People and Skills, and Sport.
• Influencing policy, process and practice at a sub-regional level advocating for physical activity and sport within wider agendas such as health, climate change and economic growth.

Previous Experience

Joe has 18 years’ experience working across the public, private and charity sectors to improve people’s lives and deliver positive social impact through physical activity and sport. He is passionate about social justice and the wider impact of sport and physical activity on a range of social issues and policy areas. 

Previously Joe was Head of Funding at London Marathon Foundation, where he led the charity’s grant making work, overseeing investment of £50m in community sport and physical activity. He transformed the Foundation’s approach to grant making during a period of growth in which the company’s annual turnover increased by 60%.

Achievements included building the Foundation’s first professional grant making team, developing its first national funding strategy focused on addressing inequalities, joining the Funder Commitment on Climate Change, and playing a key role in the development of Go! London – the biggest ever community sport fund in the capital focused on young people – in partnership with Sport England and the Greater London Authority. Joe also oversaw impactful strategic investments in diversifying aquatics, using the power of sport to help tackle homelessness and promote racial justice, protecting and activating essential community spaces, and expanding junior parkrun across the country.

Prior to this, Joe spent 8 years as a consultant specialising in fundraising, strategy and capacity building to support the physical activity, sport, leisure and public health sectors. This included successful multi-million-pound funding bids, advising on community facility developments across the country, developing collaborative local authority strategies, and supporting National Governing Bodies of Sport with the development of their Whole Sport Plans.

Keeping Active

Joe enjoys playing many sports - including football, cricket and tennis. A Sheffield native, Joe loves exploring the great outdoors, especially walking, running and cycling in the Yorkshire and Scottish countryside with his family and friends. He also climbs with his partner and two sons and is an avid fan of Middlesbrough Football Club.