Our Teams
We have a small but growing team of experienced professionals with backgrounds in regeneration, community development, community plans, fitness, healthy living and funding. Our Health Fitness and Activity Team include our trusted instructors who help deliver our classes and sessions! We are managed by a governing Board who ensure that we are achieving all our social objectives, whilst running a viable business!
Tony Mullin
Director
Tony has over 25 years of regeneration experience working for various local authorities and regeneration partnerships in the north of England, as a project and programme manager, and external fundraiser. He is also a qualified sports coach and fitness instructor, passionate about addressing health inequalities and helping people live healthier lives.
Victoria Norman
Project Development and Digital Inclusion Officer
Victoria is a placement student from the University of Leeds studying BA in Geography. Victoria is passionate about sustainability; finding feasible and creative solutions to the Climate Crisis and community generation to benefit marginalised social groups.
Rob Bilso
Associate and Board member
Rob is an associate for 'Your Back Yard' and has nearly 25 years' experience in private, public, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. He specialises in Community Engagement; Programme and Project Evaluation; Bid writing and Business Plan Development and Marketing
Ayisha Hameed
Community Outreach and Volunteers Manager
Ayisha has 13 years of experience working in the third sector in Ireland, India and the UK. Her educational background is in Journalism, International Development and International Politics. Ayisha is passionate about creating safe spaces and working with underrepresented communities in the areas of wellbeing. She has focussed on digital media & communications, mental health advocacy, victims' of crime support, volunteer management, partnership working and community development.
Jenny Oates
Seated and Standing Yoga Instructor
I am passionate about yoga and the benefits it brings for both the body and mind, and I'm a strong believer that yoga is for EVERYONE. I aim to produce classes that increase flexibility and strength, improve balance, and calm the mind. I am a 300-hour accredited yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance, completing my initial training in India, and have been practicing yoga myself for over 20 years.I like to incorporate techniques from a mixture of yoga styles in my classes.
Sarah Stonier
Pilates Instructor
I have been teaching Pilates for over 20 years and practising for a lot longer than that. My background is fitness based and I started Pilates when I sustained a back injury and Pilates helped me greatly in my recovery. I initially trained and started teaching Mat classes then continued to study to specialise in rehabilitation on the Pilates Equipment which is what I mainly teach on a day-to-day basis dealing with clients with specific injuries and conditions.
Tony Mullin
Cardio Class Instructor, Walking Football Coach & 1-2-1 Fitness Assessment Instructor
I have always loved playing sport and qualified as a football coach a few years ago. But it was only when Covid hit, and I had a bit more time on my hands that I thought it would be great to take this to the next level. I did a level 2 in fitness training and followed it up with a level 3 in specialising in delivering exercise and fitness programmes for older adults.
Arun Gujaran
Tai Chi Instructor
Arun has been instructing Daoist Tai Chi for the past 15 years, following the advice of the Master Moy Lin-Shin to help people to heal and recover their highest potentials. He brings in a 30year meditation practice, and chi gong training, to refine this practice. The beauty of it is in its simplicity, to re-align the body and mind according to natural principles of innate harmony. We simply "be as nature intended" by stripping away all that distorts us. We become stronger, flexible, and full of energy and focus. This is joyful health and happiness.
Sydney O'Connor
Yoga For Flexibility Instructor
Hi, I'm Sydney. I have been practicing yoga for 7 years and qualified as a teacher in 2022. To me, yoga is WD-40 for the mind, body and soul! My classes aim to have you feeling brighter and lighter through guided movement, breath and attention.
Katya Harington
Yoga Instructor at Woodhouse Community Centre
My yoga journey started with Ashtanga, 20 years ago in a most unexpected way. Believe it or not, I was first inspired by Geri Halliwell aka Ginger Spice's fabulous yoga body (embarrassing! but hey thats how my journey began) and joined a weekly yoga class, recommended by a friend.
Taiba Yasseen
Board Member
Tabi is a councillor for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and a champion for fairness and justice, recently working nationally with the DWP.
Abi Hart
Board Member
Abi is an undergraduate Psychology student from the University of Leeds who undertook a year in industry with 'Your Back Yard'. Interested in mental health, well-being and social research.
Lowri Robbins
Board Member
Lowri is a newly Biomedical Science graduate of Leeds Beckett University who undertook a summer internship with Your Back Yard in 2021. Lowri's main focus is sustainability and helping communities to adapt to the fast-changing landscape surrounding renewable energy schemes and sustainable practices.
Rob Bilson
Board Member and Associate
Rob is an associate for 'Your Back Yard' and has nearly 25 years' experience in private, public, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. He specialises in Community Engagement; Programme and Project Evaluation; Bid writing and Business Plan Development and Marketing.
Tony Mullin
Director and Board Member
Tony has over 25 years of regeneration experience working for various local authorities and regeneration partnerships in the north of England, as a project and programme manager, and external fundraiser. He is also a qualified sports coach and fitness instructor, passionate about addressing health inequalities and helping people live healthier lives.