Who We Are
At Advantage Mentoring CIC we are specialists in partnering between two community assets and anchor institutions – The NHS and the charitable arms of professional football clubs: known as Club Community Organisations (CCOs).
As per The NHS Long Term Plan, our Advantage programmes widen access to services closer to home, reduces unnecessary delays, and delivers specialist healthcare which is based on a clearer understanding of young people’s needs and provided in ways that work better for them, as an effective, evidence-based service.
Our flagship mental health programme was established in 2020 and is proven to increases access to NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and helps to tackle waiting times and reduce Health Inequalities by providing weekly 1-2-1 mentoring support for young people aged 11-21 with mild-moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing support needs.
Advantage is supporting key NHS priorities around CYP mental health:
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Anchor network development - partnering NHS with CCOs
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Support tackling and reducing Health Inequalities via Core20+5 and existing CCO outreach in to underserved communities
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Increasing Equal Access with Better Experiences and Outcomes for young people
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Capacity building and workforce development
Meet The Team
Konrad Deckers Dowber
Managing Director
Bringing over a decade of experience working at the intersection of the charity sector and football, Konrad is passionate about finding new ways to provide inspirational opportunities for people in their communities.
Dr. Hannah Prytherch
Mental Health Consultant
Hannah received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Canterbury Christ Church University and has worked in CAMHS, Social care, as well as a number of third sector community organisations since. She has an interest in developing traditional mental health services so that they are more focused on prevention and more accessible to people who don’t like the idea of talking therapies. She has worked in a number of sports-based mental health projects both in the UK and abroad.
Emma-Jayne Green
Regional Project Manager (North)
Emma-Jayne has extensive experience within education, sports and community programmes, specialising in the benefits of physical development and education having previously worked at Manchester City in the Community.
Emma-Jayne has worked across all age groups in educational settings and community based physical activity programmes and is passionate about strengthening future generations personal, social, emotional and physical well-being.
Adrian Salisbury
Regional Project Manager (South)
Adrian brings a wealth of experience from his time at County FAs and The EFL Trust with his regional performance and project management working across multiple community-based football programmes; including in higher education, increasing physical activity and the development of children and young people.
Adrian is passionate about using the power of football for good in local communities as a tool in the development and support of children and young people.
Emily Corcut
Strategic Comms. Lead
Emily brings over 14 years of healthcare communications and community engagement experience to Advantage. She specalises in behavioural change communications, brand development, campaign planning and implementation as well as public relations.
Emily has worked in a wide array of healthcare environments including government, small community-based hospitals, large healthcare systems, as well as agencies.
Advisory Board Members
Tash Barrington
Legal Counsel
LGT Capital Partners
Steven Dyson
Advantage Founder & Chairman of the Board
Ann Hepworth
Director of Strategy & Partnerships
BHRUT NHS Trust
James Huang
Associate
Linklaters
Freddie Hudson
Head of Community
Arsenal In The Community
Nick Isaacs
Lead Consultant
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
East London
NHS Foundation Trust
Joe Lyons
Chief Executive Officer
West Ham United Foundation
Coza Mitchell
Workforce Planning
Business Partner
University Hospitals of
Derby & Burton
NHS Foundation Trust
Sir David Sloman
Previous Chief Operating Officer
NHS England
Neil Taylor
Chief Executive Officer
Leyton Orient Trust
The National Academy of Social Prescribing support and connect people, communities and organisations so that more people across the UK can enjoy better health and wellbeing. Advantage Mentoring CIC is an active member of the NASP Innovation Network which aims to:
- Create a well connected, collaborative social prescribing system
- Disseminate innovative practice to a national and global audience
- Support quality delivery by advancing skills, knowledge and training
- Scale and spread innovative approaches through co-design and testing, to address high priority health needs
We are grateful to Linklaters LLP for providing us with on-going legal advice