Meet team f⁶it

f⁶it is powered by a passionate and dedicated team committed to creating inclusive and accessible fitness, support, clubs and leisure opportunities for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs, alongside their family and friends. Our team includes 7 Trustees who provide strategic guidance and governance, employed staff who passionately deliver our wide range of activities, and a fantastic group of volunteers who bring energy, skills and heart to everything we do. Together, we work to build a welcoming community where everyone can thrive, have fun and feel supported.

Portrait of George Sobek smiling with short hair and a beard, wearing a grey hoodie, standing against a light background.

George worked in the financial and capital markets for more than 20 years, serving as CEO, COO, Board Director and Executive Officer of multiple companies operating within the global financial markets. An expert in regulatory compliance, operational risk and corporate governance, George has been responsible for developing and implementing business strategies and operational processes for some of the world’s leading financial institutions and currently undertakes board advisory roles for three early-stage companies. George has held numerous roles in the voluntary sector as a school governor and is currently a local parish councillor. George lives in Surrey with his wife and three children aged 11, 12 and 14 years old. In his spare time, George enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his son's rugby.

Chair of Trustees

Anel van der Merwe

Anel is a children’s physiotherapist and has over 25 years’ experience of working with children with a wide variety of disabilities and additional needs. Through her work as a physiotherapist, she became aware of the lack of availability and accessibility of activities and support for children with disabilities and additional needs and their families in the local community. In 2017-2018 Anel consulted various families that have children with disabilities and additional needs, this inspired her to create a project to address the wider need of this community. Anel is passionate in serving this community and is determined to make a change in the lives of families with children with disabilities and additional needs in our local community. Anel champions true inclusion and wants to ensure that children/young people of ALL abilities can access activities in the community alongside their family and friends. In her spare time, Anel loves spending time with her husband and two girls, exploring the beautiful countryside, paddle boarding and staying active.

Trustee
Founder of f⁶it

Stuart Crouch

Stu enjoyed a career in finance and spent 25 years working for Citibank, eventually becoming Chief Investment Officer. He has experience of governance, board interaction, financial strategy, risk management and the establishment of new businesses and teams. Since retiring he has been fortunate to volunteer and work with several charities and see the amazing impact on the beneficiaries, the community and the volunteers. Stu lives in Guildford with his family and their dog. He also spends way too much time outdoor swimming.

Trustee - Treasurer

Julian Frost

Julian has had a career in the food industry where he has held senior marketing and general management roles in multi-national companies working across the UK, Europe and Asia. He brings a wealth of expertise to f⁶it, particularly in marketing. Julian is retired and lives with his wife in Farnham. He enjoys spending time with his four children and two grandchildren. His many passions include cricket, rugby and history.

Trustee - Marketing

Marylou Honey

Marylou has had a successful career in HR. She has worked within complex global organisations as well as smaller companies, collaborating with leadership teams to meet business objectives. Her areas of expertise include: recruitment; employment law; performance and employee development; compensation planning; developing HR policies, procedures and employee handbooks. Marylou retired in 2023 and looks forward to using her HR skills and experiences to build f⁶it and support the ambitious plans to deliver support, fitness, clubs and leisure activities to more children and young people with disabilities and additional needs and their families. Marylou lives in Haslemere and enjoys skiing, mountain-biking and spending time with her family and friends.

Trustee - HR

Oliver Wells

Oliver worked in the oil industry for almost 40 years and travelled extensively. Since retiring he has worked for several charities including Citizens Advice, Probation Service, Victim Support and Sported. It was through Sported that he met Anel and the f⁶it team and subsequently became a Trustee. Oliver is married with 3 grown up children.

Trustee

Laura Sabharwal

Laura’s background is in project management within the voluntary sector, most notably charity fundraising events and marketing. She has worked with both large charities including NSPCC and The Children’s Society and smaller ones and, while bringing up her three children, has undertaken a wide variety of voluntary roles, from school Governor to PTA chair. Laura’s eldest child, now 19, has Prader-Willi Syndrome with associated learning disabilities and complex additional needs. Laura is acutely aware of the challenges around inclusion and is excited about working with f⁶it to create positive change for families like her own. Laura loves open water swimming and running in the countryside with her dog.

Project Volunteer

Meagan Rees

Meagan has a background in the media, education and charity sectors. For several years she worked for an NGO managing strategic partnerships, programme delivery, fundraising, and communications. She also has experience working for a small charity focused on inclusive and impactful sports coaching apprenticeships. Meagan’s son has been diagnosed with ASD, and she has experienced first-hand the need, value and joy of the f⁶it community and activities.

Project Volunteer

Lily Gray

Lily has a passion for being creative and graphic design, she’s spent the last few years gaining experience of marketing within different industries. Lily has Cerebral Palsy and understands first-hand the challenges young people with disabilities face and why f⁶it’s existence and work is so valuable. Lily wants to be able to help create change and create a community she lacked whilst growing up. Alongside helping with F6IT’s social media, she is also a member of our Advisory Group.

Social Media &
Marketing Volunteer