Active Essex is proud to recognise Danny Overton as the winner of the Move With Us ‘Move Maker’ award for April..
Danny’s journey into sport and physical activity started at a young age. Between the ages of 5 and 13, he regularly attended sports clubs, where he developed a love of football and a strong willingness to support and help others. These early experiences played a key role in shaping his future path.
After leaving school, Danny enrolled at CRC College to study plumbing but soon realised it was not the right fit. During this time, Danny and his family faced an incredibly difficult period when his dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour and later received palliative care at home. Wanting to stay busy and find some normality during this challenging time, Danny reconnected with KidzActive.
Danny began volunteering with KidzActive and quickly became a valued member of the team. He was reliable, positive and built strong relationships with children and parents alike. Volunteering played an important role in supporting Danny’s mental wellbeing and gave him a sense of purpose during a very tough period in his life.
Following the loss of his dad, Danny was keen to continue progressing. He joined the Coach Core programme as a 2024 to 2025 Level 2 Activator Coach apprentice with KidzActive. Throughout the programme, Danny showed exceptional growth in confidence, communication and leadership, developing both his coaching skills and his belief in himself. He has recently passed all elements of his assessment and is now progressing into a full time coaching role, which is a fantastic achievement.
Despite managing his own health challenges and anxiety, Danny has continued to push himself. Last year, he completed a cycling course, allowing KidzActive to include cycling within their Summer HAF programme. That summer, Danny helped 10 children learn how to ride a bike, building their confidence and independence and creating positive experiences that will stay with them for years to come.
Danny’s hard work and commitment have also been recognised beyond his day to day role. He was recently celebrated at the Lifetime Learning Awards Gala 2026, highlighting the progress he has made and the effort he puts into his development.
Now 21 years old, Danny’s journey is a powerful example of resilience, growth and the positive impact of supportive programmes like Coach Core. He continues to make a real difference to young people through his work at KidzActive.
Danny does not just support activity. He moves people forward. That is why he is a truly deserving winner of April’s Move With Us ‘Move Maker’ Award.
