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Charlie's Story

Charlie was born in Cambridge and grew up on a farm in the Essex/Suffolk countryside. He graduated from Durham University with a degree in Psychology before joining the Army as an officer in 2001. After a year at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Charlie commissioned into the Royal Horse Artillery with whom he served in Iraq as a platoon commander. There he was responsible for conducting counter-insurgency operations as well as training and recruiting the new Basra police force.

Realising his passion for sport, Charlie was seconded from the Army to the World Class Performance Centre in Bath where he trained with the Great Britain modern pentathlon team. Within two years Charlie was selected to compete for the British team at the World Championships and in 2007 Charlie became National Champion.

It was during his time as an athlete that Charlie’s passion for applied psychology flourished, believing this to be a fundamental contributor towards his achievements rather than raw talent! Charlie retired as an athlete in order to pursue this passion. Whilst gaining a further MSc in Sport & Exercise Psychology at Brunel University, he won a national award for his applied research into “motivational climate”.

Charlie started coaching mental skills to schools and clubs (including Whitgift and Millfield schools). He was soon given the opportunity to work with athletes and teams from numerous Olympic and professional sports.

Charlie became the lead performance psychologist for the GB Olympic Skeleton Team, working with Lizzy Yarnold towards her becoming double Olympic Champion (2014 and 2018), as well as the team becoming the most successful Winter Olympic team of all time. 

Since then Charlie has gone on to work with a huge range of clients including England football, Premiership rugby, military special forces and the Royal Household. He also mentors Premier League football coaches looking to improve the mental development of young players.

Charlie also applies the principles of human performance and psychology in working with global organisations, helping them to achieve their own performance aspirations. He delivers keynotes, coaching and workshops, sharing his insights into mental performance, team environment, leadership, coaching and resilience.

 

Charlie has designed and delivered award-winning programmes for a number of global organisation including Coca-Cola, Lego, Virgin, Dyson and Linklaters.  He was awarded Top Speaker at The Henley Business School Partnership in 2015.

In 2021 Charlie wrote an Amazon Best Seller book called Inside Out. Charlie shares unparalleled insight into the minds and inner workings of the world's most accomplished performers, including double Olympic champions, special forces soldiers, fighter pilots, surgeons, barristers, chefs, musicians and financial traders. Check it out on Amazon, available in hardback and audio!

Charlie lives in the Cotswolds with his wife, two children and two spaniels. 

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About Charlie

Want to know more?

Watch this UPerform youtube video where Charlie is interviewed by Amy Williams MBE, he introduces himself and tells you a bit about the work he does.

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