All eight members, a range of influential people from the world of sport, entertainment, business, media and finance, have joined the Advisory Board with immediate effect.

Among the members are Professional Golfers' Association European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley, Commonwealth Games Wales vice-chair Jonathan Morgan, founder and chief executive of trends intelligence agency Stylus Marc Worth, and MH+A associate partner Jonathan Harding. 

Joining them are business development, marketing and event consultant Anna Matthews, Ebiquity PLC group chief executive Nick Waters, Savannah head of media practice and board practice Tony Simpson, and sports social Impact and strategic communications consultant Ben Miller. 

Former Special Olympics GB Board members Murton Mann, Len Dunne and Phil Nathan will also sit on the Advisory Board. 

"On behalf of everyone at Special Olympics GB I’d like to welcome and thank all these brilliant people who have agreed to be part of our new Advisory Board," said Special Olympics GB chair Paul Richardson, who will oversee the Advisory Board.

"Each of them brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table and I am hugely grateful to them all for giving their time to us. 

"This Board provides an excellent opportunity for Special Olympics GB to maximise opportunities, harness their creativity and expertise and I am excited to see what we can achieve as a group to help support the growth of our organisation and help more people with intellectual disabilities."

Special Olympics GB is a non-profit organisation and Britain's largest provider of year-round, sports coaching and athletic competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

"The Advisory Board has been created to sit alongside our main Board and will work with the executive team to unlock and explore new relationships and partnerships which will drive growth, influence and income," said Special Olympics GB chief executive Michelle Carney.

"Financial stability is our number one priority, especially at the moment, and I am confident that together we can achieve amazing things. 

"To have this calibre of people helping Special Olympics GB realise its potential represents a huge opportunity for us all, especially our athletes, and I am excited to see where this journey will take us."