Natasha - Fuelling Athletes
Natasha Charlwood
Performance Nutritionist Consultant at West Bromwich Albion FC and Warwickshire County Cricket Club
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
Natasha was a successful professional dancer until an injury forced her to reconsider her career in the world of sport. Despite concerns about becoming a mature student, she applied to BCU for a career change and thrived on the Sport and Exercise Science course. She’s now fuelling athletes at two of the Midlands’ top sporting teams.
“I worked as a professional dancer from a young age, so I attended a dance school in London instead of completing A-Levels or BTECs. I loved dancing and watching all sorts of sports live and on TV. At the time, I thought I'd have a long career in dance, but in my early 20s, I had a serious injury which meant I couldn't dance professionally anymore.
I was devastated but I began to reflect on what it was about sport and dance that I found so fascinating. As I got older, I realised just how important nutrition is for athletes and how little I'd prioritised it early on in my career. While exploring different professions, I found the role of a nutritionist particularly appealing. This path would allow me to remain connected to the world of sports while helping other athletes perform at their best. I had a lot to consider when it came to applying to university. I was worried about being a mature student, not having studied science at A Level, and about balancing university and my personal life. I knew it would be hard work, but it would pay off if it led to a successful career in sport.
I chose BCU because of the experienced and passionate lecturers who have hands-on experience in the field. They helped me grow as a student and become the practitioner I am today. The facilities at BCU are also second to none. BCU's test kitchens and labs are superior to those at any other universities I visited. Due to the practical nature of the course, we spent a lot of time in the labs, so that was a really important element.
BCU also has fantastic industry connections. During my third year, I completed a placement at Worcester Warriors Rugby Club where I developed key communication skills for working with athletes and collaborating within a multidisciplinary team. I use the skills that I developed there every day, and it gave me a great start in my career.
After graduating, I secured a full-time role at Worcester Warriors before moving on to a professional cricket club while I completed my master's degree. Following my master's, I gained my current role as a Performance Nutritionist Consultant at West Bromwich Albion FC and Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
My role is to enhance performance, reduce injury and support the athletes' overall health through nutrition. I love the variety of my work and meeting the unique needs of different athletes.
I'm glad that I believed in myself and didn't let being a mature student hold me back. We're all on our own journey that leads us to where we're supposed to be. I thought I'd be a professional dancer forever, but now I know believe that fuelling athletes is what I'm meant to do.”
