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DDPerformance& WellnessDD Performance & Wellness

Our story

One path.
Three perspectives.

From personal training to mental health nursing to clinical exercise physiology. A journey to better understand people, improve lives and create sustainable change.

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Meet the founders

Two backgrounds. One shared purpose.

DD Performance & Wellness brings together experience in fitness, mental health nursing, leadership and therapeutic support — with a shared focus on understanding the whole person and creating lasting change.

Portrait of Declan Barrett Doel

Co-Founder · Personal Trainer & Mental Health Nurse

Declan Barrett Doel

  • Personal trainer since 2008
  • Registered Mental Health Nurse (2023)
  • MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology student

I am the Co-Founder of DD Performance & Wellness. I started out as a personal trainer in 2008, helping people become stronger, healthier and more confident, and saw first-hand how movement can transform mindset, self-belief and quality of life.

During COVID I recognised that physical health doesn’t exist independently of mental health and behaviour, so I trained as a Mental Health Nurse and worked across acute, older people’s, alcohol and detox, forensic and liaison services. I am now completing an MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology to bring movement, understanding and clinical knowledge together.

Portrait of Natalia Croft

Co-Founder & Business Manager

Natalia Croft

  • Senior leadership, coaching and people development in social care
  • Trauma-informed practice with children and adults
  • BSc Criminology & Forensic Studies · MSc Economic Crime & International Criminal Justice

I am the Co-Founder and Business Manager of DD Performance & Wellness, bringing a wealth of experience in senior leadership, coaching and people development within the social care sector.

My professional experience has focused on leadership, coaching and therapeutically supporting both children and adults, with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed practice, wellbeing and personal development. I am passionate about understanding the individual as a whole and helping people build confidence, overcome barriers and achieve positive, lasting change.

I studied at the University of Portsmouth, achieving a BSc in Criminology and Forensic Studies and an MSc in Economic Crime and International Criminal Justice.

Through DD Performance & Wellness, I am passionate about bringing together physical health, mental wellbeing and personal development, helping people become the strongest and healthiest version of themselves — both physically and mentally.

Declan’s journey · Where it started →

Personal Training – 2008

I started this journey in 2008 as a personal trainer with a simple goal — to help people become stronger, healthier and more confident. I saw first-hand how exercise could transform not just the body, but also mindset, self-belief and quality of life.

  • 10+ years in the fitness industry
  • Worked in private, commercial, budget and health club settings
  • Supported a wide range of people – from complete beginners to elite athletes
  • Learned the power of movement, motivation and behaviour change
Declan coaching a client through a barbell squat

The turning point

Mental Health Nursing – 2023

During COVID, I recognised that physical health doesn’t exist independently of mental health and behaviour. I wanted to develop my understanding beyond fitness alone — to understand why people struggle to change, especially when mental health, motivation and life circumstances get in the way.

  • Qualified as a Mental Health Nurse
  • Worked across Older People’s Mental Health, Acute, Alcohol & Detox, Forensics and Psychiatric Liaison
  • Learned how to communicate better, reduce barriers and support people through some of life’s toughest challenges
  • Understood the human side of health – the barriers, not just the symptoms

The next step

Clinical Exercise Physiology – Now

I am currently progressing through an MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology to develop the clinical expertise required to appropriately prescribe exercise for a wider range of health conditions. This builds on my 10+ years in fitness and my mental health nursing experience, allowing me to bring together movement, understanding and clinical knowledge.

  • Developing clinical expertise in exercise prescription
  • Learning how to apply exercise in complex health conditions (metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory and musculoskeletal)
  • Aiming to integrate all three disciplines to provide a more complete approach to health and wellbeing

The journey in numbers

  1. 2008

    Started Personal Training

  2. 2023

    Qualified Mental Health Nurse

  3. Now

    MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology Student

  4. The Goal

    To integrate exercise, education and understanding to support better health for more people.

It’s not just about fitness.

It’s about understanding people, removing barriers and creating sustainable change that improves physical and mental wellbeing.

Start a conversation

Exercise, education and lifestyle support from DD Performance & Wellness is not a substitute for medical treatment, prescribed medication or specialist mental health care. Where support beyond this scope is needed, referral and multidisciplinary working are the right next step.