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Team Police raises much needed funds through an innovative commercial sponsorship scheme to help improve the wellbeing of everyone who is serving and has served in our UK Police Forces by enabling increased participation in sport and physical activity. Team Police Ltd is the fundraising body for Police Sport UK (PSUK).
Team Police Mission Statement – ‘Wellbeing Through Sport’
What does this mean? At Team Police we believe in wellbeing through sport for the policing family, as former officers ourselves and keen sport enthusiasts we know all too well just how effective sport and physical activity is at improving both physical and mental wellbeing. Data continues to evidence the fact that sport and physical activity is amongst the most effective preventative tools available to increase workforce wellbeing in the medium and long term.
According to the Police Federation, research has shown that emergency services workers are twice as likely as the public to identify problems at work as the main cause of their mental health problems, but they are also significantly less likely to seek help.
The number of Police officers in one force being signed off work for mental ill health has risen by an astonishing 156% in the past year. Across all forces in England and Wales, a huge 13,263 officers were signed off work.
So, it’s even more important to look after the mental health of those working on the frontline. At Team Police we know physical wellbeing is an important factor to mental wellbeing – this has been identified in the new Police Covenant Requirement.
Why support Team Police? There are numerous benefits to onboarding as a sponsor of Team Police; your crucial funds will go directly toward Police Sport UK which will enable a variety of sporting events for the Policing Family to take place, simply put, these funds are vital in facilitating the improved wellbeing for all those involved through the medium of sport. Furthermore, you will be able to demonstrate increased corporate social responsibility for your organisation and attend numerous exclusive TeamPolice events throughout the year, with access to various industry stakeholders, police seniors and key decision makers. By becoming a TeamPolice sponsor you will also be a key part in supporting us deliver the physical activity element of the Police Covenant requirement.
TeamPolice Board Members
Message from Bill Skelly QPM, Chair of TeamPolice
As Chair, it is my responsibility, working with my Board, to ensure we follow the highest standards of corporate governance. As a Board, we believe that practising good corporate governance is essential for building a successful and sustainable business in the long-term interests of all our stakeholders. We are committed to responsible and ethical practices.
Key operating principles:
- Have a strategy, business model and operation to serve the interests our organisation, its partners and stakeholders
- Embed risk management practices in all we do
- Maintain the Board as well-functioning team with the necessary skills and experience led by the Chair
- Promote a culture based on ethical values and behaviours
- Maintain a governance structure that supports effective Board decision making.
Strategy outline
TeamPolice raises funds through a commercial sponsorship scheme to help improve the wellbeing of everyone who is serving and has served in our UK Police Forces by enabling increased participation in sport and physical activity.
TeamPolice is the fundraising scheme for police sport in the UK. It is a joint venture between Team Police Ltd and Police Sport UK (PSUK) which represents all the Police Forces of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and provides sporting opportunities for over 300,000 serving and retired police staff.
TeamPolice Ltd Board
Bill Skelly QPM – Director and Chair
Bill has been involved in Police Sport for over 31 years. A keen volleyball player, coach and referee, he has represented the Police Service as a player at every level from locally to internationally. He joined the Police Sport UK Council nearly twenty years ago and has been a vocal and leading advocate of wellbeing in the workplace, for which he has received national awards and international recognition. He recently retired as Chief Constable in Lincolnshire and is now the Managing Director of his own Boardroom Consultancy business.
Bill is passionate about the role that organisations have to play in promoting the health and wellbeing of their employees, customers, families and communities.
“Policing plays a hugely significant role in society and I believe that it is massively important that those who deliver policing are as psychologically, emotionally and physically fit as possible for the demands that they face. They need support, and that should extend to their families too, who are so often at the heart of wellbeing. Good people, feeling good about themselves, will deliver great policing and that builds safer, stronger and better communities.”
Bill was born in Dundee and studied Math’s and Physics at Edinburgh University before joining Lothian and Borders Police in 1990. He enjoyed a varied career in plain clothes and uniformed roles, including being appointed as Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland. He held senior positions with the Metropolitan Police, Police Scotland and Devon and Cornwall Police before concluding his service as Chief Constable in Lincolnshire.
Andrew Anastasiou – Director
I have worked with great people, had fantastic experiences and learned a lot about how to build amazing teams and motivate people to make organisations function better. As comfortable presenting strategies to boards as to working with young people in street projects. I thrive on developing ideas and being creative in providing solutions. I have the confidence to challenge and think through complex scenarios, where I see some people struggle, I can bring clarity.
People describe me as hardworking and persistent, while maintaining a sense of fun in my work. As one of my previous CEOs said; “Even though I took you on for a long-term role, seeing the impact you made in such a short time, I am very happy that I recruited you.”
A willing, and fairly talented sportsman I have enjoyed many years of actively competing at cricket and football. Sport has shaped my life and friendships. So give me a ball, bat, racket, stick and a pair of trainers and I will have a go at it. Always seeking to challenge myself I now concentrate on travelling in straight lines and completed my first Olympic Distance Triathlon last year, Half-Ironman next, makes me quiver thinking about it.
Gavin Thomas OBE – Director
Having retired from the Police service in 2019 after a career as Detective Chief Superintendent and President of the Police Superintendents Association, Gavin is a Director and Board member of Team Police. He joined Team Police and shares the same passion as he did when serving for the Health and Wellbeing of all those in the police family.
Katherine Willoughby – Director
The value of sport has run through my veins from a young age. Starting as a Physical Training Instructor in the Army it allowed me to continue my passion and belief. I then swapped uniforms to join the Police where I remained for the next 30 years. Throughout my career I have used sport as a tool to encourage community cohesion and support young people in developing their life skills and stay on the right path. I continue to share my belief and experience in sport to support the wellbeing of staff through Police Sport.
TeamPolice Governance Reports
The Team
Linda Wall
Sponsorship Development & Account Manager
Linda dedicated the majority of her career in Thames Valley Police to protecting the most vulnerable people in society leading specialist abuse teams and setting up Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs across Berkshire. When she was diagnosed with PTSD, Linda put her experience to good use and now is a peer supporter for Police Care offering support to Officers going through IHR throughout the country. To complement the wellbeing theme she is an Account Manager for Team Police which brings in much needed funds to support wellbeing through sport for Officers staff and their families.
David Fraser-Darling
Sponsorship Development, Account Manager & Events Planner
David is a former Professional cricketer at Nottinghamshire CCC 1984-1988 and served 26 years as a PC in Nottinghamshire. He has been actively involved in Police Sport (Cricket) for 35 years as a player, capt and most recently as Secretary / Treasurer / British Police CC Team Manager from 2009 before standing down at the end of 2023. During this time David was responsible for long term Sponsorship of BPCC & the National Championship, developing the squad with introduction of new players and creating a new Women’s Section in 2020. Having benefitted from the support given to him by his Force especially in the earlier years David is passionate to support Staff Wellbeing Through Sport by bringing in much needed funding to PSUK, increase participation & improve wellbeing.
Ajay Hanspal
Media, Marketing, Communications & Website Development.
Ajay embarked on a career in HM Armed Forces straight out of school, dedicating himself to the Royal Marines. Unfortunately, his journey took an unexpected turn when a life-changing traumatic brain injury, sustained during a training exercise, led to a medical discharge and a loss of brain function. Undeterred, Ajay chose not to hit the pause button on his life. In 2020, he transitioned to a new chapter, joining Surrey Police as a constable. For two years, he served on a response team, but ultimately, his brain injury symptoms became overwhelming, preventing him from continuing in full-time policing.
What followed was a challenging yet transformative period in Ajay’s life. Seeking closure and renewed purpose, he discovered solace and direction through running and physical activity. Fast forward a few years, and Ajay has become a world-class trail, mountain, and ultramarathon runner, competing at the highest levels across the globe, regularly winning races and setting course records. Beyond his athletic achievements, he has found additional purpose in supporting and championing police wellbeing through sport—a cause he believes would have significantly benefited him during his time as a police officer.
Jo Simms
Jenny Lawrence
Finance Officer