Sussex Police Charitable Trust

Steve is a Superintendent responsible for Gatwick Airport and Armed Policing in Surrey Police and Sussex Police. He has been a Trustee of the SPCT for a number of years and served on many of its sub-committees, including Chair of the Executive Committee (now Funding Panel). He was the Deputy Chair of the Trust before being elected as Chair in 2020.

He has seen the great work of the Trust from a number of perspectives and says it is a humbling experience to see the level of challenge some of our colleagues face. Steve feels that it is a privilege to work within an organisation that supports our colleagues in that hour of need.

Lee joined Sussex Police in 1984 and during a 36 year career he served as an officer in a variety of roles and later as a member of staff.

He has been a Trustee of the SPCT for a number of years and is currently the Vice Chair of the Trustee Board, chairing the monthly Funding Panel meetings. In addition, he is involved in the Finance and Investment Committee.

Lee feels that working for the police always had the feeling of being part of a bigger family and the work of SPCT is an extension of that in the help and support that it is able to provide to its members.

Jamie has worked for Sussex Police since 2019 when he transferred after starting his career in Kent Police. He is based in East Sussex division on the response investigation team (RIT) and is keen to support his colleagues in a variety of ways, providing support and advice where needed.

In his personal life Jamie is keen to support local charities and over the years has raised money for local charities through sponsored events and his involvement with a local running event.

Jamie is keen to continue supporting colleagues however he can, including as a Trustee of Sussex Police Charitable Trust.

Joel has worked in Sussex Police since 2004. He is a Detective Inspector in East Sussex and has worked in a number of different roles. He became involved with the Trust when it was instrumental in supporting his family through a personal loss and its impact. 

As a result, he wanted to support the charity and ensure colleagues were able to access the same consummate help it affords. Joel is currently co-chair of the Marketing and Bungalow Committee. Joel is also on the committee for Enable and is a Positive Action Ally. His ethos is ‘be kind’.

Sarah joined Sussex Police as a Contact Handler in 2018, then joined the Road Safety Team and now works in Digital Forensics. Her career in policing goes back to the 1990s, as a Special and later as a PC.

A brief stint away from policing saw her working with the homeless. She has also undertaken numerous volunteer roles over the years. She became a Trustee as a way of giving something back to the SPCT, who supported her during a major illness.

She is also a Mental Health First Aider, Unison Rep, and Police Cadet Leader.

Sandra is now retired from Sussex Police, which she joined in the Criminal Justice Department (CJD) working with the Case Administrators and Witness Care teams. Her last role was within Restorative Justice, working with harmed people and the harmer.

Sandra became a Trustee whilst in CJD. Throughout her career in Sussex Police and in retirement she has promoted the good work of the Trust and encourages all she meets to join, explaining the benefits and help and advice that can be given to Trust members. Sandra has seen the help that is given by the Trust team and Trust Advisers, who she says are compassionate, professional and so helpful.

Mark Cullimore is a career Detective who began his policing career in 1994 with the Metropolitan Police, New Zealand Police, and now Sussex Police, where he is a Force Senior Investigating Officer on the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team.

Mark is deeply committed to physical and mental health, believing the two are inseparably linked. Following personal circumstances that resulted in homelessness, and after receiving support from the Trust, Mark chose to become more involved, first as a Champion and more recently as a Trustee.

Mark is the new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead, ensuring those in need, from whatever background have access to the Trust.

Jon Fanner joined Sussex Police in 1991 as a uniformed officer at Crawley and went on to serve in a wide range of roles across the organisation, including as a Senior Investigating Officer within the Major Crime Team.

After retiring from policing in 2021, Jon began working with the University of Cumbria, where he now teaches student police officers in Sussex who are studying for a degree in Professional Policing Practice.

Throughout his career, Jon witnessed first-hand the positive impact of the Charitable Trust on officers and staff, and he also personally benefitted from its support during a period of illness. Now working part time, Jon is keen to give something back by supporting the Trust and contributing to its vital work for police officers and staff.

Neil joined Sussex Police in 1986, having previously worked as a theatre stage manager. He served in a number of roles at Crawley, Brighton, HQ Lewes, Haywards Heath, and Gatwick, retiring as an Inspector in 2016.

From 2016 until his retirement in April 2025, Neil worked as a Police Staff Trainer, delivering initial training to recruit officers, Investigating Officers, Community Support Officers and Sergeants.

He is married to Catharine who is a Supervisor in the Force Command, Control, and Contact Centre. He has an adult son and daughter, two adult step-daughters and an adult step-son, and five grandchildren.

Since retiring, Neil enjoys spending time with his ever-growing family, travelling, photography, and playing the guitar.

Juliette has been a member of Sussex Police staff since July 2020 working in LPSIED as the Citizens in Policing Manager and since November 2025 has volunteered as a Police Cadet Leader at the Worthing Cadet unit.

Prior to working at Sussex Police, Juliette worked for over 12 years for a local children’s hospice in the fundraising team and hopes to share her fundraising knowledge and experience with the SPCT.

In 2024, Juliette received support from the SPCT a close family member went through a major health issue and was very grateful for the support. Following this, Juliette wants to ensure that colleagues in the policing family are aware of the SPCT and that members feel able to reach out for help and support when they need it.

Esther is a Team Leader within the Duties and Resourcing Team. She has been a member of the Trust since joining Sussex Police in 2009 as a Contact Handler within the Communications Department.

After receiving support from the Trust, Esther wanted to be more involved so she began championing the great work they do and most recently, became a Trustee.

Esther is passionate about ensuring her colleagues have the Trust as a helping hand when it is most needed.

Sue has been working for Sussex Police since April 2004, joining the then Press & PR Department with responsibility for media liaison for Brighton & Hove Division. Having held a number of roles in that particular field, Sue is currently a Senior Communications Manager within Sussex Police’s Media and Communications Department with a remit of internal communications.

Having been a Trustee for some years, Sue co-chairs the Marketing and Bungalow Committee. She brings her experience of developing and delivering communications, with the Trust Manager and team, to help publicise the charity, increase and maintain membership numbers and to encourage fundraising ideas and opportunities.

Till joined Sussex Police as a constable in 1993 and retired in 2026 as Detective Chief Superintendent, having served mostly on East Sussex Division and Headquarter based departments. Till was always keen to support his colleagues, which led him to being a Force Mediator from its inception and at one time being the Investigator Wellbeing portfolio lead for the force.

Till wishes to put some anticipated free time to good use by being a Trustee of SPCT, enabling him to continue supporting serving and retired members of Sussex Police through the Charitable Trust.