Sussex Police Charitable Trust

Steve is a Temporary 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 including Roads Policing and Special Branch Ports Unit 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 and Chairs the monthly Funding Panel meetings. In addition, he is involved in the Finance and Investment Committee and conducts a yearly internal audit for the Trust.

Lee feels that working for the Police has 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.

Steve joined Sussex Police in 2002 and has been stationed in West Sussex. He joined CID in 2005, working from Shoreham, then went to Major Crime where he stayed until 2015. From there, he joined Adult Protection.

Since the start of his policing career, Steve has paid his contributions to the Charitable Trust. He joined the police to help others and feels that this is just an extension of that, helping anyone from the policing family who finds themselves in difficulties. Steve says that being a Trustee enables him to share his own life skills as part of decision making and hopes that this can ultimately help change a person’s life.

Julia joined Sussex Police in May 2019 as Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing and became Deputy Chief Constable in the summer of 2020. She retired in July 2022 but remains passionate about supporting the officers, staff and volunteers who work so hard to protect the public in Sussex and really values her role as a Trustee.

Julia is the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead for the Trustees and is keen to ensure that all employees and volunteers who work with Sussex Police can access the benefits and support of the Trust.

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.

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.

Emma joined Sussex Police in 1989 and served on each division across the force, including the control room and Professional Standards Department, before retiring in 2019. Emma served as a member of the Executive Committee for a number of years before becoming a Trustee in 2017. She is also a member of the Publicity and Fundraising Committee.

Prior to her retirement, Emma worked with a number of officers and staff who had been supported by the Trust and has seen how much of a positive difference it can make to them and their families. She believes that employees of Sussex Police are lucky to have the Trust to turn to in times of need, hardship and distress, and would strongly encourage anyone who is not yet a member to join.

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 January 2018. Later she joined the Safety Camera Team. Her background is in policing, having been a Special Constable and Police Constable.

She has worked in the charity sector and has undertaken numerous volunteer roles. She holds a qualification in volunteer management. She decided to become a Trustee as a way of giving something back to the SPCT, who supported her during a recent major illness.

She is a member of Enable and will soon complete her training to volunteer with Albion In The Community’s Speak Up Against Cancer campaign.

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.

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.

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.

Since then, he has worked as a Police Staff Trainer, delivering initial training to recruit officers, Investigating 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 four grandchildren.

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