Supporting wellbeing through sport: an interview with TeamPolice

Ahead of this year’s The Emergency Services Show, we sat down with TeamPolice to hear how they’re building stronger links between sport, wellbeing and operational resilience across policing.

1. What is TeamPolice and why was it founded?
TeamPolice is the official fundraising and sponsorship arm of Police Sport UK (PSUK), created to support the physical and mental wellbeing of serving and retired police officers and staff across the UK. It was founded in recognition of the vital role sport plays in building resilience, morale, and camaraderie within the policing community. By raising funds through commercial sponsorship and partnerships, TeamPolice enables wider access to sporting and physical activity opportunities for the entire policing family.

2. How does TeamPolice help improve mental health and wellbeing among officers and staff?
Sport is a proven catalyst for improving mental & physical health and wellbeing. TeamPolice actively supports this by enabling access to organised, inclusive and purposeful sport at every level through vital funding generation. Whether it’s participating in a local 5-a-side tournament or representing British police in national or international competition, TeamPolice-backed activities provide a positive outlet to combat stress, boost morale, and foster team spirit. Our events also offer officers vital time away from operational pressures, supporting mental reset and recovery. In addition to our events, the wider financial contribution to PSUK is key to our ability to make an impact on a national level outside of our event calendar.

3. What kind of sports and physical activities are on offer through TeamPolice?
Over 30 different sports are supported through PSUK using funds generated by TeamPolice. These include mainstream sports like football, rugby, cricket and athletics, as well as emerging or specialist disciplines such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, mountain biking, open water swimming, angling and sailing. There are opportunities for all abilities, with many events designed to focus on participation and wellbeing, not just elite performance. 

4. Can you share a success story or testimonial from someone involved in a TeamPolice initiative?
We recently hosted the 2025 PSUK Women’s Football Tournament, which brought together 17 teams from across the UK for two days of competition, connection, and inclusion. One officer, playing in her first national event, shared: “This was more than a tournament, it reminded me why I love this job. Being part of a team, being seen, and doing something positive for myself, it gave me a boost I didn’t know I needed.” These stories aren’t rare, we hear them often, and they reaffirm why we do what we do.

5. How is TeamPolice funded and what role do commercial partners play?
TeamPolice is funded primarily through an innovative commercial sponsorship model, with contributions from trusted corporate partners who share our values of social impact and community wellbeing. Sponsors such as Salesforce, Nuix, Check Point Software Technologies, and SCC (and many more!) help us deliver much needed funds to PSUK who can then increase access to sport across the country whether that’s through new events, kit or awareness. These partnerships are critical, they allow us to reach more officers, more often, with a stronger offer.

6. How do officers and staff get involved or sign up for activities?
Most forces and sections have a PSUK rep, and many sports have their own coordinators/secretaries who we encourage people to contact in the first instance for sport specific information until our new website is live. Officers and staff can also visit our website or email us at events@teampolice.org. We also share regular updates via our social media channels and newsletters about the work we do. Importantly, many activities are open to all, not just elite athletes, so we always encourage people to get involved, whatever their background or ability. 

7. In what ways is TeamPolice promoting inclusivity and accessibility in its programmes?
We’re deeply committed to making police sport more inclusive and representative. We support disability sport, women’s sport, and LGBTQ+ participation through both programming and targeted partnerships. Recent examples include the Women’s Rugby International, the launch of our annual Salesforce Tower event which focuses on inclusivity, and collaboration with Police UK Disability Sport CIC at the upcoming ESS. We also regularly host non-sporting events and webinars, often tackling equity and representation in sport to help drive systemic change.

8. Has the role of TeamPolice changed in recent years as demands on officers have increased?
Yes, and necessarily so. As the pressure on officers has intensified and funding cut, the need for wellbeing and decompression has become even more critical. TeamPolice has responded by expanding its reach and shifting emphasis toward accessibility, mental health and grassroots participation. We’ve also increased our digital presence and introduced more flexible formats, from webinars to wellbeing walks, to meet officers where they are. But we have some way to go, we acknowledge that, and our small team is working extremely hard to deliver the funding.

9. What’s next for TeamPolice – any exciting plans or projects on the horizon?
Absolutely. We have a packed calendar ahead. Highlights include our 50th anniversary National Cricket Final in September, a reception at Salesforce Tower in October, and our flagship PSUK & NPCC Sports & Wellbeing Awards returning in March 2026. We’re also investing in new sports such as boxing and sailing, growing our ambassador programme, and launching an impact report that places accountability and impact at its core.

10. How can people follow or support the work of TeamPolice?
You can follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and Facebook by searching TeamPolice, or visit our website. We’re always open to hearing from potential sponsors, supporters or individuals looking to get involved, whether through participation, volunteering, or partnership. Together, we can continue building wellbeing through sport for those who serve. If your organisation desires to demonstrate its commitment to social value (a key part of public procurement), we would love to chat.

The industry will once again be gathering at the NEC, Birmingham for The Emergency Services Show, co-located with The Emergency Tech Show, on 17-18 September, check out the full exhibitor list here. 

A new and exciting theme at The Emergency Services Show 2025 is the dedicated focus on fitness and nutrition within the sector. TeamPolice will be partnering with the British Firefighter Challenge on a dynamic fitness demonstration area underscoring the importance of maintaining peak physical health to meet the intense challenges of responders.

You can find TeamPolice in Hall 5, Stand K150.