Chair of Trustees

Hollie Crawford
The founding chair of trustees

What it means to me to support this charity.

"As Chair of Trustees for the Blue Lights Sports Foundation, I am deeply honoured to serve an organisation that stands at the heart of our emergency services community. Coming from an emergency services background, I have seen first-hand the dedication, resilience, and quiet sacrifices made by those who wear the uniform. I have also seen the toll it can take, physically, mentally, and emotionally. That is why our mission matters so much.

For me, supporting this foundation is about more than funding sports programmes, it’s about creating spaces where our blue light family can reconnect, recharge, and rediscover their strength. I understand the importance of balance and the need for a safe outlet; not just for those on the front line, but for their families too. Sport has a unique power to unite, to heal, and to inspire.

I am especially proud of our commitment to adaptive sports, ensuring that injury or disability is never a barrier to participation. Every time I see a colleague, or family member take part, whether it’s on the track, in the pool, or on the court, I am reminded that resilience is not just about enduring hardship, but about finding joy and purpose beyond it.

Supporting the Blue Lights Sports Foundation means standing shoulder to shoulder with those who protect us, ensuring they have the opportunities, resources, and community they deserve.

It is a privilege, and a responsibility, I carry with pride."

Trustee

Mark Clougherty

Founding trustee

"As someone who has worn a uniform in both military service and on the sporting arena, I have seen how resilience is forged not only in moments of crisis, but also in the pursuit of shared goals. My own path into adaptive sport began after injury, when I was invited to train and later compete for Team UK at the Invictus Games. Standing on that international stage was not simply about competition, it was about rediscovering capability, pride, and belonging.

Later, disability golf opened another chapter. Travelling to tournaments overseas, I witnessed how sport transcends language, rank, and background. On the fairway, we were not defined by injury or limitation, but by skill, determination, and mutual respect.

In the Blue Light community, police, fire, ambulance, and other emergency and volunteer services, civil service, the pressures and risks are different from the armed forces, yet the impact of injury or trauma can be just as profound. Adaptive sport offers a bridge back to confidence, teamwork, and physical wellbeing. It creates spaces where people can test themselves, rebuild trust in their bodies, and reconnect with peers who understand their journey.

As a trustee of the Blue Light Sports Foundation, I see our role as more than funding events or equipment. We are investing in recovery, in mental health, and in the belief that no one’s story ends with injury. Adaptive sport is not a consolation prize, it is a powerful arena where courage is redefined, and where every participant has the chance to write their next chapter."

Trustee

Craig Godsall

Founding trustee

"Serving in the Armed Forces taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of camaraderie. Later, I moved into child safeguarding, where protecting the most vulnerable became my daily mission. Across these roles, one constant has been the belief that people can overcome extraordinary challenges when given the right support.

My own journey took an unexpected turn after injury, when I was introduced to adaptive sport. Competing in athletics at the Invictus Games was a life-changing experience, not just for the medals, but for the sense of belonging it rekindled. It reminded me that identity is not defined by what you lose, but by how you adapt.

Wheelchair rugby soon became my passion. It’s fast, physical, and fiercely competitive, but more than that, it’s a family. Playing in the national league, I’ve seen teammates push through pain, rebuild confidence, and rediscover joy. For many, the court is the one place where disability fades into the background and ability takes centre stage.

At the Blue Light Sports Foundation, we see daily how adaptive sport transforms lives. It offers purpose, connection, and hope, whether for a veteran adjusting to civilian life, an emergency service worker recovering from trauma, or anyone facing physical or emotional barriers. Sport is more than a game; it’s a lifeline, and I’m proud to help ensure that lifeline is within everyone’s reach."

Trustee

Eyan Naylor

Founding trustee

"As a trustee of the Blue Light Sports Foundation, I often reflect on the journey that has brought me here, shaped not just by circumstance but by the very conditions of my birth. Being born with a significant impairment presented a lifetime of challenges, yet it instilled in me a perspective on possibility and inclusion that informs every decision I make within the foundation. Early on, I learned resilience through navigating environments not built for someone like me, and I saw first-hand how sport can serve as both a bridge and a catalyst for empowerment.

This lived experience drives my commitment to ensuring accessibility and opportunity are at the heart of our mission. At Blue Light Sports Foundation, we strive to create environments where everyone, regardless of physical or sensory limitations, can engage meaningfully, cultivate confidence, and experience the profound joy of participation. Witnessing our athletes push boundaries and redefine what is possible mirrors my own journey, reinforcing the ethos that limitation is often a matter of perception, not capability.

Being born with a condition that could have constrained me instead opened avenues of empathy and advocacy. I channel that awareness into strategic initiatives that expand programming, foster partnerships with adaptive sports organisations, and mentor emerging athletes who face similar barriers. Reflecting on my path reinforces a simple truth: our potential is magnified not by avoiding adversity but by harnessing it to empower others. My role as a trustee is not only a responsibility but a privilege, to transform challenges into collective achievement and to champion inclusivity in every game, every facility, and every opportunity we create."