HSP Appoint Will Slemmings as New Partnership Director

The Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Will Slemmings as its new Partnership Director, with Will taking up the role this week. The appointment follows the retirement of John O’Callaghan, who steps down after 19 years of dedicated service to the organisation and the wider sport and physical activity system in Hertfordshire.

Will’s appointment represents both continuity and progression for HSP. He brings more than a decade of experience across the community physical activity and health sectors, having worked at HSP for over eight of those years. Will first joined the Partnership in 2018, initially focusing on Sport for Social Change, supporting the use of sport and physical activity as a vehicle to address wider social issues and inequalities. This work included the design and implementation of the award-winning Fit Fed & Read programme, a project that has since unlocked ongoing funding and reach through the Holiday Activity and Food (known as HAPpy in Hertfordshire) programme.

More recently, Will held the role of Strategic Lead for Health, where he led a team focused on positioning physical activity as a fundamental component of how the health and wellbeing of Hertfordshire residents is considered. This work culminated in Will completing a secondment with the North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB), supporting work to better integrate physical activity into healthcare pathways and clinical systems. He now returns to HSP as Partnership Director, bringing with him valuable system-level insight and strengthened relationships across the health sector landscape.

Reflecting on his appointment, Will Slemmings said:

I am incredibly proud to take on the role of Partnership Director at an organisation I hold so close to my heart, and to be building on the outstanding foundations laid by John over the past 19 years. John’s leadership has been central to establishing HSP as a respected system leader for sport and physical activity in Hertfordshire, and his vision and commitment have helped to strengthen partnership working across multiple sectors, leaving a lasting legacy for the county.

He added:

I feel very fortunate to be inheriting a passionate and proactive team, but HSP is much more than the people who work in our office. The Partnership includes every sports club, activity group and organisation, and every coach, instructor and volunteer helping someone to be more active in Hertfordshire. Together, this is a formidable partnership, and I’m excited to lead our efforts to ensure that everyone involved can maximise the impact of active lifestyles in reducing inequalities, improving health and helping people across Hertfordshire to thrive.