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About SPID Theatre

MISSION STATEMENT

MEET THE TEAM THAT MAKES SPID WHAT IT IS

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Helena Thompson

Artistic
Director

doodle by Kyle Tezak from the Noun Project

Nnenna Samson

Head of Youth and Community Programs

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Eeshita Azad

Production, Outreach and Marketing Manager

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Idil Hassan

Community Project
Coordinator

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Kai Gama

Artistic, Technical, and Production Associate

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Feysa Poetry

Designer & Assistant
to Artistic Director

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Kiki Turner-Brightman

Youth, Outreach and
Marketing Officer

doodle by Kyle Tezak from the Noun Project

This Can Be You!

Join us in this
inspiring advocacy!
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Sophia Ollivierre

Co Chair

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Naomi Israel

Co Chair

kris

Kristian Lalaj

Young Trustee

Trustees & Refurbishment Board

 
SPID is backed up by a diverse group of people coming from different field of expertise: from local residents, young people, Kensal House's Residents Association, policy makers, to industry professionals.
 
Know more about the valuable voices who empower us:

SPID'S TRUSTEES

Sophia Ollivierre (Co Chair) - son attends SPID’s Estate Endz, took part in Step Up. Sophia’s work involves bookkeeping experience and managing repairs for social housing. She and her son were displaced by Grenfell, and live in social housing.

Naomi Israel (Co Chair) - took part in Estate Endz and Estate Voices, and went on to become SPID’s Youth Ambassador before graduating to Spokeswoman championing investment for estates on television and in print. Naomi lives in local social housing and campaigns for housing safety. She lost several friends to Grenfell.

Salim Chowdhury (Trustee) – took part in Estate Endz. Is Vice Chair of Kensal House residents association. Has lived in Kensal House for more than 20 years.

Krisi Lalaj (Young Trustee) Kristian is running an ongoing project called KJ Podcast talking about council negligence, social housing and performing arts. A resident of Kensal House, he has supported SPID for 18 years. His mission is a peaceful, amazing and beautiful community at Kensal house and beyond where people are talking with each other and engaging with activities to fight together as one in solidarity.

Helen Atkins (Trustee, chair of refurbishment board, activities specialist) Helen has been involved with SPID’s work since 2004. She currently focusses on addressing inequality through a decolonial lens. She manages monitoring, evaluation, accountability, participation and learning on gender-based violence prevention for WMW Jamaica in partnership with Oxfam Canada. She is incoming lead on intersectionality for an emerging global cooperative to implement equity across diversity in research and products, founded by a civil servant in the Office of the Third Sector with responsibility for housing and homelessness. She has lived on a housing estate in Hackney since 2005.

Hilary Spencer (Secretary) – ran her own company for 20 years, served on Sheffield Hallam University Board and chaired their Audit Committee. Hilary has 30 years’ experience in industry and 15 years’ working with universities, mostly in in strategic guidance roles. She has a PHD in Education Studies from UCL.

Ben Gilman (Treasurer) - qualified actuary with over 20 years financial services experiences, including as an executive director across several Lloyd's managing agencies underwriting c£1bn of annual premium - providing both challenge and input to regulatory submissions, risk management processes and operational decisions. He has worked extensively with finance departments and audit teams and has a good understanding of core accounting principles.

Paul Gardner (Trustee) – Senior regeneration manager for Enfield Council, who is experienced in delivering multi-million pound projects – including negotiating Council Cabinet and Delegated Authority processes, liasing with National Lottery Heritage Fund, and producing business plans with capital and revenue financial forecasts. Paul has a doctorate in Heritage Management and Historic Conservation from Oxford University, and PRINCE II certified and applied proficiency in project management. He worked on Estate Voices and has experienced housing negligence.

Sylvia Akajoli (Trustee)- resident of Kensal House estate, took part in Estate Voices and Step Up. Sylvia’s sons attended SPID’s Estate Endz. She lives in the flooding flat directly above SPID. She features in The History of Neglect, which SPID made with Kensal residents to advocate for the council fixing and preventing Kensal’s leaks. As a result of this moving film, she and her husband, who is on dialysis, are shortly to be rehoused.



SPID’S REFURBISHMENT BOARD

Helen Atkins (Trustee, chair of refurbishment board, activities specialist) Helen has been involved with SPID’s work since 2004. She currently focusses on addressing inequality through a decolonial lens. She manages monitoring, evaluation, accountability, participation and learning on gender-based violence prevention for WMW Jamaica in partnership with Oxfam Canada. She is incoming lead on intersectionality for an emerging global cooperative to implement equity across diversity in research and products, founded by a civil servant in the Office of the Third Sector with responsibility for housing and homelessness. She has lived on a housing estate in Hackney since 2005.

Sue Redmond -Joint Chair of Full of Life, a Charity that supports and provides services to disabled children/adults with learning disabilities living in RBKC. Full of Life also run day services for young people with complex needs which is based in the old nursery on Kensal House estate. Full of Life works to ensure families who have a disabled child/adult with learning disabilities are included in all areas of our community. Full of Life and some young people who are wheelchair users helped develop the plans to ensure the refurbishment will include a wheelchair accessible loo and a lift that has met the restrictions of the building’s listed status whilst providing space for a wheelchair user and their carer.

TGA’s Keith Weston, Tom Armstrong, Jodi Weston– project managers experienced in delivering refurbishment projects for theatres, listed buildings and residential spaces. TGA are responsible for transparently managing contractors, works, cost control and claims. As the project management team for the delivery of the refurbishment, TGA will report to the Senior Responsible Owner and to the board for approval.

Helena Thompson – Artistic Director for SPID Theatre who founded the award winning charity 16 years ago. Helena has written five published scripts advocating social housing, including The Burning Tower. Within the refurbishment, Helena’s role as the Senior Responsible Owner involves liasing with the project management team as part of reporting to funders and trustees.

Joanna Kennedy -Joanna Kennedy is a trustee for Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre. She was a litigation solicitor for 30 years after which she ran the Advice Agency Z2K. She is also a Trustee of Advice ( UK ), QPR Community Trust and on the Development Board of the Lyric Hammersmith.

Anita Williams - Resident of Kensal House estate, who took part in Estate Voices and Estate Endz. Anita was the former chair of Kensal House’s current Residents' Association. Her children have taken part in SPID’s activities

Cordelia Cembrowicz – took part in Estate Endz. Is Chair of Kensal House residents association. Supported SPID’s creation of the film Our Views From Kensal.
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Sammy Campbell

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Mickell Lemard

Qi Gong/Gong Fu Instructor

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