Staff & Volunteers
(Clicking on Individual
links here will open your email programme to send a message)
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| Jamie hails from Melbourne Australia, having
emigrated to Britain in 1990. As a dancer and teacher he worked with 3 dance
companies travelling and performing all over Australia. He moved to London to
seek his fame and fortune in a larger company! On retiring from dancing in 1994, he founded, with 3 other people, Cardiff Body Positive - a self-help organisation for people living and affected by HIV/AIDS. In 1995 Jamie became the Executive Director of CBP. He was instrumental in the organisations success. At the time of his departure in June 1999, it was considered to be one of the largest and most successful HIV support agencies of its kind in Britain. Moving from Cardiff to London with his partner, Jamie was appointed to the post of Executive Director of the Kensington & Chelsea Volunteer Centre in September 1999. Since this time the VC has doubled in size and now runs several highly successful and innovative programmes for volunteer recruitment and development, including a joint mentoring programme with Westminster VC; and a supported needs project. Jamie is currently the Chair of Greater London Volunteering (the London regional network of volunteer development agencies); a trustee with the Kensington & Chelsea CVS; and a member of the advisory group to Red Triangle Volunteer Bureau (London borough of Newham) |
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Fosdicka Crankson |
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Fresh faced from university, Fosdicka started
her work life with the International Company, Ajua Consultants in Sierra
Leone. Their specialist / main business was in research and feasibility
studies, for multinationals, the World Bank, the United Nations, and
other Organisations such as the Catholic Church. They also dealt in
oil exploration, Shrimp fishing, and property. The sense of confusion that resulted from this multi-operational environment, led to her belief that management and organisation were the key to success, of any group or organisation. She subsequently embarked on a management course, which eventually brought her come to the UK. Fosdicka has since then worked for Hackney College, Acorn Life Assurance, and the Conrad chain of Hotels. Joining the Volunteer Centre six years ago initially as a volunteer, and then as currently as the Administrator, Fosdicka quickly took on added responsibilities, extra training and developed into the new role of Office Manager, which includes management of the organisations finances. |
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As a recent (!) recruit to the 40 something club, previous jobs litter Andrews past but have been mostly
recruitment and training based - with a few exceptions: gerbil breeder,
Clavin Klein model, basket weaver, horse whisperer - just some things
he could’ve been had he not joined the bureau - but he did, and there’s
no point in being bitter about it! Over 7500 people have registered with the Volunteer Services Team since: drivers, football referees, ballroom dancers, dentists, masseurs, barristers, hairdressers, job seekers, and computer programmers among them. Volunteering and peoples perceptions of it have changed, and through Andrews role at the VB he’s played a significant part in the transformation of the bureau and its Services Team - the way it works, and the opportunities it offers. Andrews own volunteering experiences include placements at a spinal injuries unit, a residential mental health centre, a ‘small repairs’ project for disabled and elderly, and currently an advocacy project for refugees and asylum seekers. His favourite colour is anything that looks blue (although it’s probably tangerine) as he’s hopelessly colour blind, and his favourite meal is anything that’s been cooked for him (controversial!). Andrew is an avid reader and traveller, and when he has the opportunity enjoys walking & climbing. |
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Frances Byron |
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Frances joined the Volunteer Centre in July 2006. Prior to that she worked for eleven years with the charity Victim Support, where she supported survivors of sexual assault and families bereaved by homicide. This alongside her work with the training and support of the volunteers in the scheme. She enjoys spending time with her friends, whipping out her paints whilst eating tapas food, well… any food actually and dancing... think belly dancing crossed with line dancing... yes, it’s that bad. |
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Eli Wislocka |
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Jim Glennon |
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Jim was raised by nuns in a Catholic orphanage and had a series of foster parents and
spells of homelessness before finding his feet, partly through volunteering
opportunities with the Respite Care Charity the Winged Fellowship Trust, who provide
holiday breaks for disabled people and their carers. Following that formative experience in his late teens Jim volunteered for a variety of voluntary organizations gaining experience in mental health, HIV, disabilities and homelessness. His most challenging and rewarding voluntary work was during six years as a conflict resolution mediator of neighborhood disputes in his home town of Brixton where he has lived for fifteen years. During a varied professional career Jim has had salaried jobs with responsibility for education, training, counseling and service development in Charities as diverse as The Big Issue, Saneline and the Multiple Sclerosis Society before taking up his current post as Good Practice Officer with the Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea in 2007. Hopeless at sport , incapable of DIY and by any serious calculation an academic underachiever, Jim still believes there is more to life than winning and cites cinema, theatre and modern art as the secret of his emotional and spiritual satisfaction. He currently lives alone in a barely furnished flat and is virtually friendless. |
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Martin Gannon |
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Sharon Wilson |
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| Sharon’s career started in the financial
world, as accounts/customer service officer for an American merchant bank.
This involved her working with clients in America, Europe, Asian and the
Middle East. Where she has won several awards in recognition of her work
as an ambassador for the bank. After 13 years of finance, Sharon found herself on the receiving end of unemployment, which allowed her to readdress her current situation. She became a mature student with the Open University, studying Sociology. The first time she entered the Job centre to sign on, she realised that she was on the wrong end of the counter. This eye opener encouraged her to look for work that was more people focused rather than money focused. Her break through was an opportunity at the Hammersmith and Fulham Development Agency (HFVDA). Where she was given a short-term contract as the New Deal co-ordinator. Faced with the challenges of the unemployment scene again, Sharon was approached by the Kensington and Chelsea Voluntary Centre and has since gone on to make a name for her self within the voluntary sector throughout the two boroughs. What’s the key to her success? Being able to spot an opportunity and grabbing it with both hands. |
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Ola Omikunle |
Ola joined the Volunteer Centre in 2006 she works primarily with unemployed women of different groups. Prior to joining the Volunteer Centre Ola worked with different groups of unemployed people including young people and lone parents. Ola enjoys meeting people, travelling and reading books. |
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Naama Wartenburg |
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Hi, my name is Naama, and I am a proud member of the Central London vinvolved Team, which has got very exciting things in store for local young people and those privileged enough to work with them. As a Youth Volunteer Development Manager on the team, I work with voluntary sector organisations and community groups to develop innovative youth volunteering opportunities, and to promote best practice and youth involvement. I cover the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Wandsworth, and will happily refer people to my colleagues in Islington, Camden, Southwark and Lambeth. |
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Denise Stanford-Lye |
Having been born in London and lived in areas such as Notting hill, Maida Vale and Covent Garden, I love the diversity of City Living. The changes and regeneration that has taken place, past and present, hasn’t affected any of its community spirit. I believe firmly that everyone matters and one of my biggest gripes is that unemployed people are so often not listened to. New Deal changes that and I am pleased to be part of a project that can and does change people lives. My interest and hobbies include local issues, animals and all things that stretch my imagination (which is quite a lot!). |
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Maria Sinclaire |
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I joined as a volunteer in September 2007after having taken a career break to raise my daughter. I am part of the Volunteer Services Team and my role is to register new volunteers and find them opportunities to match their interests and also deal with other office duties as they arise. Since starting at the Volunteer Centre my self esteem has come wizzing back and I now feel I have more dignity in my life because I have renewed some old skills that I had lost over the years, I also have some new and updated skills that I can add to my CV which will improve my chances of getting into full time employment in the future. I am so grateful to the Volunteer Centre for help they provide for people in a rut, like me. Lol Maria x |
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Martin Smith |
Martin joined the team in 2007 in order to help himself in his rehabilitation; he suffered a brain injury a few years ago and suffers from memory loss. He joined the Volunteer Centre to help take care of the Database and in doing so refresh his IT skills. Martin previously worked managing a busy warehouse for 12 years. He is passionate about alternative music, movies, computers, fantasy art and walking; his favourite colour, as you can probably guess, is Black! |
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Jeaneth Moreno |
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Jeaneth had been in London for the past 12 years and as a Colombian with an open mind, came with lots of expectations of seeking new challenges and opportunities in a multicultural environment. Jeaneth believes London is the perfect place to be, with lots of things to offer and lots of things to give. As part of her nature she has done lost of volunteering in previous years through the church and its Latin-American congregation. She has contributed in many different hospitals and various government organizationswith services of translations and interpretations. Jeaneth also joined the Volunteer Service Team in May this year and considers this a fantastic experience which is both enjoyable and educational. It is also a unique opportunity to get to know more about the Borough, that she's sure will open new doors in new sectors. In her spare time enjoys handcrafts, reading and music. |
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