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Our People
Our small team of staff is committed to delivering our local vision in St Matthews.
They are managed by our volunteer board of trustees who are local residents and workers who have lived or work within our community.
Everyone involved with the charity is committed to making real and positive change.
Lee Nicholls
Chairperson
Lee became the Chairperson in January 2019. He has been involved with the charity since its inception and is keen to lead the organisation forward in the next step of its journey. Lee has been involved with the local community for over 30 years and has owned and managed a business locally for this time. Alongside fellow Trustees, he is passionate about making a positive change in the local community and working together to deliver our Big Local vision.
Simon Johnson
Charity Manager
Simon is responsible for the day to day management of the organisation. He has been involved with the Big Local programme since 2012 and has been heavily involved with the charity as a volunteer before being appointed as the manager in December 2018. Simon brought with him a variety of experience in both the public and private sector and will support the development of the charity as it moves forward in the future.
Adnan
General Assistant
Hi. My name is Adnan. I grew up living in the St Matthews estate all my life and feel as though as I am part of a big community.
My job is to keep the Multi-Use Games Area in a clean and tidy condition, as well as ensuring that St Matthews House is maintained and kept clean and tidy on a weekly basis.
Sarah Whitmore
Trustee
Hi I'm Sarah Whitmore. I've been a St Matthews' resident for 17 years and I love the estate and the people that live here. I feel part of one big family willing to help each other in times of need. I do my best to help anyone I can.
Ali Adnan
Vice Chair
Ali is pleased to be our Vice Chair. Ali had lived locally for the past 20 years and is also a keen coach delivering sessions at our Multi Use Games Area. Ali is keen to be the voice of young people on our board.
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Uneiza Ravat
Administrator
Uneiza lives in St Matthews and feels this community is very diverse, friendly and talented. She says she is really pleased to work as the Administrator/Finance Officer here at St Matthews Big Local and looks forward to working for this community and beyond on behalf of St Matthews Big Local delivering its vision.
Cees Valk
Business Development Officer
Cees is responsible for Business Development within our organisation. He has been involved with the Rotary club and various other charities over the past 4 years.
Cees brings has a variety of experiences within the private sector running his own successful sports business. He will be working with the team to secure short and long-term funding.
Jan Bryars
Project Delivery Assistant
Jan was formerly a Big Local volunteer and is now our Project Delivery Assistant. Jan has a background in developing and promoting community volunteer projects with particular relevance to diverse communities. She is excited to be working on the estate and getting to meet everyone.
Rishabh Gagdish
Assistant Sports Coach
I’ve been living on the St Mathews estate for many years and seen how the Big Local change and develop the area into a safe and fun place to live. I want to keep supporting the Big Local with all the work they do so that future generations have the same safe and fun environment I had when I was growing up.
Ahmad Valimohmad
Assistant Sports Coach
I have lived in St Matthews my whole life and I have seen the improvements ever since the MUGA has been built. The Big Local has done a great job in making me feel safe. To become a part of their activities, I started off as a volunteer and I am now a qualified sports coach. I want to create a fun, safe and engaging environment for residents of St Matthews.
Chris James
Trustee
I Live in St Matthews and I think the Big Local can be a great opportunity for EVERYONE who lives in St Matthews. The area is great but together we can make it even better.
Aysha Sidat
Trustee
Aysha joined the Board of Trustee in December 2018 and is a local resident. Aysha is a keen cook and is passionate about supporting the charity to make a difference in her community.
Amina Garda
Trustee
I have been a resident on St Matthews estate for over 13 years, it is a lovely area to live in, but has not been given the opportunity to shine out. I believe we as a diverse multi cultural community, have a lot to give back to our own community.
Little changes can make a big difference.
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Ish Latif
Sports and Volunteer Inclusion Coach
Ish has worked on St Matthews Estate for several years and was appointed as our Sport and Volunteer Inclusion Coach in February 2020. Ish will be providing a range of Sports opportunities locally and developing the skills and confidence of local people to get involved in working and volunteering in Sport. If you would like to volunteer get in touch.
Mokhtar Elareshi
Trustee
Dr. Mokhtar Elareshi (PhD) is a local resident and a dedicated and passionate trustee at St Matthews Big Local, with a wealth of experience in community engagement, academia, and media studies. His commitment to improving the lives of local residents and fostering a strong sense of community is evident in his work and contributions to St Matthews Big Local (since 2015-2022 rejoined 2024). My goal is to make a tangible difference in our community where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to succeed. Together, we can build a brighter future for St Matthews.
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Saima Tabassum
Trustee
I have been a resident for over a decade. St Matthews is a great place to live and work and has a great diverse community. We, at St Matthews Big Local, aim and work towards levelling up the positives in the community. I work in finance in Education as my profession.
Mohamed Gutale
Assistant Sports Coach
Mohamed was one of our trained volunteers who have also completed his sports qualifications. He is now employed by the charity and hiss role is to assist in our sports sessions to ensure smooth, safe and enjoyable delivery to the users.
Zamurrad Valimohmad
Assistant Sports Coach
St Matthews has always been my home, but I never experienced the real community. This was until I joined St Matthews Big Local who gave me the opportunity to gain a sports qualification through which I gained experience in different roles like: Sports Coach, Peer Researcher, Assistant Theatre Workshop and Youth Club Facilitator. Interacting with various age groups, I have been a part of creating an open and fun environment. I aim to continue to do this by supporting Big Local in their programs hoping to set an example of my pathway for girls and youth within my community.