Team
Here is the City Gateway Staff Team in all its glory.
Eddie Stride - Chief Executive
I have a strong heart for regeneration in Tower Hamlets and come from a family who have been passionately involved in the social, economic and spiritual regeneration of the East End for several decades. After graduating in Social Geography from Cambridge in 2002 continued working in Youth and Community Projects with Tower Hamlets Community Church and joined City Gateway the next year.
Darren Wolf - Chief Operations Officer
Hi I'm Darren. I'm passionate about regeneration in East London, and want to see City Gateway provide more and better services for young people. I live, work, sleep, play football and worship Jesus in Tower Hamlets. I am OCD about social enterprises. All my hair fell out when West Ham lost the FA cup final in 2006.
Ruth Woolley - Finance & Administration
Hey there, I have a big heart for Tower Hamlets having been here for over 10 years, now living in Bethnal Green and loving it. I oversee the Finance, Admin and Contract Management at City Gateway, trying to keep everything in order! I like all things Kung-Fu, dream of riding camels in the desert, oh and I love ironing.
Jerry Daykin - Gateway Media & PR
It's taken 23 years but I've made it from sleepy North West London to the beating heart of the East End. My role includes handling all the PR & Marketing for City Gateway as well as working with our media social enterprise and the young apprentices on the team. I love nothing more than singing along to Disney soundtracks. I'm also really quite tall.
Edward Adu - Finance
Though I started life as a Headteacher , I have moved miles from the classroom to the daily calculation of figures. Today at City Gateway I bear responsibility for designing, modification and implementation of City Gateway's financial accounting systems and reporting. I am also in charge of the day to day financial administration. Sometimes I wish I had a passion for fencing but football has taken up all that so I support the best team in the east, West Ham.
Lucy Critchlow - HR & Quality Assurance
My name is Lucy and I am the HR and Quality Assurance Administrator. This means that I help to keep staff happy and make sure that our courses run well and are of a high standard. The other half of my week is spent at the Women's Project, teaching ballet and helping to run the centre. I also happen to be the tallest girl at City Gateway.
Ping Henningham - Administration
Hello! As the office Ping, I do all manner of admin for City Gateway. Until recently, Pings were rare among office communities, but are steadily adapting to this new environment because they love efficiency and being as helpful as they can in a cheery sort of way. Pings also enjoy giving and receiving gifts of food.
Matthew Davison - IT
Greetings. I run the computer system. I have an expansive vocabulary, vast knowledge on many miscellaneous matters and I’d rather have my tongue beaten wafer thin with a steak tenderizer and stapled to the floor with a croquet hoop than watch football.
Training Team
Joe Lowther - Training & Progression
Hey, Hey, Hey I'm Joe Lowther and I manage all of our structured training programmes and progression. I'm from South West London's Richmond. I used to officially be the tallest guy here, although my crown has now been taken, so it's back to the rack for me. As a Londoner my favorite football team's Man United - who else!
Jon Skaife - Export Co-ordinator
My name is Jon Skaife D'ingerthorpe, yes D'ingerthorpe. I orginate from South West London but I have gravitated across to East, which now I call home. Working with young people enthuses me and I am passionate about my job as Export co-ordinator. Whether it be teaching sessions, hosting one-to-ones, hanging out in youth work or beating young people at football, I love it!
James Grant - Engage Co-ordinator
I started working at City Gateway at the start of 2005, running some of the Sports courses. Since then I have moved areas, most of my time is spent teaching IT, and the rest of my time is spent coordinating the engage and engage plus courses. I have also recently started to take on more of a developmental role for the teaching throughout our training programes, as I have a real desire to see the courses we provide be of the highest possible standard.
Lisa Charlton - Progression Worker
Hi I'm Lisa! As progression worker my role is to offer pastoral support to all trainees who come into City Gateway, by helping them to deal with certain issues as well as keeping them in order on a day to day basis. I am a northerner at heart as i'm a "scouser"! I have three loves, Singing, Sun and Chocolate.
Nigel Dean - Progression Manager
Hello. I oversee the individual progress of each trainee while they’re with us and also track them up to 6 months after they leave and offer any further support, which keeps me pretty busy! In my spare time I produce my own music and like going out.
Interesting fact: I have OCD.
Interesting fact: I have OCD.
Ross Aggett - Project Administrator
Hello you. My name is Ross and I work at City Gateway. I work on our programmes administration. I like long romantic walks and beer. I live in a house with a mouse. (It doesn't really have a mouse). Many people have said that I look like Frodo from Lord of The Rings or that I look like Jeremy Beadle, but not both together!!
Limehouse Youth Centre
Suzy Stride - Youth Participation
Hi. I'm Suzy, a born & bred East Londoner with a semi-posh accent as I went to Cambridge University. I play football, rugby, MC and like my politics. I love my job and love bringing positive change to young peoples lives - there so much potential there - you just have to tap it!
Fiona Harriss - Outreach
Hey. I am Fiona Harriss. I'm a part-time youth worker for City Gateway at Limehouse Youth Centre and spend the rest of my time studying for a degree in youth and community work. As far as I know I'm the only member of City Gateway staff privileged enough to have my own theme tune. Fiona wo-o-oh…!
Randy Ashie - Outreach & Engage
Hi, I am Randy. I look scary with big muscles but I am actually a big cuddly bear. I've lived in the heart of east London since I was 7. I work all the time, send e-mails at night and love working with young people. I like to eat crunchy nut corn flakes all day. Good times!
Joe Toko - Gateway Motion / Tutor
My name is Joe Toko. I oversee the sports programmes at City Gateway and manage Gateway Motion, our sports social enterprise. We run a wide range of sports courses/ activities working with children from as young as five, to teenagers and adults.
Hobbies????? COME ON YOU HAMMERS
Shahidul Ahmed - Gateway Motion / Tutor
Sup peepz I'm Shahidul better known as Fili - reason being I'm Filipino half Bengali. I love footie, my team is Man Utd - woo hoo - big up all Utd fans brap brap. (I'm also the youngest member of the team). That's it from me... signing out.
Lansbury Lodge
Beth Johnston - Lansbury Lodge
Hi there, I am the Lansbury Lodge Women Project's manager. I am often found chasing away stray men who wander into the classes. I am a Lancashire lass and have a background in theatre. I often appear to be away with the fairies, but in truth I am thinking of something really interesting... I always lose my glasses, so may ignore you in the street. I like tea. Make me tea, and you have a friend for life. God bless
Natalie Brenninkmeijer - Lansbury Lodge
My name is Natalie and
I am the new Progression Worker for Lansbury Lodge which entails coming alongside the women, drawing out their needs, and finding a path for them to get there.
With a degree in Music and a love for everything fun, colourful and creative, my heart is to see the women of Tower Hamlets released into all they are and can become. In my spare time I love singing classical music, going for coffees, finding cute streets, and watching people. An interesting fact to finish off, is that I am one of 6 siblings!
Hannah Penman - Outreach
Hey. I am Hannah Penman and I'm an outreach worker. I reach out to young people and women mainly by chatting to them on the street. In my spare time I collect bookmarks and I have more of them than I have books!
Moshoda Khatun - Lansbury Lodge
My name is Moshoda. I work 2 days a week. I am sociable and I enjoy welcoming people. I like working for the community. Kids make me happy.
Mim Aggett - Lansbury Lodge
Hello, I'm Mim and I work at the Lansbury Lodge Womens Project. I live in Tower Hamlets and have done forever. Not sure what else to say...
Enterprise Team
Yvette Elkana - Enterprise Director
Akory e! I donate the most precious of resources to the most precious potential of resources in order to create the most precious of resources. Yes, a riddle and you can substitute each variation of ‘the most precious of resources’ with one of the following: young people, time, successful future generations. Veloma!
Simon Baker - Business Development
Hi I'm Simon. I manage City Gateway's social enterprise hub and deal with external contracts, so if you are interested in hiring our facilities or staff for events, or using our video production and graphic design services, let me know! In my spare time I am a keen snowboarder in the winter and motorcyclist in the summer and I also enjoy a bit of traveling when I get the chance. I have been described as a modern day James Dean.
Sam Leak - Gateway Media / Tutor
What's up y'all? I've lived in Tower Hamlets for most of my life and can find no other place to call my home (mainly because I've not tried to move, but you get the idea). I work for Gateway Media teaching the Trainees how to express themselves through the medium of Film, Music and Animation. The other half of my job is spent filming and editing corporate videos for big named firms. When not working I like to watch rugby and I really like to eat steak and tuna pasta bake (not at the same time of course!).
Joe Laycock - Gateway Media
Hi I'm Joe. I work for Gateway Media, doing graphics, design and webdesign and anything that no-one else can do... Indeed my PhD in Genetics has proved very useful in this... In my spare time I publish books, work for my church, DJ and do DIY for other people (DDIY?) - I have no need for a TV license! I am also the unofficial king of IT at City Gateway.
"I have come to believe that any organisation which stands still goes into decline. Even a cursory glance at this review reveals City Gateway is far from stagnation.
"Once again we have seen exciting growth this year with City Gateway doubling both in size and in impact.
"Although change is uncomfortable at times, we rejoice that together with dedicated partners our devoted staff team and committed trustees City Gateway continues to bring hope to more lives in Tower Hamlets."
"Once again we have seen exciting growth this year with City Gateway doubling both in size and in impact.
"Although change is uncomfortable at times, we rejoice that together with dedicated partners our devoted staff team and committed trustees City Gateway continues to bring hope to more lives in Tower Hamlets."
Dirk Paterson
Chairman of Trustees
Chairman of Trustees
Trustees:
Dirk Paterson (Chairman)
William Betts (Secretary)
Simon Kempson (Treasurer)
Gareth Jones
