Our Team

Alaya has been with the St. Hilda’s East team since 2005 and is highly sought after by our Advice Service users for her expertise in welfare benefits, debt, and housing issues. Alaya started with us as a volunteer, then began her career in advice at the Island Advice Centre before re-joining us as a member of staff. She loves her colleagues at St. Hilda’s East and being able to help people with their problems. In her free time, Alaya enjoys spending time with her family and watching Netflix.

Alison joined St. Hilda’s East in February 2024, having spent much of her career working in advocacy and user involvement, ensuring people understand their rights and have a voice and power in their lives. She loves working with St. Hilda’s East’s family of staff, volunteers, and local people. In her free time, she enjoys pottering in her garden.

Bella started with us as a volunteer and is now running our Brave Girls programme, focusing on empowering our girls. She finds it very rewarding to watch the girls grow and feel more and more comfortable experimenting with who they want to be. Bella has a Masters in Positive Psychology and Coaching. She loves clothes and believes fashion is a great way for an adult to express themselves.

Beverley has been with us since 2009, starting as a volunteer. Over the years, she has built strong relationships with our service users. Beverley loves meeting new people and has enjoyed witnessing all the changes at St. Hilda’s East throughout the years. She enjoys being outdoors and socialising in her free time.

Daniel leads all operations and facilities aspects at St. Hilda’s East and has been with us since October 2023, having previously worked at the Holloway Neighbourhood Group. He views St. Hilda’s East as a very special place that brings together people from all walks of life. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys all things musical.

Deepa is the face who welcomes everyone as they walk into the Community Centre and loves our service users, especially the little ones who come in for Stay and Play. She came to us from a law firm and finds cooking relaxing in her spare time.

India joined us in February 2024 and manages our Food Co-op, Women’s Programme, Creative Space, as well as our Legal Advice drop-ins. She loves that our programmes focus on wellbeing, creative activities, and self-care, ensuring there is something for everyone.

Joynul started working for St. Hilda’s East back in 2007 as a LinkAge Plus Outreach Worker. His previous role also involved working in the community in Tower Hamlets. He thinks St. Hilda’s East’s team is brilliant, with everyone being friendly and hardworking. He believes the team’s commitment and passion for helping people is second to none. In his free time, Joynul enjoys football and loves spending time with his family and friends.

Kate has been with since 2016, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous roles in housing, homelessness, and benefits advice. As part of the LinkAge Plus team at St. Hilda’s East, Kate provides practical help and support for our service users. She also raises awareness on health issues, safety, and general well-being. In addition to these responsibilities, Kate and the team support our service users in day-to-day social activities, such as coffee mornings and darts, as well as accompanying them on day trips. Kate thinks St. Hilda’s East is a lovely place to work and appreciates the support and camaraderie of the team. Outside of work, Kate enjoys spending time at her allotment, going to the pub or out for a meal, and visiting galleries and museums.

Layla joined St. Hilda’s East in July 2022 and leads our fundraising efforts from trusts, foundations, and statutory sources, as well as overseeing our marketing, including social media. With many years of experience in the sector, she has worked in various charities and arts organisations as a fundraiser and is also a fundraising trainer. Layla values the diversity and intergenerational aspect of our services, appreciating how people can journey with us from early years through to older age. She loves spending time with her children and, in her free time, enjoys visiting art galleries, swimming, and socialising with friends.

Shahjahan has been working at St. Hilda’s East for over ten years. He finds it fulfilling and enjoys helping our service users with their daily activities and feels happy seeing them enjoy their time at St. Hilda’s East.

He previously worked in catering. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, cooking new dishes and spending time with his family.

Sarwar joined us over 25 years ago. Working at St. Hilda’s East, makes him feel part of the local community. When not at St. Hilda’s East, Sarwar’s absolute passion is gardening.

Shantalle started as a project manager at our Sonali Gardens site in May 2022 before becoming the coordinator for our Over 50’s Feeling Good programmes, which have since gone from strength to strength. She has recently changed role to cover early years as well as our girls, boys, and mixed youth groups. Shantalle previously worked in various schools in East London. She loves that the local community is at the heart of what we do and appreciates that there is something for everyone at our centre. Additionally, Shantalle is a mindfulness coach and has been teaching mindfulness within the community for over five years. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, walking in nature, dancing and listening to music.

Tina has been with St. Hilda’s East for over 8 years, starting at Sonali Gardens before also joining the Club Row site. She enjoys the culture of the workplace. In addition to her evenings at the legal clinic, Tina works full-time as a caseworker at Positive East in Stepney Green.

In her spare time, she enjoys bike riding and walks in the park.

Zainab joined us in 2023 and runs our Creative Space, Cooking Club, and Women’s Group. She enjoys being with the wonderful participants who come to our groups and loves seeing their progress and confidence grow. Zainab is also a professional actress and loves to travel.

Kate joined the Board in 2021 and became Chair in 2023. A career in international hospitality took her to 3 continents over 20+ years in a diverse range of leadership roles and included senior management positions with IHG Hotels as well as C-Suite roles for a major tourist attraction in New York and an exclusive private members club in London.

An operations specialist, her experience in cross-cultural leadership in a commercial environment has been driven by a focus on and passion for service.

She has volunteered in different roles including at marathon and triathlon events (in which she has also participated), on the board of New York’s Hotel Association, and for her school’s alumnae association.

Kate is particularly passionate about the work of the Food Co-op and the women’s wellbeing group. Having the opportunity to serve an organisation whose ethos and remarkable history have been familiar to her for over 40 years feels like a great privilege.

As a second-generation Bengali and an alumna of Cheltenham Ladies’ College, joining the board felt like a natural step for Malini due to the cultural and historical link to St. Hilda’s East. There’s also a personal connection, as my sister was also a trustee, and it’s been wonderful to collaborate with her in a professional capacity.

Malini is a finance professional with extensive experience in banking, large corporations, and education. As a certified accountant, she experience with regulatory, compliance and tax . She brings a strategic financial perspective also gained expertise in marketing and fundraising and served as a school governor. She currently runs her own business, focusing on bookkeeping, corporate events, and education. Her diverse skill set allows Malini to analyse and manage various scenarios effectively.

Malini is passionate about ensuring a strong financial foundation for St. Hilda’s East to continue its legacy for another 135 years, and is deeply committed to our work with women and girls, believing in empowering women to reach their full potential.

Malini loves travelling and would love to be a contestant on MasterChef one day.