About us
Staff and trustees
We are a small team of dedicated local individuals at the Anerley Town Hall. Although we are a small charity, our goal is to sustain valuable community services and activities!
Our trustees are committed local individuals, all from the areas where our work is carried out. They bring with them a wealth of skills and experience that helps guide projects, set priorities, and manage budgets.
Members of staff
Ben Harding - Trust Manager
Ben Harding is the Trust Manager at Crystal Palace Community Trust (CPCT). With his years of experience in leadership roles and a passion for community development, Ben has been making a significant impact on the Trust's operations and growth since last year.
manager@cpct.org.uk
020 8676 5671
Elaine Harrison
Trust Development Manager
development@cpct.org.uk
020 8676 5666
John Gazeley - Projects & Performance Officer
John, a Crystal Palace resident and Anerley native, has been involved in various roles at CPCT since 2017 and served as the Treasurer from 2005 to 2016. His local knowledge and experience in banking and logistics contribute to CPCT’s mission of providing affordable services that help local residents reach their full potential.
projects@cpct.org.uk
020 8676 5908
James Harrison-Sears
Youth Practitioner Manager
youth@cpct.org.uk
020 8676 5669
Joy Hannon - Office & Business Administrator
Joy has lived in Penge for over 30 years (she came here as a child, she tells us) and has been volunteering and working for CPCT since 2019. With her knowledge gained from working in the health, care and charity sectors in and around Bromley, Joy says, “I am so proud to work for CPCT which really helps local residents find much-needed services and activities, and supports the local business community too. I love talking to all our visitors - it’s a great place to work."
offices@cpct.org.uk
0208 676 5666
Asia Szalinska - Halls & Bookings Administrator
Administration Team
halls@cpct.org.uk
0208 676 5667
Andre Thorne - Marketing & Communications
He is dedicated to promoting the valuable work of the trust and is responsible for managing and editing the organization's website. With a passion for helping the local community, Andre is committed to effectively communicating the trust's mission and impact. If you request your event/activity to be on the website, you can contact him.
Info@cpct.org.uk
020 8676 5668
Maria Ako, Jemma Talbot & Odette Ukandu & Simone Boothe
Youth Workers
Lee Brace & Richard Hicks
Caretakers
Mikhail Preddie, Alfred Pettie & Joseph Boateng, Samuel Adjei
Casual caretakers
Tyrone Smith & James Roach
Weekend Facilities Managers
Carlos Cortez
Art Tutor
Trustees
Mark Painter
Chairperson of CPCT
Mark has been involved with the trust since 2015. Mark qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1990. He has specialised in retail and leisure property, working for several international Consultancies, before establishing his practice in 2013. Additionally, Mark is the Chair of the Penge SE20 Business Improvement District, a board member of the Penge Tourist Board and sits on the advisory board of the Bridgehouse Theatre.
Eileen Goulding
Company Secretary
Eileen is a retired Finance Director and part-time lecturer after being awarded an MA in Egyptology in 2012. Originally from Co. Durham, she has lived in London for most of her working life and in Crystal Palace with her husband for the last twenty years. Eileen is keen to support the local community in any way that her skills and past experience are most beneficial, particularly with respect to children and the elderly.
Len Blomstrand
Vice Chair of CPCT
Len Blomstrand has been a resident of Anerley since 1985 and is well-acquainted with the area. A retired solicitor, former special police officer, and serving school governor of long-standing, Len joined CPCT with the intention of contributing his extensive experience in various areas such as safeguarding, health and safety, equality and inclusion, property management, and governance to the board. His firsthand experience as a governor of a local primary school has made him acutely aware of the challenges faced by many families in Penge and Anerley due to poverty and disadvantage, underscoring the vital role of CPCT in improving their lives.
Chris Harrison
Treasurer of CPCT
Chris Harrison lives in Crystal Palace with his family and works in London as a business consultant advising clients on risk, sustainability, and compliance. He is a chartered accountant (ACA) and certified fraud examiner (CFE). Chris volunteers as a trustee because he recognises the need for the Trust's services in his community; believes the Trust's work is a wonderful and effective response to that need; and hopes that his involvement will help enable the charity to carry out its work.
Raymond Bascombe
Trustee
Raymond has lived in Penge for over 20 years. He has experience in media and marketing and was successfully funded by the Prince's Trust at 21 years old for his first business, filming amateur and semi-professional sports. In 2017 he founded the Ballers Club community, a community organisation which works to help support young people to maximise their potential through sport, media and fashion. He strongly believes that 'youth is the future' and the more time and resources spent on trying to help them reach their full potential the stronger the community foundations will be.