Peter Laing Chief Executive Officer Expand Peter Laing Chief Executive Officer Having joined The Renewal Programme as Chief Executive Officer in March 2020, it’s Peter’s responsibility to make major decisions about the charity, manage the overall operations and resources and act as the main point of contact between the board of trustees and general operations. Peter has spent the last 30 years working within the non-profit and educational sectors in Newham and his passion lies in working collaboratively to bring out the best in people and communities.
Louise Vera Director of Training & Youth Expand Louise Vera Director of Training & Youth Louise has been with The Renewal Programme since 2005 as the driving force behind our Training & Youth projects. With a background in both, she has extensive experience in the development and delivery of education and youth programmes through contract and grant funding. Louise is committed to providing opportunities for the local community, enabling them to gain necessary skills and the confidence to lead fulfilled and successful lives.
Damian Callender Director of Support and Empowerment Expand Damian Callender Director of Support and Empowerment As Director of Support & Empowerment, Damian works across the organisation providing guidance & support to several of our projects, those who work within them & our service users. With 20 years’ experience in sectors such as mental health, criminal justice, substance misuse and homelessness, Damian is passionate about creating enriching opportunities for service users that engage in a variety of specialist services provided by The Renewal Programme.
Steve Wyatt Director of Financial Management & Support Services Expand Steve Wyatt Director of Financial Management & Support Services Steve is The Renewal Programme’s Director of Financial Management & Support Services. With 20+ years in the financial services and consulting & education sectors, Steve is a qualified expert in – and extremely passionate about - the design and implementation of business process improvements, service excellence and operational efficiency. Steve boasts professional qualifications in Change Management, GDPR, NEBOSH - General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety, Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt), Agile and Prince 2 project management as well as diplomas in the Psychology of Education, Mindfulness and Life Coaching. He is extremely passionate about inspiring and motivating staff and volunteers to deliver vital services to the community.
Melanie Berard Volunteer Coordinator Expand Melanie Berard Volunteer Coordinator Melanie is The Renewal Programme’s Volunteer Coordinator, joining the team in November 2020. Having grown up in the French Alps, her background involves working with asylum seekers on the French-Italian border; she has spent most of her career working with refugees and migrants. Melanie moved to London three years ago and is passionate about migration, sociology and social anthropology.
Humera Ali Refugee and Migrant Project Service Worker Expand Humera Ali RAMP Service Worker Humera has been working at The Renewal Programme since 2016 within the Refugee and Migrant Project as a service case worker. Alongside providing support, advocacy and advice to service users, Humera also organises our bi-weekly food bank, working with local businesses and donors to ensure vulnerable people within Newham have access to essential items. Humera is passionate about working with vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; she believes in empowering unheard individuals and families from all walks of life.
Paul Evans Housing Services & Support Manager Expand Paul Evans Housing Services & Support Manager Paul joined The Renewal Programme in 2019 as Housing Services Manager; his responsibilities include line management of staff, overseeing allocations, rents and tenancy management, managing budgets and housing plans and monitoring the quality of support plans and risk assessments for service users. Paul’s passion is to empower people and provide opportunities to encourage positive change. Outside of work he has a passion for cycling and cycles around 8000 miles a year.
Victoria Gottschalk Digital Communications and Marketing Officer Expand Victoria Gottschalk Digital Communications and Marketing Officer