Martyn Craddock, Chief Executive
Martyn joined the United St Saviour’s Charity as Chief Executive in January 2015. His career began in the food industry, before joining the charity sector in 1998, eventually becoming Chief Executive of St Luke’s Trust in Islington, an award-winning community charity. He has an MSc in Charity Accounting and Financial Management from South Bank University and is Chair of Governors at TreeHouse School, a north London autism school which his son attends, and Chair of Dulwich Almshouse Charity. Martyn has deep family roots in Southwark and cares passionately about the borough. He loves working right by Borough Market and all its food delights, and does lots of cycling and running to ensure it’s not his ruin.
Alison Benzimra, Head of Research and Influence
Alison joined United St Saviour’s Charity as the Head of Research and Influence in January 2022.
Alison has extensive experience in the ageing research field. As manager of the Whiteley Foundation for Ageing Well, she gained valuable insight into the almshouse movement and worked closely with residents, staff and academic partners on a variety of research projects. Alison is passionate about supporting and building capacity for researchers in ageing and is on the British Society of Gerontology’s (BSG) Emerging Researchers in Ageing committee. She has her MPhil Inclusive Innovation. Her research explored innovative models in the healthy ageing sector. Her involvement in the BSG’s Ageing, Business and Society Special Interest Group underpins her belief that health and socio-economic inequalities across the life course will truly be addressed by fostering a collaborative approach between the public, private and third sectors.
Alison loves the vibrancy of working in Southwark and on the weekends enjoys running along the Thames towpath in Weybridge, Surrey where she lives.
Jude Leighton, Head of Housing
Jude joined United Saint Saviour’s Charity as the Head of Housing in November 2016.
Jude has had an extensive career in social housing, working in both Local Authority and Housing Association settings before joining United St Saviour’s Charity last year. She qualified as a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing in 1996 and has a special interest in housing for older people. She has particular expertise in resident involvement and believes passionately in providing exceptional services to the residents in our almshouses. Jude is a trustee for the Leytonstone Festival and Box for Life, two charities which are based in Waltham Forest where she lives.
Alessandro Schianchi, Operations & Executive Support Manager
Alessandro joined United St Saviour’s Charity as the Operations and Executive Support Manager in January 2022.
Alessandro has over 15 years’ experience managing operations for charity organisations, from leisure and medical centres to art institutions. He grew up in Parma, Italy where he gained his Architecture Technician diploma. He worked as a designer and quantity surveyor for 7 years. For challenges new, he moved to London in 2005 and has since then been committed to and involved in delivering support for its diverse community’s wellbeing and development. Alessandro is very passionate about sports, historical buildings, gardens and photography.
Being Italian, he is of course a fan of the best food available, so it’s no surprise that he now loves working next to Borough Market!
Will Cole, Programme Director, One Southwark
Will started at United St Saviour’s in September 2021, as the Programme Director of One Southwark, which is The Giving Scheme for Southwark. He is a Youth Work Professional with over 15 years’ experience working with Young People across London.
Will moved into Southwark as a young boy and lived on both the Heygate and Rockingham Estates where he benefitted from the resources and support local youth organisations offered. He has since dedicated his career to giving back such support to the community.
He has worked in Southwark based charities KickStart, Catch22 (Southwark) and Power2 and is passionate about helping the young people of Southwark achieve their potential.
Will is also a passionate Man United Fan (on a good day!) and still carries hope of them bringing back the glory days.
Bas Ashan, Finance Manager
Bas joined United St Saviour’s Charity in January 2012 and is responsible for managing our day-to-day finances. He brings over 12 years of experience from his previous role as Finance Manager at the Institute of Child Health, where he developed strong expertise in charity finance and accounting. Bas ensures the financial health of the organization, managing budgets, reporting, and compliance to support our mission of creating a united Southwark where everyone can thrive. His meticulous approach and deep understanding of charity finance help ensure our resources are used effectively to support our residents and community investment work.
Marjo Cili, Building Service Engineer
Marjo was born in Albania, but his work experience started when he was 18 in construction sites and managing properties in Italy.
He was looking for a new challenge and opportunities for development, so he moved to London in December 2016 and joined a charity where he was appointed Building Engineer Service and Duty Manager.
He loves to learn about new cultures and history; therefore, he feels privileged to be part of a charity with such a deep-rooted history. He is looking forward to learning more about how we support the community, and how he can support the charity in achieving its goal of creating a united, thriving, and equal Southwark.
Growing up in Italy allowed him to have access to great food, so he feels fortunate to work near Borough market, where he can continue to sample great foods from around the world.
In his spare time, he enjoys meeting friends, exploring London’s many historical sites, swimming and cycling in local parks and along the Thames.
Ebony Onwubolu, One Southwark Programme Coordinator
Ebony started at United St Saviours in as the Programme Coordinator for One Southwark. She has had years of experience working with young people which lead her to study counselling and psychotherapy at UEL and becoming a qualified counsellor. She came from working in the Southwark borough as a School Engagement Manager at The Nest and she has loved reconnecting to the borough she was born and raised in for a short while.
Outside of her professional days, she loves to travel, watch movies, and get involved in all things fashion and style. Things that allow people to experience and express themselves in a healthy way is beautiful and she hopes to bring this to her role.
Barbara Reichwein, Head of Community Investment
Barbara started at United St Saviour’s Charity in April 2025, bringing extensive senior leadership experience across philanthropy, charities and social enterprises. Most recently, as Programme Director at Impact on Urban Health, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation, she lead grant making that empowered people in Southwark and Lambeth to live healthy lives.
Previously, she supported women’s rights and healthcare in Africa and Asia as Director of Evidence at MSI Reproductive Choices. Her background includes work in young people’s education in the Middle East and in Latin America.
In her spare time, she is a passionate Londoner and admirer of all things past and present that the city has to offer. She is a school governor in Southwark and enjoys the sun, history and a good coffee.
Jason Charles, Community Investment and Grants Manager
Jason joined United St Saviours Charity as the Community Investment and Grant Officer in October 2023.
With over 14 years of experience in community investment and grant administration roles within Housing Associations, local authorities and now a charity. Jason brings a wealth of experience and strong networking skills to the Community Investment team.
Jason, grew up in South London and Croydon; completing his degree in BSc Business Management from the University of Roehampton. After a few years in the mortgage industry and experiencing his dad diagnosed with bipolar, he was introduced to the words ‘health and wellbeing’. This started his journey for a life with more purpose and to pursue a career within the social investment sector. He strongly believes that real change will happen in society when the grassroots and local VCS organisations are supported more equitably, with the money and resources allocated to community health and wellbeing.
Lizzie Lynch, Communications & Influence Lead
Lizzie joined United St Saviour’s Charity in 2024, having started as a freelance PR consultant in summer 2023 to support Appleby Blue’s opening. She builds on the media, public affairs and stakeholder engagement work she cultivated as a consultant. Lizzie previously worked with developers, architects and designers as clients. As a born and bred South Londoner who has lived in Southwark for several years, she is passionate about high-quality social housing in our city. She leads on our Appleby Blue tour programme and manages communications strategies to promote the organisation’s work, impact, and influence.
Natalie Mellor, Grants & Office Administrator
Natalie joined United St Saviour’s Charity and provides essential administrative support across Community Investment, Operations, and Finance. She plays a vital role in keeping our grants programmes running smoothly, supporting the team with application processing, record-keeping, and communications with community organisations. Natalie also provides key operational support that helps the whole organization function effectively. Her organizational skills and attention to detail ensure that our community investment work reaches the local groups who need it most.
Caroline Nestor, Resident Support Manager, St. Saviour’s Court and Hopton’s
Caroline leads resident support services at St Saviour’s Court and Hopton Gardens. Caroline works closely with residents to understand their individual needs, coordinating support services and building a strong sense of community. Her role involves managing the resident support team, organising activities and events, and ensuring excellent housing services. Caroline’s commitment to resident wellbeing helps create welcoming communities where older people can thrive.
Helen Steptoe, Resident Support Officer, St. Saviour’s Court
Helen provides dedicated support to our residents at St Saviour’s Court, ensuring each person receives the support they need to thrive in their home. She offers practical assistance, and helps coordinate services for residents. Helen is passionate about building strong relationships with residents and creating a supportive, friendly community atmosphere. Her role includes organising activities, liaising with local services and working alongside the wider team to ensure excellent housing services.
Debbie Dugdale, Resident Support Officer – Hopton’s
Debbie provides dedicated support to our residents at Hopton Gardens, our historic, listed almshouse site near the Tate Modern. With extensive experience in housing and care, she offers person-centred support tailored to each resident’s needs. Debbie helps residents maintain their independence while ensuring they feel connected to their community. She organises activities, provides practical assistance, and is always on hand to listen and support.
Amy Brown, Resident Support Manager – Appleby Blue & Helen Peele
Amy joined United St Saviour’s in June 2023 as the Resident Support Manager at the RIBA Stirling Prize winning Appleby Blue Almshouse. She’s passionate about supporting residents in a holistic and person-centred way, ensuring each individual feels heard, respected, and empowered.
Her role is all about building strong relationships, understanding residents’ needs, and helping to create a welcoming, inclusive community where people can truly thrive. Being part of such a vibrant and innovative environment is a real privilege, and she’s proud to contribute to the wellbeing and quality of life of everyone at Appleby Blue & Helen Peele.
Princess George, Resident Support Officer, Appleby Blue & Helen Peele
Princess joined United St Saviour’s in July 2023 and is based at Appleby Blue. She has lived and worked in Southwark, both for the Council and charity organisations. She has over 20 years of knowledge and experience of working with vulnerable adults and young people who are homeless with multiple complex needs in a range of different roles – as a resettlement officer, sheltered housing officer, supported pathways officer, housing first officer, supported housing officer and in her present role as Resident Support Officer at Appleby Blue & Helen Peele. She likes to go on cruises for her holidays and is always first on the dancefloor!
Melvin Metzger, Resident Support Officer, Appleby Blue
Melvin joined United St Saviour’s in 2024 and is based at Appleby Blue, where he is a core part of our resident support team. He provides person-centred support for residents, helping them maintain their independence while feeling connected to their community. Melvin is particularly passionate about creating meaningful activities and social opportunities for residents – he leads the popular Appleby Blue Men’s Club, which brings male residents together for conversation, activities and friendship. His warm, engaging approach helps residents feel at home and supported in their daily lives. Melvin works closely with the wider team to ensure excellent housing services and a community atmosphere. Outside of work, he is a cruise enthusiast and loves exploring new destinations!
Dia Bavi, Handyperson, Appleby Blue
Dia performs essential maintenance and repair tasks to maintain the quality of the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning Appleby Blue facilities. He works closely with the resident support and Appleby Community Centre teams to ensure the building remains in excellent condition for residents and the wider community. Dia’s role includes responding to maintenance requests, conducting routine inspections, and undertaking repairs across the almshouse and community centre. His technical skills and proactive approach help preserve this award-winning building and ensure residents live in comfortable, well-maintained homes. Dia takes pride in being part of a development that sets new standards for older people’s housing.
Louise Durand, Community Programme Coordinator, Appleby Blue
Louise plans and coordinates the vibrant programme of community activities and events at Appleby Blue Community Centre. Since opening, the centre has hosted hundreds of sessions bringing people together across generations – from cooking and singing to learning and celebrating. Louise works with community partners to develop programming that serves local needs and creates an intergenerational hub where everyone feels welcome. She also manages space hire for external organisations looking to use our award-winning facilities. Get in touch with Louise if you’re interested in hiring one of our spaces or partnering on community activities!