WHO IS INVOLVED
The Collaboration Circle is the result of the ideas and commitment of many partners – it’s been a truly collaborative journey! Members of all types and sizes, alongside equity focused civil society organisations, helped establish the need for, vision, and governance of the vehicle. We’ve also worked closely with the London Funders Board and partners from the Propel programme to refine its scope and strategy. All of this input has got us to this point of now being able to put our ambitions into practice!
In early Spring 2024, a Board of Directors was recruited from the funding sector and equity-focused civil society organisations in equal number. They will set the strategy and maintain oversight of the range of collaborative programmes. You can read more about these brilliant people and their motivations for being involved here
The London Funders staff team will support the emergence of new funding collaborations, help share the learning, and provide operational support, alongside a team of secondees from collaborating partners.
James Banks
James Banks is CEO of London Funders. Since joining the team in 2017 he has grown the reach and impact of the charity, enabling members from across the public, private and philanthropic sectors to work collaboratively to achieve positive change.
Stacy Smith
Stacy is CEO of the HER centre, a small local women’s charity providing services to women and girls in Greenwich.
Gary Buckley
Gary is CEO of Action West London, a charity dedicated to empowering disadvantaged individuals by helping them find employment.
Karen Millen
Karen is a Senior Grants Manager at John Lyon’s Charity, a leading London grantmaker focused on Children and Young People.
Alice Wilcock
Alice works for the GLA where she leads the Civil Society and Sport team, using volunteering, social action and community sport to improve the lives of Londoners.
Helen Bushell
Helen is currently Senior Head of Funding at the National Lottery Community Fund.
Sam Grimmett Batt
Sam has worked in the voluntary sector for almost 20 years, with international charities, service delivery organisations, and funders.
Clare Carter
Clare is currently CEO of the Access to Justice Foundation, a UK wide funder committed to a collaborative approach to improving access to social welfare legal advice.
Paul Roberts
Paul has been the Chief Executive of LGBT+ Consortium since 2011, the LGBT+ umbrella body and specialist funder and has over 20 years’ experience working in the LGBT+ voluntary sector.