Meet the team
Philippe Granger
Chief Executive
I came over from France back in 1974 to ‘have a look’ at London and have some fun... and I stayed! Living in the UK has been extremely rewarding and provided me with a multitude of experiences and friends that have enriched my life. I have been involved in community work in South London for 35 years and I am particularly interested in developing ways to build sustainable and intergenerational communities in the neighbourhood. Rushey Green Time Bank plays a key part in this and is a successful model of community and wellbeing. In the last ten years it has grown tremendously and developed several dynamic projects that attract a variety of people and it gives them choice to be involved in all or parts of the time bank. It’s great to be part of a thriving movement and to lead on it in Lewisham.
Ron Bourne
Voluntary Sector Development Lead
Ron recently joined the Lewisham Local team of Rushey Green Time Bank having previously worked with Blueprint for All, previously known as the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. As Programmes Manager Community Development since 2016, Ron led and developed the Lewisham BME Network, the BAME Leadership Academy, the Lewisham Young Leaders Academy and led as a partner on behalf of Blueprint for All in the Love, Sex Life BAME sexual health awareness partnership for Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.
Ron’s previous roles also include ; Charity Management Consultant supporting voluntary and community sector groups in Lewisham from 2007 - 15, Interim Manager of Business Works (enterprise agency of Greenwich council) in 2006 and Business Development Manager of the African Caribbean Business Network in 2004.
In all these roles Ron played a key part in supporting the development of marginal community based organisations project and facilitating collaboration between these groups and the mainstream infrastructure and statutory bodies.
Ron often describes his role as “Local Hero Support”. As Voluntary Sector Development Lead he will be supporting the development of Lewisham’s voluntary and community sector primarily fostering stakeholder collaborations and leveraging Asset-Based Community Development approaches.
“In my experience Lewisham has some of the most passionate and productive community champions anywhere. It continues to give me great satisfaction to help them build their organisational capacity while removing barriers to a thriving community sector in the borough.“
Maria Devereaux
Community Garden Coordinator
Maria loves being outside. She has been an organic food grower for over 25 years and enjoys being involved in community food projects. As a qualified social and therapeutic horticulturalist, she uses gardening and nature conservation to help people’s mental and physical health.
As well as being project coordinator for the Wild Cat Wilderness she also works on the Growing Health project at Sustain www.growinghealth.info.
Maria is passionate about good food and was previously Chief Exec of Slow Food UK and help set up a successful local, not for profit veg bag scheme is SE London called Local Greens.
Maria is at her happiest in the garden or kitchen.
Sam Hawksley
Director, Lewisham Local
Sam joined the team in September 2016 to lead the development of a new giving scheme in Lewisham. With a broad background in the voluntary, private and public sectors, Sam has held roles in music performance and teaching, addiction recovery support, recruitment and local government. Sam cares about communities and local people supporting local needs. In his spare time you will find him playing music, different sports or occasionally volunteering with local projects where he lives.
Bettina Ganser
Time Bank Coordinator
Bettina joined the Lewisham Local Team as the Time Bank Coordinator in August 21. Her role is to build on the work members have done over the years that was paused during COVID.
Originally from Germany, Lewisham has been home for almost 20 years. Bettina worked for charities locally and across London looking after befriending and mental health projects and also worked for organisations around migration.
"I really embrace the concept of the Time Bank that all of us have something to give and to contribute to our community. From listening ear to helping someone out in their garden, there is something for us all to give and receive.”
Meet the Trustees
Susan Ryder
Roy Witter - Chair
Jonathan Prince - Vice Chair
Gemma Juma
Joyce Jones
Allison Streetly
Simone Riddle
Community Engagement Lead
Simone joined the team in July 2017 as the Community Projects Lead to coordinate and develop a programme of projects and activities for Rushey Green Time Bank including FoodCycle Lewisham, Bellingham Arts and Crafts and Timebanking with Macmillan.
Simone has over 10 years experience working in the voluntary and charity sector working with vulnerable groups including women experiencing homelessness, indigenous women in Guatemala, young and older people using a participative approach. She initially began working in Lewisham in 2015 and fell in love with the borough and its thriving community.
"Rushey Green Time Bank was just the organisation I was looking for, supporting people to become active members of society using an innovative community development approach."
Maritta Ananth
Administrative Worker
I joined the Rushey Green Time Bank team as a Database volunteer in October 2018. I assisted the team with inputting hours and getting their system up-to-date after the changes in data protection. After nine months of volunteering I was offered a part time job working on the Lewisham Local initiative. I enjoy working in this diverse environment. Time Bank suits my interests.
I came from Sri Lanka and living in UK for the past five years. Since coming from accounting background in Sri Lanka, I like to work with numbers. I always wanted to do something for the community and improve my neighbourhood. Time Bank gives me that opportunity. My passions are visiting historical places and collecting stamps.
Josiah Odigie
Communications Support, Lewisham Local
I began working with the Lewisham Local team at Rushey Green Time Bank in March 2020, just as we assumed the role of partner in Lewisham’s Covid-19 Community Response Hub. My role involves managing our website, our newsletters to volunteers, community groups and businesses and running our social media. I also help in facilitating events and communicating with members of the Rushey Green Time Bank. I stand constantly in awe at the resilience and resourcefulness of Lewisham's community groups, businesses and individuals of our borough and their willingness to form partnerships and support one another.
I grew up in Lewisham before reading Spanish and Italian for my degree; during this I worked abroad, teaching in a community centre in Ecuador and working for a start-up in Rome. My outlook is firmly pro-communities and pro-communication and I believe that the strongest solutions to large scale problems occur at a grassroots level.