Meet the Team
Our team
Cathy Deplessis, Director
As Director of SPC, Cathy is responsible for making sure the centre achieves its vision of creating a community where all older people are living independent, vibrant lives. Before coming to SPC, Cathy enjoyed a senior career in social housing, housing regulation and consultancy. She is also Vice Chair of the Older People’s Network in Southwark.
Donna Grant, Support Administrator
Donna leads our volunteer administrators and provides efficient administration for our team. Donna works across finance, people, health and safety and office management.
Denzil Steele, Digital Coordinator
Denzil supports people aged 50 and over to get online and stay online, showing them how to use devices like laptops, tablets and mobile phones to access services, shopping, information and more. Denzil also looks after SPCs digital communications and helps the team and our volunteers make effective use of our IT systems.
Bobbi Suleyman, Community Administrator
Bobbi makes sure that everyone visiting or getting in touch with SPC receives a warm and friendly welcome, and the best customer service. Bobbi leads our volunteer welcome team and makes sure that we are all working in a safe space.
Lorna Sampson, Advisor
Lorna is one of our longest serving team members, having worked at SPC since 2014. As supervisor of the advice team, Lorna’s priority is increasing the income of Southwark residents aged 50+. She can help with benefits, housing, energy saving, information about grants, transport concessions and food support, access to community care and more.
Jenny Higgins, Housekeeper
Jenny looks after the health and wellbeing of everyone who uses our center. Jenny makes sure that the building is clean and safe in line with our cleaning and housekeeping standards, health and safety, and Covid-19 protocols.
Natalie Worgs, Ageing Well Southwark Worker
Natalie is passionate about the power of community, connecting and supporting people. Using a person-centred and strength-based approach, Natalie supports clients to be as safe and independent as possible in their homes. Outside of SPC, Natalie founded gIRLS aBOUT pECKHAM, a platform creating creative opportunities for young women.
Laura Martin, Assistant Advisor
Laura supports people with advice on a range of challenges, but her expertise is in helping people to navigate the benefits system. Laura came to SPC after volunteering at Citizens Advice Southwark, and having been a volunteer at SPC we are delighted she has joined the team.
Our Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees, along with appointed officers, form the Management Committee that governs Southwark Pensioners Centre. Together, they oversee all aspects of our centre and our work, meeting approximately every eight weeks. They delegate tasks to Centre staff and Committee members, who also contribute to the meeting agenda. The Committee offers guidance and approves key, strategic decisions. Many members of the Management Committee are users and members of the Centre.
Cllr Charlie Smith, Chair
Charlie is a local councillor and former Mayor of Southwark. He sits on LB Southwark’s corporate parenting board. He steers the Board of Trustees and works closely with the Director.
Althea Smith, Trustee
As former Mayor of Southwark and former councillor, Althea remains well connected to the local community. Althea leads on health and wellbeing and safer communities.
Anthony Squires, Trustee
Tony leads on health and safety, community fundraising, marketing and social media, and is part of the accommodation group.
Aparna Sapre, Trustee
Aparna brings expertise in planning, delivering and facilitating volunteering programmes, having worked with organisations and individuals across the voluntary community and business sectors. Aparna oversees our volunteer programme.
Emma Stapley, Trustee
Emma has extensive experience of policy development in both central and local government. She works at the Greater London Authority as an Adviser to the Mayor of London. Her interest in joining SPC comes from seeing the effects of social isolation on family members.
Kim McCrossan, Trustee
Kim is chair of the residents forum at her housing association for those with a visual impairment. She provides advice and expert guidance on disability, and runs a warm space at her local church.
Gill Henderson, Trustee
Gill brings significant experience of partnerships creation, project and bid development and implementation. Gill leads on fundraising, including supporting the capital campaign for our new centre.
Our volunteers
A big thank you to our wonderful volunteers: Patsy, Brenda, Angela, Agnes, Tony W, Alan, Julia, Kathy, Lorna, Eurica, Alma, Os, David, Mir, Cheikh, Sally, Gennoria, Tony S, Steve, and Nicole.
We are always looking for more volunteers to help at the Centre. If you’re interested in volunteering with us, find out more about some of the opportunities available on our volunteering page.
Photos courtesy of the GLA