Our team

Trustees

Steph Holgate - Founder and chair of trustees

I grew up in Downham and have never left. I am passionate about helping the people of Downham and ensuring the community thrives. During the Covid pandemic people were falling into poverty, so I decided to do something about it. In 2020 I started Downham Aid from my house, and later on formed The Gleaning Pantry, which is now a thriving social supermarket which is accessible to those that need it.

**Barbara Griffiths (Babs) - Treasurer**
	Babs is a member of Brook Lane Community Church and has volunteered with Downham Aid since 2020, becoming a Director of DA in 2021 she has used her admin knowledge and skills to make the group formally constituted in 2023 and is currently the Secretary and Treasurer. She grew up on the Downham Estate and worked for the Post Office on leaving school. As a stay at home mum for 14 years she studied part-time and obtained a BSc in Natural Sciences then went on to qualify as a science teacher in 2005, teaching in Bromley schools for 15 years. She qualified as a counsellor in 2019 and volunteered with Bromley Community Counselling for 3 years and One in Four for 2 years. An avid painter and gardener, she loves to serve the community and enjoys being at the Gleaning Pantry weekly.

Dave Hooker

I’ve been a resident in Downham since 2000. In 2020 I was on furlough from work and saw on Social Media that “Downham Mutual Aid” required drivers for food package deliveries and the rest is history!

Aside from my work with Downham Aid I work full time as a manager for TfL Buses and in my spare time I am a football referee and vice chairman of the London County Saturday Youth Football League.

**Christine Cooper - Secretary**
	Christine has lived in the area for over 35 years. She had three children, one of whom was profoundly handicapped. The other two went to Burnt Ash Primary School. She has worked for a number of Public Sector organisations, including the NHS and The Home Office. She volunteered as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board visiting the ISIS prison in Thamesmead. She now enjoys gardening and reading as part of a book group.

Volunteers

**John Cooper**
	Driver for local collections and web site maintenance

Here are some of the team who unpack goods and set up The Gleaning Pantry on a Thursday for service on a Friday.