Who we are

Our trustees

Samir Afhim (Chair)
Samir is a professional fundraiser and currently works with Rethink

John Ashwell (Treasurer)
John was an accountant before giving up his career to become an interior and garden designer. He is passionate about making King’s Cross green and beautiful!

Antonia Benedek
Antonia Benedek is a professional fundraiser, her clients have included Caledonian Youth Project 

Toby Newland
Toby is a transport planner with a passion for KX, he produces the King’s Cross Walks Blog

Will Perrin
Will is the founder of the KC community website and talkaboutlocal.com where he supports people setting up hyperlocal websites

Our manager (on a voluntary basis)

Sophie Talbot has 30 years’ experience of working with and for community based organisations. She started as a young unemployed service user at First Base Centre for Young Unemployed People in the Meanwood area of Leeds in 1983. She quickly became a management committee member and from there carried on her passion for community-led projects. She became professionally qualified in organisation and community development in 1996 when she completed her Masters degree. In 1997 she spent a short while working with ANC ex-combatants in South Africa and on her return became a freelance consultant with clients including:

• Rotherham Economic Partnership (setting up the Rotherham Advice and Information Network, RAIN)
• Local voluntary action organisations in Lewisham and Islington
• London Council for Voluntary Service
• The London Development Agency

She managed the first voluntary sector led Single Regeneration Partnership – the Pan London Community Regeneration Consortium – providing free organisation development consultancy to community groups across the capital. She also managed Putting New Heart into Grahame Park, a local authority led regeneration programme in north London. At Government Office for London she was Mainstreaming Equalities Manager for European Structural Funds and finally, at the London Development Agency she was responsible for consultation, approvals, editing and production of the region’s first Economic Development Strategy.

Sophie left her career behind in 2004 and since then has been fulfilling a long-held ambition to use her skills and experience in her own community. She has also become a professional actor specialising in fringe theatre and runs her own web publishing business.

If you have a project (it might be about the environment, about access to public art or about improving public amenities in KX), contact us – we might just be what you’re looking for!