Exit
Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only

About Us

Bede House opened in 1938, rooted in Bermondsey and serving all communities across Southwark. Originally founded as a settlement, we still operate from our original building. In 1970 we also opened the Bede Centre, and it is still a thriving community space at the heart of the Abbeyfield estate next to Southwark Park.

From our base, Bede provides support across the whole of Southwark for people with learning disabilities and survivors of domestic abuse, as well as being an important hub for the local community in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe.

Our President and Vice-Presidents

President

The Rev Christopher Chessun, Lord Bishop of Southwark

Vice President

Roger Harrison

Vice President

Andrew Sutton

Bede Council of Management

Chair - Jerry Flechais

Jerry is a safety and risk management professional with experience of working at senior level in the commercial, public and third sector. He specialises in practical and sensible risk management, governance and operational delivery.

Vice Chair - Julie Cotton

Julie has spent her career in the housing sector and is currently Head of Regulatory Assurance at the Regulator of Social Housing.  Julie got to know Bede through working in Southwark, and her focus is community engagement.

Treasurer - Sacha Dingomal

Sacha is an ACCA qualified accountant, Sacha has experience across several sectors including the Arts, Education and Housing. Prior to joining YoungMinds, he was Director of Finance and Corporate Resources at Skills Training UK and Technology Finance Manager at Cancer Research UK.

Trustee - Bob Ogilvie

Bob is a chartered civil engineer with extensive experience in property and construction. Formerly a director at AECOM, he led project management teams across London and the Southeast, delivering work in residential, commercial, healthcare, and education sectors. He now consults for the Government Property Agency and the National Film and Television School, and serves as a primary school governor

Trustee - Diana Stevenson

Diana has been a social worker for many years working with adults with learning disabilities in different London Boroughs. She has also worked in Respite, Residential and supported employment projects in the community and has a particular interest in balancing self-direction with managing risk.

Trustee - Eleanor Rowland

Eleanor joined as a trustee in September 2023. She works as the Director of Safeguarding and Inclusion for Fulham Football Club. Prior to this she worked within the inspection team at the NSPCC and a number of different substance misuse charities. Eleanor’s expertise is in safeguarding, inclusion of underrepresented groups and community work.

Trustee - Shane Murphy

Shane joined Bede as a trustee in 2020. He works as an architect and leads design teams through various stages of large scale construction projects. Shane takes a particular interest in management of the existing building facilities, alongside the strategic planning for Bede’s future premises.

Senior Management Team

Director and Council Secretary

Mahua Nandi brings many years of senior management experience. She started her career as a community organiser providing advocacy, peer support and training for low-wage workers in and around London.

Finance Manager 

Pam Whyte is an AAT qualified accountant with over 20 years’ experience in finance. She joined Bede in 2013 as Finance Assistant and was subsequently appointed Finance Manager.

Bede Learning Disabilities Project Manager

Carole Brady joined Bede in 2014 and has worked in social care for over 30 years. This includes 12 years in management roles with Southwark and Lambeth Councils, Camden Society and Bede.

Carole was born and brought up in Bermondsey and still lives locally.

Starfish: Domestic Abuse Project Manager 

Ahlam Laabori joined Bede in 2010 and became Bede Starfish Project Manager in 2015.

After social work training with Westminster Social Services, she joined the Forced Marriage Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Ahlam is a qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) and trained Freedom Programme leader.

Our Patrons

Patron

Councillor Sunil Chopra

Patron

Jane Holbrook – NED, Busy Bees Nurseries

Patron

Sir Simon Hughes – Chancellor of London South Bank University

Close form