Meet the Team

Benjamin Lawrence

Senior Development Manager
Benjamin Lawrence

Senior Development Manager

Whilst completing his MA in 'Sport, Policy and Community Development' at The University of Central Lancashire Ben also worked as Junior Sports Coordinator at The Golf Trust. He joined the Foundation in October 2016 with a passion to provide opportunities for all individuals to experience the benefits that engaging in sporting activities can provide.

Random Fact

It may be one of the highest grossing films OF ALL TIME but Ben has never seen Titanic

Favourite Cartoon Character:Rafiki
Dog or Cat?Dog
Favourite Film:Rush Hour
Lookalike:Professor Green
Marmite:Hate
Phone:0203 675 7278

Gordon Banks

Chief Community Officer
Gordon Banks

Chief Community Officer

Gordon has been with Saracens since 2002, joining the Foundation after previous roles including Fundraising Manager at the NSPCC and Community Development Manager at London Wasps. For Gordon, sport has provided him with many amazing opportunities in his life and helped develop him as a person and so he is committed to providing that same opportunities for others.

RANDOM FACT

Someone once told Gordon he ties his shoe laces extremely quickly – you’ll have to ask him to show you for verification!

Favourite Cartoon Character:Roadrunner
Dog or Cat?Dog
Favourite Film:The Shawshank Redemption
Lookalike:David Tennant
Marmite:Hate
Phone:0203 675 7279

Clare Bellchambers

Project Officer
Clare Bellchambers

Project Officer

Before joining the Foundation in 2009 Clare was a self-employed dance coach. Now, through the Love to Dance programme, she gets to combine her love of Dance with inspiring older adults to get active through dance, perform and make friends.

Random Fact

Not content with only dancing on solid ground Clare enjoys taking her skills onto the ice.

Favourite Cartoon Character:Rebecca Rabbit
Dog or Cat?Dog
Favourite Film:Labryinth
Lookalike:Suzanne Shaw
Marmite:Love
Phone:0203 675 7215

Tomas Gamage

Senior Development Manager
Tomas Gamage

Senior Development Manager

After completing his studies for a Sport Coaching BSc at Cardiff Metropolitan University Tomas joined us in August 2013. He wants to help more people play more sport.

Random Fact

Tomas has been lucky enough to play a game of touch rugby with Jonny Wilkinson

Favourite Cartoon Character:Peter Griffin
Dog or Cat?Dog
Favourite Film:The Prestige
Lookalike:David Villa
Marmite:Hate
Phone:0203 675 7221
Meet the Team

Jane Stewart

Financial Controller
Meet the Team
Jane Stewart

Financial Controller

Following a variety of different roles over the years, Jane joined us in 2016. She believes it is a privilege to work at the Charity, where everyone works as one team to help the more vulnerable members of our Society to get more out of life, through the power of sport and dance.

Random Fact

Jane’s favourite way to relax? Sitting by the sea in South Devon, in the sun (when it makes an appearance), with a glass or two of wine!

Favourite Cartoon Character:Minnie Mouse
Dog or Cat?Dog
Favourite Film:Love Actually
Lookalike:Emma Thompson
Marmite:Love
Phone:0203 675 7277
Meet the Team

Deirdre Cunningham

Finance Assistant
Meet the Team
Deirdre Cunningham

Finance Assistant

One of the first generation of Pioneers at Allianz Park on match days, Deirdre joined the foundation in November 2016. She enjoys being able to support and be part of an inspirational team who really do make a difference in our community.

Random Fact

A self-professed expert, if you ask Deirdre about Jack Russells there's a good chance she'll have an informed answer for you.

Favourite Cartoon Character:Mutley
Dog or Cat?Dog
Favourite Film:The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Lookalike:
Marmite:Love
Phone:0203 675 7255

Rose Degen

Charity Relationship Manager
Rose Degen

Charity Relationship Manager

Rose joined the Foundation in September 2016, having previously worked in HR in the Oil industry and a School.  Rose feels privileged to work with an incredible team who provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities in our community to discover the power of sport to create positive change in their lives.

Random Fact

Not only does Rose have an identical twin who is always mistaken for her! She also happens to have identical twin boys.

Favourite Cartoon Character:Top Cat
Dog or Cat?Both
Favourite Film:The Holiday
Lookalike:Sissy Spacek
Marmite:Love
Phone:0203 675 7216

Emma Wilson

Senior Account Manager
Emma Wilson

Senior Account Manager

Emma graduated the University of Edinburgh in 2017 with an MA in History, after which she did event production for Old Mout Cider at Festival No 6 in Wales, which not only increased her appreciation for wellies and the indoors, but also set her on a path to working in events. Having completed an internship with Cancer Research UK working in volunteer fundraising, Emma started working at Saracens Sport Foundation in April 2018.

Random Fact

Emma can be, and has been, identified in crowds from the sound of her laugh alone. We're not sure if that’s random or just alarming…

Favourite Cartoon Character:Daffy Duck
Dog or Cat?Both (impossible to choose)
Favourite Film:The Blindside
Lookalike:Laura Osnes (yes, I had to look her up too)
Marmite:Hate
Phone:0203 675 7243

Kieran Crombie

Head of Saracens Sport Foundation
Kieran Crombie

Head of Saracens Sport Foundation

Kieran has worked in the sport-for-good industry for over ten years. Most recently, as the Operations Manager at the Fulham Football Club Foundation. Throughout his working life Kieran has seen first-hand how sport can be a powerful tool to engage communities and people in positive activities: from providing employability skills to ex-offenders; to supporting older people to get active and healthy; to enabling disabled young people to learn and develop key life skills.

Random Fact

Cliff Richard sponsored me to play Tennis... it was no Summer Holiday!

Favourite Cartoon Character:The Snowman… from the Snowman
Dog or Cat?Dog
Favourite Film:The Blind Side (I love an underdog!)
Lookalike:Tin-Tin (with a beard)
Marmite:Love
Phone:0203 675 7248

Jessica Hammond

Development Manager
Jessica Hammond

Development Manager

Jess came to Saracens Sport Foundation with a wealth of experience in dance and performing arts. Having had the opportunity to start up a new performing arts course in a college in Maidenhead she hosted several large scale productions. Jess also taught dance in theatre schools and clubs at primary and secondary schools in Hertfordshire.

Random Fact

Jess attends aerial silk classes every week... not to be tried at home!

Favourite Cartoon Character:Belle from ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Dog or Cat?I love dogs. Wish I had one!
Favourite Film:The Pacifier
Lookalike:Lily James
Marmite:Hate
Phone:0203 675 7215

Charlie White

Development Manager
Charlie White

Development Manager

Charlie studied Sport Studies at the University of Hertfordshire before joining the sports and leisure industry. She has worked in both commercial leisure facilities and educational institutes. Supporting the Project Rugby programme, Charlie is excited to be part of a team at Saracens Sport Foundation who are as passionate about Rugby as she is.

Random Fact

Charlie once ran a cross country race in two left shoes... we'll keep her off the dance floor!

Favourite Cartoon Character:Eeyore
Dog or Cat?Dogs of course! I have a beautiful German Shepard called Hugo
Favourite Film:Avatar
Lookalike:Claire from Steps
Marmite:Love
Phone:0203 675 7241

Jessica Smith

Senior Project Manager
Jessica Smith

Senior Project Manager

Jess’ journey with us started as a part time dance coach for the Saracens Sport Foundation back in 2006. She went on to study dance and sport, completing a PGCE at the Royal Academy of Dance. Before joining the Saracens Sport Foundation full time in July 2013, Jess was a secondary school Dance & PE teacher and often delivered guest lectures at Chichester University & The Royal Academy of Dance. Jess says “It is a privilege to work for a charity that impacts so many walks of life. I love coming to work as everyday is always different!”

RANDOM FACT

Jess has a twin brother – no they are not identical!!

Favourite Cartoon Character:Rolly from 101 dalmatians
Dog or Cat?Cat
Favourite Film:Pretty Women, Miracle on 34th Street
Lookalike:Anne Hathaway
Marmite:Love
Phone:0203 675 7243

Aimee Gill

Project Officer
Aimee Gill

Project Officer

Favourite Film:
Lookalike:
Marmite:

Ed Taylor

Development Manager
Ed Taylor

Development Manager

Favourite Film:
Lookalike:
Marmite:

Michael Dobson

Senior Development Manager
Michael Dobson

Senior Development Manager

Favourite Film:
Lookalike:
Marmite:

Ben Wiggins

Project Officer
Ben Wiggins

Project Officer

Favourite Film:
Lookalike:
Marmite:

Ella Wyrwas

Project Officer
Ella Wyrwas

Project Officer

Favourite Film:
Lookalike:
Marmite:

Thomas Courtney

Project Officer
Thomas Courtney

Project Officer

Favourite Film:
Lookalike:
Marmite:

Sapphire Finlayter-Gaskell

Project Officer
Sapphire Finlayter-Gaskell

Project Officer

Favourite Cartoon Character: Pocahontas – I like powerful women 😊

Dog or Cat: Neither – Can I say elephant?

Favourite Film: Save the last Dance, West Side Story

Lookalike: Moana

Marmite: Hate

Favourite Film:
Lookalike:
Marmite:

Our Trustees

David Lebond

David Lebond

Chair

Caroline Biddle

Caroline Biddle

Nick Brooking

Nick Brooking

Bill Eyres

Bill Eyres

Jane Smallwood

Jane Smallwood

Lord Randall

Lord Randall

Elaine Ratcliffe

Elaine Ratcliffe

Calum Clark

Calum Clark