Beth Jaichand
Director
Beth has worked in the voluntary sector for 16 years, both in the UK and abroad. She has experience in leadership, strategic planning and project and people management. She joined Sydenham Garden in 2021 and is passionate about the positive impact gardening and creative activities has on health and wellbeing.
Jermaine Bennett
Head of Services
Jermaine has a background in mental health support work and care, and began his time at Sydenham Garden as Outreach & Development Worker. Jermaine leads and delivers the African and Caribbean project at Sydenham Garden.
Charlotte Dove
Garden Project Lead
Charlotte is experienced in community gardening and therapeutic horticulture. She has successfully designed and delivered many community-based and therapy horticultural projects.
Rosie Hollands
Dementia Project Lead
Rosie volunteered with us for before becoming our Dementia Project Lead. She is a horticultural therapist, and trained in arts-based reminiscence.
Lauren Goddard
ⓜ.ⓤ.ⓓ Project Facilitator
Lauren started out as a co-worker at Sydenham Garden, where she found a love for horticulture, and became a volunteer in the Garden project. She is a gardener, and is involved in other community growing projects.
Jane McKay
Practical Organic Gardening Worker
Jane brings a broad range of experience to her role at Sydenham Garden, including her work as a qualified horticulturist and her background in Psychology.
David Lloyd
Growing Lives Project Coordinator
David has a horticultural background and has spent many of his years teaching the use of alternative technology.
Sekha Hall
Environmental Education & Biodiversity Officer
Sekha was originally referred to Sydenham Garden as a co-worker. After a few years he became a volunteer and then in 2015 became a paid member of the team. He is experienced in the caring profession and has a wealth of horticultural and conservation knowledge.
Jo Vallis
Art & Craft Project Lead
Jo is a qualified Art Psychotherapist. She also has a background in education and community arts.
Rachael Tyndall
Outreach & Development Worker
Rachael volunteered on our Growing Lives project, before working as Garden Project Lead during Charlotte’s maternity leave. Rachael has a background in human rights and refugee organisations.
Vani Niranjan
Finance Manager
Vani is a qualified accountant with over 20 years of experience working in finance. She possesses a wide range of knowledge gained from working in both the private and charity sectors. She has a passion for horticulture and therapeutic gardening.
Steve Prowse
Business & Premises Manager
Steve is an engineer by trade and deals with our events, hire of our gardens, corporate volunteering and general premises management.
Could be you?
The Volunteer Team
When the project began in 2003, Sydenham Garden was run exclusively by volunteers, local residents and a number of staff from Sydenham Green Health Centre.
Volunteers continue to play the most vital role in leading and delivering our services to the community today and are very much at the centre of the team.