Every child deserves a great start in life!

Vernon Neve-Dunn, Founder

I began the Southwark Tigers in 2000. It is a charity that uses sport, particularly rugby, to motivate and engage young people to achieve more. It is a fantastic way to take inner city children to different environments and use competition as a way of developing social and personal skills.

We set up Burgess Sports in 2012 to bring together all the fantastic work of the sports clubs in the area. Nowhere else in the country has a group of different sports clubs come together to find common ground.

Tom Ulicsak, Founder

Director and cofounder of Be Active, has worked as an economist, business analyst and project manager for a consultancy firm and in the public sector from 1996. He has undergraduate and masters degrees in Economics, an MBA and is a 2012 Fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs. He has served as Voluntary Secretary of SCTC since 2005. He is an LTA qualified Club Coach, been Southwark’s Sports Volunteer of the Year and was an Olympic torchbearer in recognition of his grassroots work. He has served as a Trustee of the Community Action Zone in Lambeth, as Treasurer of Friends of Burgess Park and is currently a Trustee of the Burgess Sports charity.

Alejandra Teixido, (Ally) CEO

Joined the Charity in 2013, when she moved to the UK with her British husband. She is a professional with extensive experience in nonprofit organizations.

Eighteen years ago, she started and ran a charity in Chile, Fundación Nexos, which works with disadvantaged indigenous communities, particularly in the south of the country.

Burgess Sports has had a steady growth in recent years. Situated in one of the most deprived boroughs of the Capital where participants and volunteers are on average at 11% of the most deprived in the country, Burgess Sports has emerged as a community asset.

Franco Amato, Healthy Food Manager

Franco grew up on a farm in Sicily with a strong food culture.

He has been passionate about good food and cooking since my childhood and I have a natural gift when it comes to food innovation, taste and presentation.

This great combination with his Italian flair and professionalism make my customers to adore my meals.

During his professional career, He has always enjoyed and thrived on all the challenges I have faced, retaining my individual style.

Afruja Khanom Project Manager

From a young age, I've been passionate about sports. I have been working with young people since the age of 16. I started running sports clubs and coaching at primary schools in my local borough. Since working with Burgess Sports, I have been involved in several sports programmes and projects. I believe that young people are the next generation and that it is our job to prepare them for the future. Being a young person, allows me to understand the needs of the group. Working with the local community gives Burgess Sports the opportunity to support families in a variety of ways.

Clare Poulson Family Project Worker

I grew up in the countryside, but after leaving home I spent a couple of years abroad teaching English in China and working in drug rehabilitation in Hong Kong before returning to Southwark where I have lived and worked ever since.

I have had the privilege of working with some amazing people in this borough, setting up a Family Centre, supporting children who are struggling to stay in Education, developing a Young Carers Project on the Aylesbury Estate and running parenting courses.

I now have the exciting task of working with Burgess Sports bringing the community together and supporting families.