Our Team
Staff
Olivia
Programmes Manager
Olivia completed an MA in Social Development following a keen interest and degree in Human Geography. Over the last four years at RESTART, she has enjoyed developing partnerships with like-minded charities and working closely with homeless guests to overcome issues in their way. She loves a long countryside walk or a run (from time to time!).
Phil
Drop-in Manager
Roman
Head Chef
Phil began as a volunteer for RESTART in 2011. He helped guests with accommodation and welfare issues and, in 2013, became General Manager, overseeing the drop-in, housing and employment projects. Currently, he manages the drop-in which serves food and offers support to an average of 70 guests per week from the base of St. Columba’s Church in Knightsbridge. Phil has supported guests through a range of challenging situations and hopes to continue to do so for many more years to come.
Roman joined RESTART in 2011 as Head Chef. As well as cooking for guests at RESTART’s Drop-In every Friday, he caters for the homeless at the Holy Trinity Brompton Shelter. In the kitchen, his culinary knowledge and skills have helped guests and volunteers to develop confidence in and around food preparation and service. The food is of a very high quality and well worth sampling!
Founder
Andrew Marshall
Andrew grew up in Scotland, moved to London in 1999 and now lives in Oslo. In 2008, he started volunteering with a London homeless charity and felt the need to get more involved with helping the charitable sector. This encouraged him to found RESTART in 2009, since when he has enjoyed active involvement in the charity by working alongside the trustees and RESTART staff. He also has business interests in the property and hospitality industries.
Trustees
Sonya Leydecker
Chair
Until 2017, Sonya was joint CEO of the international law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills, and before that head of its global dispute resolution practice. She is now a consultant, business coach and mentor with The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme. As a Women Supporting Women ambassador, she has a particular interest in advising and guiding women in all areas of their career development. One of Sonya’s responsibilities as a trustee is to oversee policy development and embed good practice.
Nick Gandon
A former school-teacher, Nick became immersed in the charitable and not-for-profit sectors in 2003 when he was appointed Director of the national charity, The Cricket Foundation, where he devised and implemented the Chance to Shine Programme. In 2009, Nick co-founded a social enterprise, Cause4, and then set up Aureus Social Ventures in 2013. In addition to chairing RESTART, he has been Chairman of Hoddesdon Cricket Club since 2010 and is a trustee of three other charities.
Anand Dani
A consummate entrepreneur, Anand successfully oversees multiple established businesses and has recently launched Dani Organics, a wholesale organic ingredient business. This has production facilities in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka & Africa and is certified by 50,000 organic farmers around the world. He supports RESTART by contributing to the strategy, marketing and promotional development of the charity. In addition, Anand has helped to enhance RESTART’s work-readiness programme through partnerships with business contacts.
Jenna Soame
Jenna has a degree in Biology from Bristol University. She has worked extensively across the charitable sector, particularly in areas of social welfare. Prior to her current position as Counselling Coordinator at the homeless charity, Evolve Housing + Support, she was Project Manager of Trailblazers Mentoring at HMP Wandsworth, Volunteers Manager at The Big Issue and Education Officer at ACE Africa.
Pete Gibbons
After working in local radio, Pete moved to Network Radio, mainly Five Live & Radio One, before leaving the BBC in 2005. Since then, he has produced many types of content in a wide range of genres: TV, music videos and regular corporate work including Disney, Pepsi and Freud Communications. Pete has his own media productions company called Formidable and is a regular Programmes Producer & Editor for the BBC Radio network and talkSPORT.
David Pyle
David has spent the last 35 years as a teacher and school leader in primary and secondary schools within both the independent and state sectors of education. He is currently a trustee of The Royal Geographical Society and sits on its Education Committee. He became associated with RESTART three years ago when he raised the awareness of homelessness amongst the pupils at his current school and engaged staff and parents in two of the charity’s fundraising Sleep-Outs.