As well as our staff we have many volunteers (over 1,000 volunteers have been involved since 1995!), without whom the organisation couldn't function.
meet some of our volunteers here
trustees
RISC is looking to expand the board of trustees and particularly keen to attract people with finance and accounts, human resources/personnel/employment law and global education experience. We especially would like to attract women and people from Black, Minority Ethnic communities. Trustees meet every two months six times a year.
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colin date My professional knowledge and experience is in education, in particular, secondary school science. I also have a love and knowledge of Southern Africa, especially Botswana, where I have several contacts and friends in the country having lived there for three years. I have been with RISC since it was founded and I am, at present, Company Secretary. As I have now retired from teaching I volunteer in the World Shop which is now a wonderful place! Come and see! |
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malla hovi Malla Hovi is a veterinary epidemiologist who has had a long career in development work in Africa and Latin America, in research into organic livestock production and, most recently, as a senior veterinary advisor to Defra on animal disease control. In her retirement from veterinary work, she is now embarking on a new career in teaching science in secondary schools via the Now Teach programme. Malla’s connection with RISC goes back to 1990s when she was an active member of the Women and Economics working group, and she has mainteined an active participation in RISC events ever since. She has volunteered both with the Food for Families project and in the RISC offices. |
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hammad kazi My work experience over the years has primarily been in marketing roles for various multi-national companies and I'm now studying in parallel to add a dimension of economics to my past experience. I enjoy medium-distance running, hiking, cooking and attempting to travel around whenever I get the chance. I began my journey with RISC by volunteering at the World Shop and it has been a great experience ever since. For me, RISC symbolises a responsible and united community and it's a privilege for me to serve on its board of Trustees. |
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willem londeman Volunteering for the World Shop introduced me to the great people that volunteer and work for RISC. It also made me aware of all the impressive projects that RISC has been involved with in the past and is currently still working on. RISC is a real community hub for both local groups and organisations further away. At the same time RISC does brilliant educational work and takes action to create a fair, just and sustainable world in the future. If you're curious about RISC, please come in or contact us. I'm sure you'll love it! |
collective
RISC is managed by a collective of individuals in a flattened hierarchy. In other words, rather than one single person at the top the we have a group of people who 'collectively' meet regularly to manage the organisation.
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michele atkins centre facilities co-ordinator, loans service Michele job shares with Fiona in managing our room hire service. As well as this she administrates the artefacts loan service. |
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sharon fitton food4families co-ordinator Bio coming soon. |
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will gooding global cafe co-ordinator Will has been managing the cafe since 2005. |
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fiona grant community facilities co-ordinator I am responsible for the day to day management of the community meeting space including health and safety. I Joined RISC as a volunteer in 1992, was shop co-ordinator until 2001 when I moved to my current post. |
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zainab khan events co-ordinator Bio coming soon. |
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bente madeira events co-ordinator Bente is a RISC founder member who organises events on global issues prioritising activists from the Africa, Asia, the Caribbean & Latin America. Every Year she coordinates the Reading Fairtrade Fortnight in February/March as well as Reading International Festival which overlaps with One World Week and Black History Month in October. |
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martin mikhail centre co-ordinator Martin has been with RISC since the beginning and is involved in almost every aspect of the charity. From meeting with funders to building maintenance, Martin has an overview of whatever is going on at any one time! |
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annemieke palmer finance co-ordinator I have worked for RISC as the Finance Coordinator since 2003. Life at RISC is never dull as we always have lots of projects on the go, I also deal with all the different income streams from the World Shop, Global Cafe, Room Hire and flats. We have quite a number of people on the payroll and managing the Year End accounts also takes up some time. |
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dave richards publications and roof garden co-ordinator Dave has been working at RISC since 1989. He produces exhibitions and teaching resources on a range of issues including trade justice, sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. He also coordinates RISC's work on food and gardens. |
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silvia rizzoli world shop co-ordinator Sylvia has been managing the shop since 2014. |
other staff
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emanuela marchiori morning caretaker I started working at RISC when WEB moved to the present location. I helped as a volunteer with painting and decorating when they were doing up the building. One job I enjoyed was filling with paint the animals and plants in the Hall after the artist Pipa had done the sketching. I also volunteered in the kitchen and as caretaker before starting paid work as caretakers in 2001. |
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katherine meehan shop assistant Bio coming soon. |