About us

We are an arts-orientated community organisation based in Brixton, south London. We manage community projects such as the Brixton Youth Theatre for local children, BYT Youngers and a variety of arts projects including BeWell, JourneyMakers and Rich Mix.

We are dedicated to reflecting the cultural and ethnic diversity of south London, to promoting social cohesion and developing a programme of socially inclusive activities.

We are looking for volunteers

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Contact us

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We are looking for volunteers • Contact us •

About the management team

The current management committee consists of local residents, mainly with a background in the arts. We are constantly seeking to strengthen our management committee and pool of dedicated volunteers, so if you live locally and would like to get involved please see our volunteering page for details.

Meet the management team

  • Caroline Funnell – Chair

    Caroline has lived in Brixton for many years. She has worked in arts management in the UK and internationally. She devised BCB’s original five year business plan in 1998 to convince the freeholders that it could be run by a responsible team of local residents. She was instrumental in forming the first board of trustees and fundraising to bring the building back into public use.

    Skills: Experienced in project delivery and project funding.

  • Louise Hay – Company Secretary

    Louise is Managing Director of the Fine Art Trade Guild. Also responsible for Quality Management, Industry Standards Development and Training and Education for the art and picture framing industry. She is the publisher of the award winning Art Business Today magazine and fineart.co.uk, the art and framing industry website. She is a local resident and parent.

    Skills: Experienced in dealing with management, financial and governance issues in a busy arts organisation. Good understanding of the issues facing creators of arts.
    Board member since 2003

  • Rich Hodgson – Treasurer

    Rich joined Mind Gym in July 2010 where he was Director of Finance and a member of the executive team. His focus is on ensuring that the business is financially sound and is responsible for all financial reporting, tax, administration, legal and currently HR. Rich started his career with KPMG working in two offices in Canada before moving to the UK where he contracted for a private hospital. He has worked in the UK, Australia and Canada. He has an H B. Commerce and is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor.

    Responsible for: Finances
    Board member since 2010

  • David Baker – Trustee

    David is an applied drama practitioner and former Co-director of Creative Learning and Artistic Associate at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith. He founded the Brixton Youth Theatre and was a drama practitioner for Saturday Arts Clubs. David also has over 15 years experience of working as a professional actor in film, theatre and TV.

    Skills: Experienced in developing and delivering youth and community focused arts projects for participants ranging from young people with autism or at risk of social exclusion to intergenerational projects for senior citizens.
    Board member since 2010

About Albert

Albert Myers was caretaker of St Vincent’s since Father Charles Walker founded the Community Centre in the 1980s. It was often referred to locally as ‘The Albert Hall’.

In 1996 the owners decided to sell the building. That it still exists, and that Brixton Community Based still exists years later is largely down to Albert and his tenacity in drumming up local support to save the Centre, whilst deterring all potential buyers that he was engaged to show round by pointing out all the defects.

In December 1998 the owners agreed to a management committee of local residents taking over the building which we ran until 2021.

Albert gave so much to the Centre and his local community throughout the years, with special affection for NA, Survivors Poetry, the Churches, and the many children that have used the Centre for different activities as well as the actors rehearsing here who he greeted as long-lost friends. 

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