Leadership
Dez Brown is the CEO and Founder of Spark2Life.
Dez founded and has pioneered the Spark2Life project since 2006 while leading a large inner-city youth ministry with 80+ in attendance. Dez enjoys building teams and developing leaders, in 2012 as both projects were demanding he handed over the vibrant youth programme to a person who came through it.
Dez is a reformed offender is married with four adult children; he has an autobiography – ‘Convicted or Condemned’. He’s an ordained minister, qualified therapist and a cultural architect. Dez has been going into prisons for over 20 years and now offers training, coaching and consultation to the sector.
Jamela has been working with young people for 24-years. She became a Maths teacher in 2000 and progressed onto becoming a Deputy Head Teacher in a north London Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in 2012. She is committed to advocating for, supporting and investing in young people who are marginalised because they are considered disaffected and hard-to-reach.
She strongly believes that no young person should be disregarded, and all are worthy of our best care.
As our Managing Director, Jamela has operational oversight over the organisation along with the strategic oversight of the implementation of policies and procedures across the life of the organisation.
Despina has worked in the charity sector within the Mental Health, Criminal Justice and Education fields for over 10 years. She studied Forensic Psychology and worked as frontline practitioner with vulnerable adults and young people in police custody, courts, prison and probation. She then implemented and managed charitable forensic and school mental health services in partnership with His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), the NHS England and NHS Trusts, various local authorities of London and the third sector across London.
As the Business Development Director of Spark2Life, she is responsible for all areas of income generation, developing and delivering Spark2Life’s strategies of communications and business development.
Arnold was born and raised in East London based in Waltham Forest. It is at the age of 17 that Arnold decided to separate himself from the negative influences so that he might inspire those with a similar background to his.
Arnold is Spark2Life's Early Prevention Manager and oversees our Schools and Community Department. Through schools, young people are positively impacted by the specialised support. The aim is to foster resilience and promote personal growth. With the Community work, the aim is to empower young people and Parents/Carers with knowledge, skills, and provide emotional support.
Arnold is passionate about people and he is committed to helping people both realise their potential and then release that potential in a positive way showing that people can challenge the negative stigma associated with them.
John was born and raised in South London, growing up in an area heavily influenced by crime and gang culture. At age 14, he fell into a life of crime and was immersed within a gang culture that landed him in prison at 19 years old.
John is now Spark2Life's Enhanced Prevention Manager overseeing contracts and caseworkers in both South and East London.
He is a positive role model and mentor to the young people that he supports as well as his colleagues. Due to his own lived experience, John is often able to relate to the young people he supports and despite now being in a leadership position, is still dedicated to providing support that will prevent young people making the mistakes as him.
He is passionate about working with young people because he has seen so many dreams killed because of a lack of self-belief.
Aaron was born and raised in Islington then moved to Manor park, and now lives in Dagenham.
Aaron has always had a heart to work with people and has always wanted to understand those who can be easily misunderstood. Within his friendship group he has always been the go-to person for people when they are struggling in their lives or struggling with being pulled into a criminal lifestyle. He is, for his friends, the person who gives advice and speaks positivity into their lives without judgement.
Aaron decided to join Spark2Life, as despite his former love of money, he was able to avoid any trouble with the law, he then discovered a purpose for his life that was greater than money.
Spark2Life's aim also resonated with Aaron due to him seeing those around him involved in criminal activity, and feeling that they were cheated by the system which lead to limiting their futures and self worth.
Aaron is currently a Senior Co-ordinator on our Youth Endowment Fund's Meaningful Mentoring project.
Bradley was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, before moving with his family to Melbourne, Australia. In 2001, at the age of 11, they relocated again, this time settling in East London.
By the age of 12, Bradley had become involved with a gang in East London. However, in his twenties, he made the courageous decision to walk away from that lifestyle and pursue education. The transition was far from easy, but with the unwavering support of his loved ones, he was able to turn his life around. He came to recognise that his risk-taking behaviour had made him vulnerable to exploitation, affecting not only himself but also those around him.
Bradley went on to study Social Work at the University of East London in Stratford. With over a decade of experience in the sector; including casework, care work, and youth work, he has seen first-hand the lasting effects of gang involvement on young people. His personal journey, combined with the stories of others he has encountered, has deepened his resolve to support young people in making positive life choices and taking ownership of their futures.
At Spark2Life, Bradley is now overseeing Administration, IT, and Health & Safety. This shift marks a new chapter in his professional development, allowing him to grow and expand his skills across other key operational areas while continuing to support the charity’s mission.
“Don’t let the past blackmail your present and ruin a beautiful future.”
Nikaela has worked with young people for over 10 years and is passionate about supporting their emotional and mental wellbeing.
Nikaela has worked with many vulnerable and at-risk young people and she is committed to transforming the opportunities for those who are effected by SEMH (Social Emotional Mental Health) difficulties.
As the Therapeutic Coordinator she manages the Community Mentoring project within Waltham Forest and is developing a counselling service within the organisation which is integral to the trauma-informed approach that Spark2Life has adopted when working with its clients. Nikaela is also Head of Innovation at Spark2Life.
Gavin was born and raised in South East London. He lived on an estate with his family until his dad passed away when he was 7-years-old causing him to live with his 16-year-old sister and 13-year-old brother.
Whilst growing up, Gavin was exposed to various crimes, he witnessed shootings, stabbings and many other crimes within his area.
Although Gavin had friends who were caught up in criminal activity, he realised he had a choice to make, so he slowly distanced himself from the negative influences of his friends.
Gavin joined Spark2Life because he understands the importance of having somebody fighting for you, in your corner. He aims to be relatable when impacting others as he believes everybody deserves another chance.
Gavin is currently a Senior Co-ordinator on our Youth Endowment Fund's Meaningful Mentoring project.
Niall was born and raised in East London, he grew up on an estate where from a young age he was exposed to a lot which began to shape his mindset. From his early teen years, knife crime was very prevalent and a lot of people Niall knew became victims of knife crime.
There were times when Niall himself doubted making it past his teenage years, but the more he saw, the more he reflected and realised what he did not want for his life.
Niall started voluntary football coaching and then through working across different fields found his place contributing to the development and growth of those around him who lacked understanding.
Niall is currently a Senior Co-ordinator across our Enhanced Prevention services.
“What I enjoy most about Spark2Life is the commitment to being an effective and positive influence across London”
Admin & Operations
Beth was born and raised in East London. Growing up in a family where faith was of paramount importance, she became strong in her values from an early age, however those close to her sadly fell into a criminal lifestyle which led to them spending time in prison.
After completing her degree in Journalism Beth spent time volunteering at other criminal justice charities and writing for social justice magazines. She then worked as a full-time journalist covering Walthamstow which is how she was introduced to Spark2Life. After learning of the amazing work that Spark2Life carry out, Beth came on board to put her multimedia skills to use and she started working in social media and admin but is now our full time Communications Officer.
Beth is passionate about second chances and more opportunities to empower young people to become the best people they can be and contribute positively to their communities.
Nicole was born and raised in Essex with her family.
Before working at Spark2Life Nicole worked in corporate banking. She spent 6 years in the finance world working within Real Estate Finance providing debt for large corporates she also completed her Chartered Bankers Degree in 2021.
Nicole decided to join Spark2Life after resonating with the Spark2Life mantra and the core values of the organisation. Due to her lived experience, Nicole is passionate about ensuring young people are educated on the dire consequences, risks and effects that can come from carrying a weapon. She loves the community outreach work we do and believes that safe spaces like Spark2Life can be a lifechanging lifeline to children and young adults in need of some inspiration and direction.
Jonelle was born and raised in North London.
Before joining Spark2Life Jonelle worked at a Marketing Agency as a Lead Recruiter & HR Advisor for over three years.
Jonelle decided to join Spark2Life because he wanted to give back to organisation like Spark2Life who support young people.
Jonelle's mission here at Spark2Life is to help put processes in place so that the team stay safe and protected while carrying out their roles.
Jonelle is currently Spark2Life's Recruiter and HR Advisor.
Richard was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica (the best island in the world).
Prior to working at Spark2Life, Richard worked for Allen Robyn Associates Ltd for over 6 years. He decided to make the transition to S2L because he was aware of the impact S2L has within the BAME community and wanted to a part of the solutions being provided.
Richard currently works as a Financial Director at Spark2Life and has been an asset to the team.
As a Funding and Tender Bid Writer and Business Development Consultant with Spark2Life since 2019, Joanna Oliver has a diverse background, in sectors including universities, charities, parent support groups, social care and therapeutic communities.
Joanna's experience is underpinned by BA (hon) Advertising, Media and Marketing, MA Therapeutic Child Care, MA Education, professional qualifications in vocational assessment, supervision and FE teaching. Her research experience includes MA research race and ethnicity in therapeutic work, Doctoral research in collaborative working: children, young people and families and current Doctoral research: black young men with autism; experience of the criminal justice system.
As a lecturer, Joanna has taught on a BA (hons) programme in Counselling, Coaching and Mentoring, including Therapeutic Work with children and young people and MA level in Equality and Social Justice.
Joanna’s experience includes working with care leavers, delivering professional training, including culture, race and identity with foster carers and DEI training for a recruitment agency and DEI infrastructure support.
Joanna is also Co-Lead for Racial Justice at the London ACEs Hub, recently headlining at an ACEs conference in Wales, representing the London voice and speaking at London Safeguarding Children Annual Conference in 2024.
Practitioners
Aaron was born in east London, Whipps Cross hospital and grew up in the Waltham Forest area.
Before joining Spark2Life, Aaron spent many years trying to figure out his path in life, which lead to being drawn into things of a criminal nature. However, he also worked in hospitality, retail and admin giving him wider experiences of professional environments.
Aaron joined Spark2Life due to his passion for people, especially those from similar backgrounds who may have faced similar challenges to him.
Aaron is currently a Caseworker at Spark2Life where he mentors and advocates for young people from 13-25, he says he has enjoyed learning and developing as a caseworker which has in turn helped to develop himself.
Aaron said: "Spark2Life really have a great culture within the organisation which we look to spread to the people we work with. I believe no one is born bad and every one deserves a fair chance to prosper and enjoy life as it should be."
Daron grew up in Peckham and was involved in the gang culture within the area and subsequently, the criminal justice system.
Daron has always wanted to work with like minded people who share the mission of helping young people who are facing similar problems to himself and others with lived experience.
Although this was Daron's main reason for joining Spark2life, he has been working within the youth work field for years and has run his own workshops with young carers.
Daron's role within Spark2Life is a Caseworker in the Lewisham area, which he finds to be a highly rewarding role.
Emmanuel was born and raised in North London.
Emmanuel previously worked for Nationwide Building Society in the mortgage department for two years, but his days became quite tedious. The working from home style didn’t suit him as he was used to and enjoyed working and interacting with people.
Emmanuel decided to join the Spark2Life team after being assigned a mentor as a young person himself and saw the benefits. He now feels he owes it to the next generation to pass on the things he was taught as well as some of the life lessons he has learnt himself through his own experiences.
Emmanuel is our Early Prevention Co-ordinator.
Emmanuel, commonly known as ‘Manny Ade’ was born to a Nigerian mother in Newham and raised in Stratford for 6 years, till they moved to Lagos, Nigeria, where he attended primary & secondary school until his return to the UK at 16 years old.
Emmanuel studied media production at university of De Montfort University, Leicester.
For almost a decade, Emmanuel has been on a mission to share faith and culture through media, entertainment, community, business and other avenues. His heart for people led him to Spark2Life as a school's worker where he thoroughly enjoys serving the next generation.
Jared was born in Hackney where he lived with his family till the age of 5, they then moved to Leyton where he has lived with his family ever since. As Jared got older, he started to notice that the negativity within his environment was affecting his decision making.
In 2020, things changed for Jared as he was offered a role at the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) he used to attend - this is where he began his career working with young people. Jared then moved onto work at Norlington School for Boys where he was a School Mentor for 2 years.
Jared currently works as a Caseworker within the Waltham Forest area, he said "My favourite thing about my role is getting to work with young people - it's refreshing."
Raised in South London, Johnathan faced various challenges due to his environment, particularly the influences of criminal activity and gang culture. At the age of 13, he became involved in gang-related activities, which led to his placement in a Youth Offender Institution at 14.
Following his release, Johnathan made a committed decision to change the trajectory of his life. He pursued his passion for music while attending university, ultimately earning a degree in Broadcasting. Over time, he transitioned into a life coach for creative individuals, dedicating himself to mentoring and supporting younger generations from communities affected by gang violence. Additionally, he volunteered with various organisations to contribute to positive change.
With his experience in life coaching and music, Johnathan is dedicated to advocating for marginalised and disadvantaged communities, striving to improve social and criminal justice outcomes. This commitment will remain a focus throughout his career. He is currently a Caseworker at Spark2Life.
Born and raised in North London, Jordan grew up in an area that was heavily influenced by criminal activity and gang culture. At the age of 15, he became immersed in gang activity, which would later lead to him being sentenced to prison at the age of 19. During the time that Jordan was exposed to street culture, he tragically lost close friends as a consequence of youth violence.
At that point, Jordan decided to change his life around and do more for younger generations who are on the path of being affected by the same circumstances.
With background experience in the education and care sectors, Jordan is now a Therapeutic Caseworker who strives to transform the lives of the young people he supports.
Michelle was born and raised in North London, in her early years she lived and went to primary school in Tottenham, then lived in Islington and Wood Green.
Michelle previously worked as a support worker for Haringey youth services and Haringey youth offending team as Court Escort and Community Service Supervisor.
Michelle decided to join Spark2Life after completing the Wholistic Mentoring course and loved the work that Spark2Life carry out with young people and their families.
Michelle currently is a caseworker who works with males aged 18-30 in Waltham Forest area assisting them in various areas of their lives.
Michelle is a compassionate and encouraging person with a disciplined approach to life complemented by a genuine caring nature, she is a good listener and empathetic. Michelle is a beacon of light, inspiring a brighter future in others wherever she goes.
Omar was born and raised in South London, growing up during a period where gun crime was prevalent helped to shape his mindset from an early age concerning the value of life.
Omar has lost close friends and family to gun crime. Although Omar grew up in church and he knew right from wrong, it still didn’t curb his desire to be the next “Nino Brown”.
Omar knows a lot of his close escapes were down to his praying mother. Inevitably, Omar was once again arrested, but it was different this time, due to the birth of his son. While being in that cell, Omar vowed that he didn’t want to have his son visit him in prison. Omar then began the slow process of changing his mindset.
Omar currenlty works as a Caseworker in Lewisham.
Sessional Schools Workers
Elesha was born and raised in Walthamstow (fun fact from Elesha: Walthamstow means 'Welcome Holy Place').
Before joining Spark2Life, Elesha was doing music ministry and she did a driving job.
Elesha decides to join Spark2Life because she absolutely loves working with young people and has done so since 2001. Elesha has also known Dez for a long time and from hearing a lot of great things about Spark2Life she knew she wanted to be a part of it.
Elesha is currently a Schools Mentor at Spark2Life.
"Whatever you sow you will reap."
Jamie was born in Dagenham and grew up in and around the Essex area. Jamie's family turned to Christ from a young age but Jamie struggled to assimilate into the faith of the rest of his family and got heavily involved in drug taking/selling.
As Jamie matured into an adult he went back and forth between faith and drugs eventually overcame the lifestyle and addictions.
Jamie worked with young people and asylum seekers throughout the years. He enjoys working with young people as he wants them to make more positive decisions and not waste so much time and energy on negative lifestyles.
Jamie is now Schools Mentor in the area of Kent where he is now based.
Myran was born and raised in Waltham Forest, east London.
Before Spark2Life Myran worked as a football coach for toddlers for two years. Myran decided to join Spark2Life because he wants to make a real difference in the lives of young people.
Myran is currently a Schools Mentor at Spark2Life.
Natalia was born in South London raised in East London.
Before joining Spark2Life, Natalia worked as an Office Manager for a Caribbean takeaway and a Graphic Designer for a funeral directors.
Natalia decided to join Spark2Life after feeling that she had a story to share that could impact young people and enable them to find their voice and express themselves in a positive way. Natalia has a passion for speaking up for the marginalised and under represented.
Natalia is currently a Schools Mentor.
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” — Frederick Douglass
Natalia was born and raised in Hackney.
Before joining Spark2Life she was a Bartender in various bars across London. She decided to join Spark2Life after being recommended for the role by her friend Beth who believed she would have so much to offer our young people. She decided to apply as she believes in the work of Spark2Life and the organisation's morals align with her own.
Natalia is currently a Schools Mentor.
"I'm excited for the future in this role and the difference I can make in the lives of young people."
Peter was born and raised in Walthamstow, east London.
Before joining Spark2Life Peter worked in the construction industry but by trade he is a barber.
Peter is mindful of the challenges young people face and he decided to join Spark2Life to make a positive impact in their lives.
Peter is currently a Schools Mentor at Spark2Life.
