Norwood Forum is a volunteer-led organisation covering the south-east area of the London Borough of Lambeth: West Norwood, Gipsy Hill and Tulse Hill. We aim to celebrate our wonderful neighbourhood and its vibrant, diverse, but cohesive community whilst making a positive difference to the quality of life for people who live and work here. Register for our regular newsletter, dedicated to communicating and connecting the local community.
Norwood Forum Committee members
All can be contacted by email to: info@norwoodforum.org
Kim Hart: Chair
Kim has lived in West Norwood for more than 20 years, a period which has witnessed the incredible revitalisation of our community which has made our town such a joy to live in. She works full time, currently as the Activities and Community Officer in West Norwood Cemetery as part of the current National Lottery Heritage project, and previously as a cultural consultant, and before that running the national development agency for arts festivals. Kim's areas of interest are health & wellbeing, culture & creativity, and the environment - specifically the impact of climate change and what genuine difference we can make at grass roots level and as part of this, she is heading up Norwood Forum's new campaign 'Working towards a greener Norwood'.
Gloria Orosungunleka: Vice-Chair
I moved to Norwood in 2011. I have enjoyed seeing the changes in Norwood and enjoy participating and seeing changes on behalf of the people in Norwood. As a trade union activist I believe that the workers are the union and are stronger together in their outcomes. I believe that the community in Norwood has grown from strength to strength with togetherness, and believe that all people who live, work, study and visit Norwood have and will continue to have their views heard. I enjoy seeing the community thrive and look forward to seeing Norwood grow further to being a wonderful, exciting cultural hub. I am currently involved in the faith community and currently attend a church in Brixton. I enjoy reading, exploring the local community.
Noshir Patel: Treasurer
Noshir Patel has lived in Norwood for the last 40 years. He trained originally as a research neuroscientist and subsequently worked as a manager in the NHS. He is currently retired and enjoys living in Norwood and would like to help make it a more lively and thriving community. He is currently involved in several local groups and amenity societies including the Norwood Forum and the Friends of Brockwell Park.
Anne Crane
Anne Crane has lived in the area for the past 21 years with connections going back more than a quarter of a century through a local school which both her daughters attended . She is a chartered town planner currently working for Transport for London but who started her career in the Lambeth Planning Department. Anne is Chair of the Norwood Action Group and is active in her street Residents’ Association. She wants to make Norwood an even better place in which to live, work, shop and spend leisure time – and to protect what is good and try to prevent what could be harmful to the area.
Jane East
I have lived in West Norwood for 14 years, though until 2019 was working in international development, so spent long periods away. Since returning home, I have worked for The Cares Family, which builds social connections through intergenerational friendships, and Public Voice, which mobilises local residents to help improve public services. I am now a manager in the NHS. As a passionate advocate for community and citizen voice, I hope I can use my work experience for good in my own neighbourhood.
Jane Pickard
Jane has returned to the forum committee after a gap of 20 years. She was first chair of the forum, secretary of Norwood Action Group and a local councillor from 2010 until May 2022. She has lived in West Norwood for 32 years and believes that by working together we can improve our area for the good of all of us and resist unwanted development – which means involving the whole community and building a consensus about what we want
Laura Rigden
Laura is delighted to be joining the Norwood Forum Committee to support the amazing work the Forum does in West Norwood. Laura lives locally and runs her Wellbeing Education and Leadership Development Training & Consultancy company (It’s a Playground) from the area too. Laura has been volunteering her time to provide free wellbeing education support in Lambeth since 2017, and continues to make this a priority of her and her business'. She’s extremely passionate about mental & social wellbeing, community and bringing together/ effectively communicating all the amazing initiatives and resources we have locally in the area. She believes we really are “stronger together” and should support and empower each other to learn, grow and thrive as best we can.
Phillip Virgo
South Londoner born and bred, returned in 1996 after 23 years exile north of the River. Aiming to spend more time on local issues after forty years organising all-party studies into high tech, skills and social cohesion policy, including local, national and international partnerships.
Norwood Forum · c/o The Old Library · 14-16 Knights Hill · London, SE27 0HY · United Kingdom