Hello and welcome to Newington Green Action Group!

Newington Green Action Group (NGAG) is an all-volunteer, grassroots charity that has been part of the Newington Green community in one form or another since 1997, responding to the changing needs of the people who live and work here.

As Newington Green has changed, so has our work. Today, we focus on strengthening connections between people and making Newington Green a place where everyone can belong, with particular attention to those who may be isolated or face barriers to getting involved. We believe that strong communities are built when people have opportunities to meet, understand each other, support one another and play an active role in shaping the place they live.

The most important part of our name is Action. When Covid arrived, we saw the power of neighbours coming together. More than 300 volunteers joined our community response and our Food Hub and pairing programme helped over 1,500 local residents.

Since then, we have continued to build on that spirit of collective action through a wide range of projects that respond to local needs and create opportunities for people to get involved. Our work includes supporting weekly food hubs, running free community events on Newington Green and welcoming new migrants to the area. We also take on specific projects that align with our mission. In 2025, we brought local organisations together to fundraise for and project manage the installation of solar panels on Newington Green Primary School.

We also work to make sure local voices are heard and that residents have a say in the future of their neighbourhood. We work with, and where needed lobby, Hackney and Islington councils and other organisations on issues including protecting green spaces, improving air quality, encouraging social housing, increasing tree cover and maintaining the unique character of Newington Green.

At the heart of everything we do is a belief that communities are strongest when people feel connected, have a voice and can shape the places they call home. If you have an idea about how to make our area better, we want to hear from you and can help turn that idea into action.

 

Who We Are - A Warm Welcome from our NGAG Team!

Jenny Kay

Chair (she/her)

Jenny has lived in Islington since 2012 and has been an NGAG trustee since 2017 and the overall lead on the annual Jazz on the Green since 2019.

She is especially interested in expanding NGAG’s community empowerment and organising work.

Jenny works in research and strategy consultancy. She is a vice-chair of a federation of primary schools, sits on the board of two foundations and co-founded of a migrant charity.

jk@newingtongreen.org

Andy Grazebrook

Treasurer (he/him)

Andy has lived in Newington Green for twenty years. He joined NGAG in 2022, becoming a trustee in 2024.

Andy’s greatest interest is music. Each year, he helps book and host bands for Jazz on the Green, as well as managing the sound. He brings over 30 years of experience as a musician, DJ, and sound engineer.

Andy has a 25-year career in the UK and international charity and not-for-profit sectors, specialising in relationship management, community engagement and events.

andy@newingtongreen.org

Maria Chiara

Trustee (she/her)

Maria or more commonly known as MC, moved to Newington Green in 2017 from a little village in the Northeast of Italy. She started volunteering with NGAG in 2023 and became a trustee in 2024.

MC is a personal and business coach and works in the field of learning and development, with a strong focus on inclusion and diversity.

MC is a dedicated advocate for improving mental health leads on community pairing for the charity.

jazz@newingtongreen.org

Christine Oram

Trustee (she/her)

Christine is a long-standing resident of Newington Green. She is a consultant and coach with extensive experience in the social justice and non-profit sector, leadership development, fundraising and organisational change.

She is a regular volunteer at the Tuesday food hub at SJSP Church and was previously active as a fundraiser and committee member with Mary on the Green.

She also serves in governance roles, including as Chair of Tax Justice UK.

christine@newingtongreen.org

Joanne Hart

Trustee (she/her)

Joanne has lived in Newington Green for over 15 years. She became a trustee in 2026.

An award-winning business journalist and writer, she has also worked as an editor, copywriter and media trainer, helping organisations across the private and public sectors communicate effectively with their stakeholders.

Joanne is keen to support local businesses and help Newington Green thrive for the benefit of everyone who lives and works here.

info@newingtongreen.org

Sarah Jones

Trustee (she/her)

Sarah moved to the Newington Green area with her family from Brooklyn, New York in 2021.

As a former Director of Communications for a New York City non-profit, she has a background in partnering with local community organisations to tackle issues such as access to greenspace, mental health awareness, educational resources, and food insecurity.

Sarah is pursuing an MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling and hopes to provide her services in Hackney and Islington.

sjones@newingtongreen.org

Dianne Stewart

Trustee (she/her)

Dianne moved to Newington Green in 2014 after life in rural Buckinghamshire where she was a trustee of a large educational charity for 5 years.

She was born and raised in Canada and has a background in business planning and consultancy. She brings her project management skills to all of NGAG’s work.

Dianne managed the alumni and graduation department at a university until 2025. Dianne has been an NGAG trustee since 2015 and is currently travelling round the world.

info@newingtongreen.org

Bonnie Groves

Trustee (she/her)

Bonnie grew up in Finsbury Park and has lived in the Newington Green area since 2020. She became a trustee in 2026.

Bonnie works in the not-for-profit sector focusing on sustainable finance.

She has been a long-time volunteer for community food initiatives in North & East London and is passionate about improving biodiversity in inner cities and addressing inequalities.

community@newingtongreen.org

Dr Waleed Fawzi

Trustee (he/him)

Waleed has been a trustee of the Newington Green Action Group since 2019, serving as treasurer from 2020 to 2023 and now leading on Environment Sub-Committee.

Among his proudest moments was signing, on behalf of NGAG, the deed of gift donating the Mary on the Green sculpture to the London Borough of Islington. He's especially proud of his role in expanding the local playground, now one of the most thriving green spaces in the community.

environment@newingtongreen.org