Our team
The Winch is powered by a diverse group of people from all walks of life. Many of our team bring lived experience to their roles, having witnessed the challenges and opportunities in our community first-hand. From our front-line play and youth workers to our operations, fundraising, and marketing teams, we each bring unique expertise to make the Winch what it is. Here are just a few of the dedicated people who make up our team.
Meet a few members of our team
Rashid Iqbal
CEO
Rashid joined the Winch as CEO in 2017. He has been committed to supporting children and young people and their communities for over twenty five years He has held senior directorships in national charities and social enterprise, alongside roles in education and a short secondment to the Cabinet Office. He was honoured with an MBE in 2022. What he loves most about his role at the Winch is how perfectly it aligns with his interests in people, purpose and place.
Chitra Shanbhogue
Head of Partnerships
Chitra joined the charity in 2022, bringing a strong background in partnership development and community engagement. Chitra leads on raising awareness and securing vital funds from individual donors, community supporters and corporate partners, drawing on years of international experience building meaningful relationships. At heart, she is a storyteller, translating impact into narratives that resonate and inspire action. Chitra believes that when people feel connected to a cause, they give generously and stay engaged for the long term, creating lasting change.
Daniel Kwashie
Youth Worker
Daniel has been part of the Winch since 2016. His connection to the Winch began as a child attending summer programmes while his mum worked here, an experience that helped him understand the impact of the work and feel part of the community from a young age. Through his role, he’s passionate about building meaningful relationships that help shape young people’s lives.
Jade Wilkins
Offices and Services Co-ordinator
Jade has been part of the Winch since 2017, first coming along as a young person to attend youth club. It was a place where she could seek support and feel safe, helping to keep her off the streets during her teenage years. Having grown up on the Chalcots Estate next to the Winch and now living locally, Jade has a strong connection to the area. What she loves most about working at the Winch is the sense of community it creates — a place where everyone is welcomed and supported.
Katie Gosling
Family Activities Facilitator
The Winch is a central part of Katie’s life not only through her work, but also through her children, who have loved attending the after-school and holiday programmes. She’s seen first-hand how the Winch helps children form friendships, try new activities, and supports families in practical and meaningful ways. A lifelong local resident, Katie is deeply connected to the community and passionate about supporting families. She loves being part of a team that makes a real difference, helping reduce isolation, support mental and physical health, and walk alongside families on their journey, with plenty of bubbles, songs, and stories along the way.
Kim Mabbutt
Head of Play
Kim’s journey with the Winch began on the football pitch at age 18. As a member of our early women’s football sessions, she travelled the country in tournaments and “lived and breathed” the sport. That experience was a catalyst for her career; the same person who introduced her to the pitch eventually introduced her to a leadership role here. Kim celebrates an incredible 25 years as our Head of Play. She describes her role as “the best job in the world,” where she feels privileged to witness the “beautiful magic moments”—from a child’s blossoming friendship to the pride of learning something new for the first time.
Reece Okezie
Acting Youth Work Manager
Reece has been part of the Winch since 2013 and first came along as a young person. He regularly attended football and youth club sessions, and the Winch quickly became a place where he felt welcomed, supported, and safe. It gave him something to look forward to and a community of peers and staff he knew were on his side. Having lived locally his whole life, Reece brings a deep connection to the area. Seeing first-hand the impact youth work had on him, he’s passionate about creating that same sense of safety, belonging, and opportunity for other young people. He’s also inspired daily by the commitment and care of the team he works alongside.
Nura Abdul Razak
Play worker
Nura’s history with The Winch began at age 14 as a member of our youth team. Her time as a young person was filled with adventure from local residentials with friends to a life-changing trip to Harlem, New York, to see international youth projects. Inspired by that trip and the dedication of her own youth workers, Nura began work experience with the youth team at just 15. After a year of volunteering, she became a permanent fixture of the youth team before moving to her current role in the Play Team in 2024. A lifelong resident of the neighborhood, Nura’s greatest joy is watching the children of her own community thrive and flourish.
Soye Briggs
COO
Soye has been part of the Winch since 2020. He values the authenticity of the work and the deep, meaningful relationships built with beneficiaries and partners, as well as the varied and unpredictable nature of his role. the Winch is special to Soyes because of the crucial support it offers children and young people, creating a sense of belonging within their local community. As someone with lived experience of being care-experienced, he knows how impactful this kind of support can be, and brings that understanding into his work every day.