Newham charity Bonny Downs Community Association (BDCA) today announced Chelle Coulton as its new Chief Executive.
Chelle joined BDCA in 2016 and was appointed Operations Manager in 2018 before being promoted to her current role of Chief Operating Officer in October 2019. In this role, Chelle has worked closely with the Chief Executive on many aspects of managing the organisation, has contributed to strategic planning and has had specific responsibility for monitoring and evaluation, embedding new policies and procedures and overseeing the achievement of BDCA’s Trusted Charity Award.
Prior to joining BDCA, Chelle held various roles with third sector organisations including Alternatives Trust East London and the Charity Commission for England and Wales and supported several voluntary and community groups as a research consultant. She is also a founder and current co-director of Compost London, the Newham-based organisation providing support to local voluntary and community organisations.
Chelle succeeds Peter Laing who, after 17 years at BDCA including 13 as Chief Executive, is leaving to take up a new opportunity. Her appointment is effective 16 March and she will be based at the charity’s main office, The Well Community Centre in East Ham.
David Mann, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said:
“I’m delighted that Chelle will lead BDCA as Chief Executive. Chelle is a Newham resident with a passion for our community and has made a huge contribution since she joined us in 2016. Her terrific breadth and depth of third sector experience will be invaluable as she leads us forward in our vision to change lives and transform our community.
“I also want to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to Peter for his 17 years of service, his exceptional leadership, and his outstanding work to grow our services. BDCA is barely recognisable compared with when he joined us and I, along with our employees and trustees, have enormously enjoyed working with him. We all wish him well in his new adventure.”
Chelle Coulton, newly appointed Chief Executive, said:
“I’m deeply passionate about BDCA and all it stands for. The incredible, relational work it does to support the people of Newham is truly inspiring and I’m delighted and honoured to serve my colleagues and our local community as BDCA’s new Chief Executive. Over two decades, predominantly under Peter’s dedicated leadership, BDCA has grown to offer quality provision where it is most needed – from families with young children to youth and elders – along with valued services in the areas of sports, health and wellbeing, food, poverty response and volunteering.
“Given today’s challenges, as well as the assets and opportunities within our uniquely diverse borough, BDCA’s work has never been more relevant. I will join with our fantastic team of staff and volunteers and our wider community to ensure we change more lives and continue to transform Newham!”
