Our Team

Eleni Venaki

Director

Eleni leads the team and is responsible for overseeing the direction of The Comfrey Project, fundraising and financial management.

Helen Collins

Social Therapeutic Horticulture Coordinator

Helen leads the core gardening activities that provide the heart of The Comfrey Project’s services. She oversees the planning, development and maintenance for all of our allotment sites across Tyneside.

Mike Blenkarn

Administration and Finance Officer

Mike provides administrative support across the team and coordinates the use of our spaces for our various events, sessions and workshops.

Hossein Elahi Boroujeni

Link Worker

The first person many of our new volunteers will meet, Hossein originally came to The Comfrey Project as a volunteer himself. He is now leading a research project and is the primary contact for new volunteers.

Mufida Abdualla

Support Worker

Previously a Comfrey Project volunteer, Mufida now runs the weekly Language and Skills Café, as well as providing support on our research project and other regular events.

Katherine Lowe

Session Coordinator

Katherine coordinates our Culture Hub events and the Language and Skills Café. She also leads on the remote support we put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Penny Schofield (Chair)

Mulubrhan Bahta

Sarah Gibb

Stephanie Nelson

Harold Norcott

Sally Young