Jonathan Lees

Jonathan started work in the bank industry but after 18 months moved to London to work in the faith and community sector which he has stayed in for the last 30 years. In this time he has set up community development departments in housing associations, worked for an MP, many charities and run a church. Whilst leading the church in Surrey they were exploring about what they could do in the community and people going hungry was raised. After some research in the issue as many disagreed that there was a need, he launched the Epsom & Ewell Foodbank in July 2012. Today they have fed thousands of people and developed the services to include support, furniture, counselling, IT, energy and many other schemes. In 2019 he launched the East Surrey Poverty Truth Commission as they were so concerned about the rising numbers of food demand and their key driver is to close the foodbank as there is nobody needs the food. A big challenge but one we feel in Surrey should be achievable. In his spare time he loves riding his bike and walking his two dogs. He has three children (16, 20 and 21).