Guided by experience,
driven by purpose
Our board of trustees brings together expertise across education, sport, music, finance, and child welfare — ensuring every grant creates lasting impact.
6
Board Members
40+
Years Combined Experience
100%
Independent Governance
3
Expert Committees
Dr. Gordon Sanghera
Chair & Founder
CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies and founder of The Sanghera Foundation. Gordon brings deep expertise in innovation and community investment, guiding the Foundation's strategic direction and championing programmes that use sport to unlock potential in young people.
Lady Amara Blndie
Trustee — Sport & Community
Lady Amara brings a background in philanthropy and public service to The Sanghera Foundation, championing programmes that use sport to create lasting change for disadvantaged young people across the UK.
James Okafor
Trustee — Education
A former headteacher and education policy advisor, James has spent over two decades working to close the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils. He oversees the Foundation's education grant portfolio.
Priya Nair
Trustee — Music & Arts
A concert pianist turned music educator, Priya champions equal access to musical education. She leads grant assessment for arts-based programmes and represents the Foundation at cultural events across the UK.
Robert Asante
Treasurer
A chartered accountant with extensive experience in charity finance, Robert ensures the Foundation's funds are managed responsibly and transparently. He chairs the Finance & Audit Committee.
Dr. Sophie Lawson
Trustee — Safeguarding
A child welfare specialist with a PhD in developmental psychology, Sophie oversees the Foundation's safeguarding policies. She ensures all funded organisations meet the highest standards of protection for the young people they serve.
How we make grant decisions
All grants are assessed by the full board and relevant sub-committee. Our three-stage process ensures transparency, accountability, and alignment with the Foundation's charitable objectives.
Initial Screen
Applications reviewed for eligibility against our funding criteria and registered charity status.
Panel Review
Shortlisted applications assessed by the relevant trustee sub-committee for impact potential.
Board Approval
Final awards approved by the full board and communicated within 8 weeks of submission.