Governance
TARA CENTRE GOVERNANCE
Directors and Leadership Team
Dr Elham Kashefi
Founder & Managing Director
Elham is a researcher, trainer and practitioner whose work has been shaped by both her professional background and her own experiences of migration, refuge and loss. She holds a Doctorate in Health Research and founded the Tara Centre in 2012 to increase access to therapeutic support. Elham continues to lead its development, drawing on over 30 years of experience in research, community participation and trauma-informed practice.
Kay Johnson MBE
Non-Exec Director
Kay is an award winning nutritionist who has worked with communities across the globe. She is the founder of The Larder CIC and has received an MBE for her services to food and community. In her clinical practice, she supports midlife women and adults with ADHD who feel that conventional health advice hasn’t worked for them.
Robin Eyre
Non-Exec Director
Robin is a horticulturalist with a background in education and community development. She supports adults with disabilities in her work with Piccadilly Garden. Over a 10 year period she also developed the Fork to Fork forest garden, turning a disused site to an abundant forest garden with the help of volunteers from Piccadilly Garden and others.
Rev Jitei White
Meditation Lead
Jitei is an ordained Zen Buddhist Priest and Founder of Antei-ji, a Zen Buddhist Temple in Lancaster. Jitei has dedicated his life to zazen, the practice of meditation and walking the path of love. As well as teaching meditation and feeding 15-25 people weekly at our Community Cafe for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Jitei offers a Meditation Teacher training at the Centre for those who feel a genuine call to help others in this time of widespread depression, disconnection, and quiet suffering.
How We Make Decisions
The Tara Centre is a grassroots community organisation built on trusting relationships, community participation, mutual aid and shared responsibility. Whilst the Directors are responsible for the governance, legal responsibilities and strategic direction of the organisation, our work is shaped by listening to our community, responding to local needs and supporting people to contribute their time, skills and lived experience. New projects emerge where there is both a genuine need matched by people willing to help meet it. The Directors oversee the development of new projects to ensure they align with our mission, values, safeguarding responsibilities and available resources.
Policies & Accountability
We are committed to creating safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces for everyone who uses our services. We take safeguarding, equality, confidentiality and complaints seriously and regularly review our policies and procedures.
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Dr Elham Kashefi
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Robin Eyre
Safeguarding concerns can be raised at elham@taracentrelancaster.org.uk 07830107008 or robinrubyeyre@gmail.com.
Funders
With gratitude to the funding organisations who have supported our 25+ community wellbeing projects over the past 13 years.
