Steve Coles has an impressive background, with a portfolio career spanning non executive
director, trustee, advisor and consultancy roles, in charities and social enterprises focused on
health, homelessness, addiction and more. Until July 2021, he was CEO of Spitalfields Crypt
Trust (SCT), an addictions recovery and homelessness charity in east London. There he led a
team of 75 and operations that include housing, counselling, Housing First, training and
development, eight charity shops and two social enterprises. Before that, he had a portfolio
working life across the field of social enterprise and social impact measurement including as
founder and MD of Intentionality CIC, an impact measurement consultancy working with 100
social enterprises a year.
On his election as chair, Steve writes:
“It is a pleasure and a privilege to have been elected chair of the board of trustees of the Guild
of Health and St Raphael. After only a matter of minutes of finding out about the rich history,
current work and exciting strategy of the Guild, I was captivated. The bringing together of
practical action and training, high quality research and theological reflection, support and
fellowship, prayer and reflection to help the church be an even better place of healing and
health are compelling and vital. My work over the last twenty years or so has largely been
about creating, supporting or understanding social impact to make a positive difference,
particularly with those who face the challenges of homelessness, addiction, unemployment or
poverty – all of which overlap with or exacerbate physical and mental health difficulties. It is
impossible to ignore spiritual health in that equation too of course.”
The trustees and staff team are equally excited about Steve joining and leading the board at
such a crucial moment in our charity’s work with the growth of our GoHealth Community and the
development of our Healthy Healing Hub project both meeting significant need as the church
and people of faith react to the pandemic and the healing needs of our country.
The Guild is an ecumenical organisation with board and membership representation across a
diverse range of denominations and church cultures. Steve comes from a Salvation Army
background which has driven his desire to service those in need. He commented that, “it is
through that particular denomination – with its focus on social justice and social action – that
God has shaped and moulded me to have a heart for the poor and excluded.”
Steve continues:
“I am excited to join the Guild of Health and St Raphael at this point in time. My sense is that the
Church has a big role to play in providing healing, rest and support for many, many people as
we emerge out of the collective trauma of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the roles of prayer,
community, retreat, reflection and practical action remain as important as ever, if not even more
so. I’m really looking forward to working with the CEO and the incredibly talented,
knowledgeable and wonderful staff team and board of trustees in the years that lie ahead.”
The CEO of the organisation, The Revd. Dr Gillian Straine, commented:
“Steve’s appointment is timely, significant and hugely exciting for the whole organisation. His
vision and energy for our work will be an inspiration and I am looking forward to working with
him, growing the impact of our work through our membership communities, events and
resources as we continue to journey through and recover from the pandemic.”