Portfolio Manager, Guy's and St Thomas Foundation
Radhika previously led The Young Foundation’s work in communities, working with change makers and innovators in cities and towns in the UK and Europe to develop solutions to tackling inequality.
She led the experimentation work stream on Social Innovation Community, the network for social innovators across Europe, where we worked with innovators in four European cities to co-design solutions to pressing local challenges
She is also led Reimagining Rent, the UK’s only innovation support programme for the private rented sector, focusing on initiatives tackling issues of affordability, quality and security for vulnerable renters including those on low incomes.
She led our work on the Community Wellbeing Framework, working with the Co-op to design and create the UK’s first measure of community wellbeing at a neighbourhood level. This initiative sought to understand what it means to enjoy a good life in a neighbourhood and to use this insight to support local action.
She led our work on Community Action Zones, a programme using research and dialogue to support activities that tackle social isolation, recognising that increased isolation has serious implications for individual wellbeing as well as public service budgets.
Radhika is also worked on Rootslab, an innovation lab for young women’s action, supporting social change driven by young women in tough places, starting with Lebanon. Working with Oxfam, the Global Fund for Women and FRIDA The Young Feminist Fund, her work tested how social innovation tools and approaches can support young women to advance gender justice.
Prior to joining The Young Foundation, Radhika worked with the Prime Minister’s Council on Social Action, working with innovators from business, government and the voluntary sector scale social action across the country. She also led a national initiative supporting over 1000 secondary schools to deliver strong community programmes. She was CEO of Mental Health Media, and is a trustee at Community Links, a large multi-purpose charity in Newham and Chair of Asha Trust in Sri Lanka. She is portfolio manager, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund, at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation.
Contributions
Healthy New Towns: Putting Health into Place
Publication Posted on: 22 October 2019
“Let’s talk about parks” – conversation club resource
Publication Posted on: 5 December 2017
BAME Needs Assessment West Sussex: Community Engagement
Publication Posted on: 7 November 2015