Our Patrons
Terry Brown
Terry, former Chairman and Honorary Life President of West Ham United F.C., enjoyed a distinguished business career, serving as Chair of the Club from 1993 to 2007. Following his time in football leadership, Terry dedicated himself to supporting local businesses and charitable causes, becoming one of our first patrons. In recognition of his generous sponsorship of our flagship hub in Canning Town, the facility was renamed The Terence Brown Arc in his honour.
Glyn Hopkin
Glyn is the former Managing Director of Glyn Hopkin Ltd. Founded in 1993 with a single Nissan dealership in Romford, the company has grown into one of the UK’s largest and most successful automotive dealer groups, representing more than 10 leading brands across over 40 dealerships throughout London and the surrounding counties.
A dedicated supporter of Kevin Jenkins and Community Links for more than 15 years, Glyn is proud to champion the work of Ambition Aspire Achieve. In recognition of his longstanding commitment and support, our second hub, opened in 2018, was named the Glyn Hopkin Abbey Hub in his honour.
Lyn Brown
Baroness Brown of Silvertown
Lyn served as the Member of Parliament for West Ham from 2005 to 2024 — a role closely connected to her own upbringing in the constituency. Educated locally at Drew Road Primary School in Silvertown and Plashet Comprehensive School, she went on to study English and Religion at Roehampton University, where she was elected President of the Students’ Union.
Prior to entering Parliament, Lyn was a Newham councillor from 1988 and held senior positions with the Local Government Association and London Councils, playing a key role in establishing the London Libraries Development Agency.
During her time in Parliament, she served in the Whips’ Office and held several frontbench roles, including Shadow Communities Minister, Shadow Fire Minister, and Shadow Minister for Africa. A longstanding advocate for the Living Wage and greater funding for inner-city communities, she has consistently championed the needs of West Ham residents.
Now serving as Baroness Brown of Silvertown in the House of Lords, Lyn continues her dedication to public service. She is proud to support Ambition Aspire Achieve and its work empowering young people in Newham and across East London.
Ricky Grover
Actor, comedian, and writer Ricky Grover has been a valued friend of Ambition Aspire Achieve since its beginnings in 2016. A proud Newham native, Ricky has appeared in a range of popular British films and television programmes, including Red Dwarf, EastEnders, Porridge, and After Life, and is a familiar face on the UK stand-up circuit.
Passionate about giving back to his community, Ricky is committed to supporting local children and young people to realise their full potential and remains a strong advocate for the borough he proudly calls home.