Jo joined in June 2024. Her background is in community work within Islington with a focus on ensuring that no one is left out. Her previous role was at Islington Ecology Centre and she’s delighted to continue her career working with local people in another beautiful green space. She’s a mental health first aider, a passionate gender equalities advocate and strives to make the world as eco-friendly and inclusive as she can. She brings enthusiasm and a wealth of community networks to the role.

Joanna successfully completed an apprenticeship with us in 2012 and went on to train in book keeping and finance. 

She’s the first port of call when people visit the centre and makes sure that everyone gets the help they need so  their class or event goes well.  

Sophie joined WPCA in August 2023 as Office Manager, working part-time to fit around other work as a singer and musician. Sophie has lived in North Islington since 1995 sending both of her children to Yerbury Primary School. Previous administrative work has spanned working for an introduction agency to house-keeping in a context of palliative care via the NHS, Arts Admin and Box Office.

The man everyone refers to as Saint Martin is at the heart of the centre. He is our caretaker, handyman, chef and everything else. If you need to know where something is or how to fix it, Martin is the one you go to. He brings enthusiasm, smiles and experience and we would be lost without him. He came to the Youth Club at WPCA as a child and now loves to give back to the community in the same place.

Shawdon studied at Highbury Grove School, then did a marketing and advertising degree at Hertfordshire University, before returning to N19 to co-found Ambitious Academy on the Elthorne Estate where he lives.

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This project offers alternative education and mentoring to young people living in and around the estate. This summer he worked with young people on the estate to produce a short film Drawn Out, which deglamourizes gang life. This film has had 2.5 million hits on Youtube.  

Shawdon joined WPCA as lead youth co-coordinator of our Friday Night Youth Club which opened in the summer 18.  

Jely studied Film at Middlesex University, and graduated in July 2019. His passions are film and football. He has succeeded in working with one of his passions as a community football coach and film is a major theme at our Friday Night Youth Club.

Jely joined WPCA as a youth worker in December 2020.

Sam joined us in January 2015 and coordinates our Childminders’ Drop In and Stay and Play sessions. Before joining us, she was deputy manager in a private nursery and a teaching assistant at Yerbury School.  She has lived and worked in the local community for over 20 years.