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.

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.

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.

Yirgalem is our ever-smiling, ever-laughing assistant for Lunch Club. She gives great hugs, looks after our Over 55’s with care and tenderness and is generous with her time, her heart and her humour. She’s originally from Eritrea and loves to teach others about her language, culture and traditions.

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.

Michael joined the staff in 2024. He has lived in the area his whole life, growing up playing in Whittington Park and attending Yerbury and Acland Burghley. Michael has done several odd jobs while also being involved in political organising for many years. He had a novel published in 2011 and has co-authored two nonfiction books more recently, published in 2022 and 2025. He is passionate about Arsenal, antiracism, mental health and his family

Gary came to the Youth Club as a child and now helps to take care of the place. He’s usually tinkering with something and fixing something else. He also works as a postman so his face is well known in the area.