Link Work Team Agne Nekraseviciene Link Worker Agne has been working with children for more than 12 years after completing her BA in English Philology at Siauliai University and studying MA SEND at South Bank University. She has been working as an Early Years Teacher for 8 years at an international School of London and a SENCo. Agne is passionate about the holistic approach to learning and feels passionate about supporting children and families. She believes that every child deserves the best start in their life and it is vital that their unique needs are met through a stimulating learning environment. Her passion for nature-based learning and curiosity for philosophy has enabled her to create an engaging learning environment and build relationships with children and families. Amra Chohan Link Worker Amra graduated in Business & IT from London South Bank University and has been teaching SEN and vulnerable children in a mainstream setting within the inclusion faculty for the past four years concentrating on raising maths and literacy standards alongside managing a team of TA’s and various interventions to aid the children. As well as this Amra was able to achieve level 3 ELKLAN which specialises in speech-language and communication. In addition, Amra’s role within the school was to provide social and emotional support for pastoral care. Prior to this Amra was teaching in a primary school setting. Annabel Thody Hammersmith & Fulham Area Manager Annabel studied a degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Sheffield, after a childhood spent in California and schooling in South Wales. After this, she started a career in the prison service working as an English teacher with juveniles, young adults and adults. This took her through a PGCE at Cardiff University and later, a Masters degree in Education from King’s College London. Her research focus specifically addressed the sociolinguistic presentation of young adult offenders and its relationship to educational attainment. West London Zone presents a new and exciting challenge. Angie Bustamante Arias Link Worker Angie completed her degree in Education Studies and Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. Following this, she started working at an SEMH secondary school as a teaching assistant and English teacher. In this role, she gained experience in working with a targeted group of individuals, learning various interventions. She then moved abroad to China to teach English. After returning Angie wanted to continue to work with young people and discovered WLZ, whose values inspired her to take on the role of a Link Worker. Bethany Chisholm Link Work Manager Whilst studying Criminology with Substance Misuse Intervention Strategy at the University of Brighton, Bethany gained experience in facilitating group in local service to promote well-being and recovery. After graduating, Bethany began working with young people in a life skills centre. The focus of this work was to nurture young peoples' interests and help to develop their self-confidence. Bonnie Heaton Link Worker Bonnie studied Popular Music Performance at the British Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) in London. Though her passion was for Music and The Arts, upon graduating in 2018, she decided to try something new. This led her to delve into the world of Education. Bonnie quickly realised her love for working with children and young people through her role as a General / SEN TA in various primary schools. She gained hands-on experience working mainly with children in KS1 who had Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. After discovering the incredible work WLZ does she felt greatly inspired to take on a new exciting challenge and join the team. Brandy Mongoy Link Worker Brandy studied Law and Criminology at the University of Sheffield. Shortly after, she worked as an oracy mentor and Mace Judge with a focus on improving oracy skills, specifically public speaking and debating skills with young children. Most recently, she worked as a teaching assistant with autistic children. Caroline Wilkinson Link Worker Caroline graduated in Communications from Brunel University before studying for her PGCE, also at Brunel. She then taught in a primary school for seven years, spending some of this time working with children with special educational needs. She also has experience tutoring through the National Tutoring Programme and volunteering with young people in her local area. She has lived in west London all her life. Catherine Bradon Link Worker Catherine graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Nottingham and went on to complete a PGCE at the University of Roehampton. She has worked as a primary school teacher in London across both Key Stage 1 and 2 for many years and is passionate about supporting children to achieve their potential. Charlotte Norris Link Worker & Literacy Delivery Officer Charlotte completed her degree in Psychology at the University of Lincoln and then went on to complete her Masters in Developmental Psychology. Charlotte has a background in both Teaching Assistant and teaching roles across the Primary School phase. She is looking forward to taking on training in play therapy and how she can incorporate this into her role as a Link Worker. Christabelle D'Costa Link Worker Christabelle graduated with a degree in psychology from Nottingham Trent University. Following this, she spent two years working in an eating disorder hospital with children and young people. This role helped her gain valuable experience in working with vulnerable individuals and understanding the best way to support their individual needs. Christabelle has always had a passion for working with children and young people and helping them reach their full potential. Clara Upward Link Worker Clara graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in German and history. After university, she spent a year in Hamburg, teaching English in a German school. She spent the summer as a camp director at English summer camps in Germany for young people aged 10-15. During her time in Edinburgh, Clara volunteered for a local charity called CHAI, which supported families with school-age children to navigate the benefits system. Clara has also been tutoring secondary students in history and German online for the past year. Cory Williamson Link Worker Cory graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with a degree in Psychology & Sports studies. He then went on to work as a teaching assistant (TA) in a primary school, whilst also continuing his part time role at David Lloyd leisure as an activities coach running sport/creative sessions for young children. Following his work in mainstream school, Cory opted for a different environment and took on the role as a learning support professional (LSP) in an alternative provision. Cory worked with learners with social and emotional mental health (SEMH) and special educational needs (SEN) who had found learning/behaviour difficult in a mainstream setting; focusing on behaviour for learning to empower children to make the right choices to become successful. Eleanor Brown Link Work Manager and Link Worker Eleanor graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in Childhood Studies. Her experience volunteering for a local domestic abuse charity in Bristol lead her to work for Refuge as a Children’s Support Worker before joining West London Zone. Emma Leto Link Worker Emma studied History of Art at the University of Edinburgh and specialised in how culture can be used to benefit communities. She has since worked in educational media production, providing opportunities and access to educational resources and events for students. She also has experience as a Youth Worker and has always had a passion to support and encourage young people to reach their full potential. Fardowsa Mohamed Link Worker Fardowsa has worked with children, young people and families for the past 19 years within social services, various charities, schools and the community. Fardowsa is very passionate about working with children and young people to support them rise to their full potential and help them access opportunities within the community. Fardowsa loves travelling and learning about different cultures to gain new experiences to improve her practice. Fatima Hussein Link Work Manager Fatima studied English Literature, Language and Linguistics at the University of Roehampton. She then worked as a Secondary Teaching Assistant and Cover Supervisor in south west London. She also has experience tutoring and volunteering with young people in her local area. Haleema Malik Link Worker Haleema completed her undergraduate in Psychology with Criminology from Middlesex University. She further went on to complete a Postgraduate degree in MSc Organisational Psychiatry and Psychology from King’s College London. Following this, she started working at a secondary school as an SEN teaching assistant and literacy teacher. By doing this role she gained experience in working with a targeted group of individuals and learning various interventions. This developed her interest in wanting to work with young people and discovered WLZ, whose values inspired her to take on the role of a Link Worker. Hannah Nicholson Link Worker Whilst studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath, Hannah had the opportunity, through City Year UK, to mentor and run early interventions with young people in Camden. During her degree, she also worked within the Widening Participation team, to help under-represented communities access university study. Additionally, through working with Future Foundations, she helped coach young people into becoming leaders within their local communities. Idil Hussein Link Worker Idil studied Psychology at the University of Essex, in her final year she focused on developmental disorders, cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology. Idil then worked with children with learning difficulties in SEN secondary and sixth form to promote independence. In recent years before joining WLZ, Idil worked as a behavioural therapist for children with Autism, using principles of Applied Behavioural Analysis to teach academic, social, self-help and language & communication skills. Jaiden Stapleton Link Worker Jaiden has been working with young people for the last three years, starting as a healthcare assistant at a children and adolescents unit before moving on to be a teaching assistant at a special needs school. He is extremely passionate about making a positive change in the lives of young people. Jess Nash Link Worker Jess has a degree in Fine Art & Related Arts and completed a 2-year post-grad Foundation in Integrative Arts/Child Therapy. She went on to become a volunteer counsellor for leading children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, and supported children in small groups and 1:1 in her role of therapeutic play-worker at The Family School. Additionally, Jess managed 1:1 yoga therapy provision, school outreach and teacher training programmes for The Special Yoga Centre; supporting children and families living with special and/or additional needs. She has lived in West London for most of her professional life. Juliette Bloom Link Worker Juliette studied Psychology at the University of Edinburgh and then went on to complete an MSc in Applied Clinical Psychology at the University of Bath, as well as a counselling skills qualification. She has previously worked in the admissions department of a secondary school as a tutor and is passionate about supporting young people and helping them reach their full potential. Joe Lodge Brent Area Manager Joe has worked in education for 15 years in a number of different roles. He has coordinated the transition between primary and secondary phases for a Secondary School in Havering and most recently led a team in an SEN school that provided pastoral support to its pupils. He had the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead in school and enjoys forging strong working relationships with professionals and external agencies. John Howells Link Worker John is a qualified Personal Trainer and Primary School Teacher. Before joining WLZ he created and managed his fitness brand - Impact body and mind, and taught in a London primary school. John has also taught English in Italy, Spain and online, and is a big fan of movement breaks and outdoor learning. Joyce Papparlardo Link Worker Joyce graduated from the University of Roehampton with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Counselling and then went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Attachment Studies. She really wanted to work with children so, after graduating, she worked in a primary school as a TA where she specialised in 1-1 and small group work for children with a wide range of needs. Alongside that role, Joyce was also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead of the school. Juanita Benkirane Link Worker After completing her BA in Criminology, she has built up several years of experience mentoring young offenders and providing behavioural support in a primary school. In addition to being a WLZ Link worker, as a qualified therapist, Juanita spends a day a week working with the leading national children’s mental health charity, Place2Be. Kamal Elghailani Link Worker Kamal studied at the University of Sussex, his studies focused on the development and effect media had on young people. During his time at university, he became a skateboarding coach, aiding primary school children with their motor and confidence skills. This led him into becoming a 1-1 in secondary school in south west London for three years. Kamal has led and run key development sessions such as Lego therapy, homework club, and reading intervention. Kamaldeep Kaur Link Worker Kam has recently completed a degree in Primary Education at the University of Greenwich. She has worked with children for a number of years, in a range of settings including education, childcare, and youth work. Kam is passionate about working with children and young people to support them to reach their full potential. Kate Walters Link Worker Kate has completed a BA in Philosophy and Literature at the University of Warwick and an MSc in the Philosophy of Science at the LSE. She has previously worked in communications for organisations including the National Trust, and has also enjoyed spending time with young children as a trustee of a charity pre-school. Katie Devane Link Worker Katie studied Childhood and Youth at The University of Northampton. During this time she worked in a residential children's home, with young people aged 8-18 years old. She also volunteered at various services for children and young people such as a local counselling service and a youth club. After Katie completed her studies, she continued her work in a nursery and also as a part-time Female Youth Development worker where she worked with vulnerable females aged 12-17 within a mainstream school and a pupil referral unit. Katie Donovan Link Worker Katie studied English Literature at Swansea University, before going on to gain her Masters in Applied Theatre from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Here she was involved in various youth theatre projects and supported young people in expressing themselves and building confidence through drama and performing. Before joining West London Zone, Katie completed the Teach First Leadership Development Programme and taught as a class teacher in a primary school for two years. Lucy Bilson Link Worker Whilst studying for her undergraduate degree in Ancient History, Lucy helped to run an educational organisation aimed at supporting children who were missing out on opportunities due to the Covid-19 Lockdowns. This led to an interest in inequalities in the education sector and subsequent work as an Interventions Tutor at a primary school. This involved working with small groups of children across the school to get them to a similar level to their peers in the core subjects. Lucy Wadham Link Worker Lucy graduated with a degree in Contour Fashion and worked as an artist, designer and seamstress. This experience gave insight into the disparity in access to opportunities within the arts for people from disadvantaged backgrounds and which instigated a move into community-focused work; leading a regeneration project in White City, running community arts events, and helping local people to access funding and support to pioneer their initiatives through a project called Big Local. Lucy also has extensive experience working in schools, using her creative skills to help improve the learning experience of children with SEN. Lucy now uses her experience from across the arts, education and charity sectors to support children and families to thrive through the West London Zone programme. She believes in the need to link up local provision and support in order for there to be a lasting impact. She views early intervention as a crucial component in improving outcomes for young people. Mark Evans Link Work Director Before joining WLZ Mark worked as a teacher in a local secondary school. Prior to this, he worked for a cluster of schools in southwest London developing provision for children and families and before this developing a mentoring programme for vulnerable young people in collaboration with a Youth Offending team. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge in developing services for children, young people and their families across the public, statutory and the third sector. In his spare time, he is a keen sportsman. Mia O'Connell Link Work Manager Mia studied German and Mandarin at the University of Birmingham. She then qualified as a secondary school teacher in Essex, before joining West London Zone as a Link Worker in Westminster in 2019. Mia then worked overseas in a mental health role and as a Y3 class teacher at an international school in Bangkok, whilst freelancing as a social skills interventionist for a special education centre. Nadia Carrier Solomon Link Worker Nadia studied Politics and Sociology at Newcastle University. Since then, Nadia has worked as a Learning Support Assistant in a primary school setting, primarily supporting children with additional behavioural needs. Alongside this, Nadia worked as a Project Leader for a mentoring charity and as a Play Worker for an organisation within the local council. Olayinka Goldfeather Link Work Manager With a degree in Illustration and a qualification in children's counselling from Place2Be, Ola has a passion for working creatively with children and young people to support their emotional well being. As well as working at West London Zone, Ola is a coach and workshop facilitator, mentoring and supporting teenage girls to build their confidence, self-esteem and skills. She also has experience in inner London primary schools as a learning mentor and teaching assistant. Phoebe Young Link Work Manager Phoebe has experience working in a variety of youth charity and education settings, including at the National Citizen Service and teaching English in French and Ghanaian secondary schools. Prior to West London Zone, she was a Programme Coordinator for Action Tutoring in primary schools across North London, working to close the attainment gap and deliver academic support during Covid-19. She is passionate about WLZ’s early intervention, multi-agency and community-focused approach. Priya Patel Link Worker Priya is a graduate of Psychology from Coventry University. She has been mentoring for the last few years and has found her calling. Alongside this, she has also volunteered for the National Hindu Students Forum UK which is the largest Hindu student organization in the UK and has helped organize national events. Priya's passions are anything creative or arts and crafts related and in her spare time specialising in Mehndi (Henna) but is happy to give anything creative a go! Rebecca Bryce Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Area Manager Becky has been working for the past ten years in youth justice and children's services after qualifying as a Social Worker from Royal Holloway, University of London. In her most recent role, Becky was leading on education for school-aged and post-16 children known to youth justice services. This included working closely with local education providers and education colleagues within the local authority to support these children to achieve their potential. She also managed the team providing education, training and employment support. Becky is passionate about education and wellbeing, which is what drew her to West London Zone. Rebecca Farrell Westminster Area Manager Rebecca studied English and American Literature at the University of Kent. She has experience working in the Education and Charity sector. Rebecca is a qualified Primary School Teacher, specialising in Early Years. Before WLZ, she taught in the Nursery at her local infant school for 7 years. Rebecca was part of the Middle Leadership team, responsible for the Learning Environment and leading on the subject of Writing across the school. She also has experience volunteering with Crisis, supporting people experiencing homelessness, and with her local hospital as a Dementia Buddy. Sarah Walsh Link Worker Sarah completed a degree in Primary Education in Canterbury and went on to teach in primary schools, specifically within the Early Years Foundation Stage. After several years, she decided to take her teaching abroad and worked as a TEFL teacher and as a volunteer in an orphanage. Seema Ahmed Link Worker Seema has been working with children and young people for over 10 years and has also studied International Relations at Queen Mary University. From volunteering in her local community centre, to becoming a play worker, she was able to gain an excellent understanding of child development. This included recognising the disadvantages that many children face in accessing activities and positive enriching experiences. Therefore, Seema focused on introducing new activities for children to discover such as: regular badminton sessions, hair braiding lessons and exploring henna art. From this, she was able to strengthen her relationship with the children as they enjoyed embracing their creative side and learning new skills. She is passionate to continue this path to encourage children and young people realise that there are no limitations to the greatness they can achieve Sonia Quane Link Worker Sonia grew up in West London and studied Global Health and Social Medicine at King's College London, which developed her passion for addressing social inequalities. She has worked and volunteered with children and young people in a range of settings including tuition centres, after-school clubs, nannying and social services in both London and New Delhi. She has also previously worked in administration roles for a global health charity and an education law firm. Sorrell Thomas Link Worker As a born and bred West Londoner, Sorrell is passionate about the borough and the communities within. She studied Child Development at Birkbeck University and is a qualified counsellor. Sorrell has worked with children and young people in a variety of contexts including as a Learning Support Assistant, Teaching Assistant and Nanny for over 10 years. During this time she has developed a wealth of experience working with children’s emotional wellbeing, and an affinity for engaging with families as well as their children. Tillie Morris Link Worker Tillie studied English and American Literature at Keele University. After graduating, she decided to volunteer in a local primary school helping students to bridge attainment gaps. After moving to London she worked in a West London primary school for four years across Key Stage 1 and 2, developing a passion to help children reach their full potential. Thaleia Filippopoulou Link Worker Whilst studying Psychology at the University of York, Thaleia became a young person mentor and volunteered for a society called KEEN, which organises weekly sessions for children with Special Educational Needs. This enhanced her passion for working with children and young people, following her graduation she became a Learning Support Assistant in a Primary School in Leeds. Thaleia is passionate about connecting with children and young people and helping them reach their full potential. Thomas Hacker Link Worker Thomas graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Psychology and then went on to complete a Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Brunel. During his degree, Thomas worked as a children’s football coach, which led him to his next role providing sports development and pastoral support at a primary school. For the past few years, Thomas has worked as a researcher for a leadership development organisation. Victoria Proctor Link Worker Victoria graduated from King's College London with a BA in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics and an MA in Philosophy. Alongside her studies, she provided pastoral support to young people as a Mentor and Youth Engagement Intern with a local charity focusing on equal access to higher education, as well as being involved in homeless outreach. More recently, Victoria has volunteered as a Crisis Counsellor for mental health charity Shout, offering support to those in crisis via a text line. She has also worked with young people as a Tutor and then later as a Literacy Delivery Officer here at WLZ.