Farial was one of West London Zone’s first-ever Link Workers, based in Phoenix Academy for our Pilot in 2015, and really helped to shape the role. Since then Farial has worked directly with young people in West London for 6 years building trusted relationships within the community. She has progressed at West London Zone from a Link Worker, to Link Work Manager to her current role as Deputy Head of Link Work. In this role, she leads the Hammersmith and Fulham Link Work team supporting them to deliver a high quality, impactful programme for children and young people and has been piloting the WLZ alumni group. She is also a lead Community Champion, helping us better understand and live out our WLZ value ‘local’.

Having grown up in this community, Farial attended Phoenix Academy herself, children and young people trust and respect Farial, and not only have they seen her achieve success - attending university to study Psychology, for instance - but they have seen her return to give something back. Farial has worked as a mentor, a youth worker, and a Link Worker, dedicating her professional life to improving the life chances of young people in the community where she herself is from.

As a testament to Farial’s dedication to the children and families she works with, she received a Leap Award in 2017 as well as being nominated as runner-up for the Hammersmith and Fulham Young People's Achievements Award in 2018. Farial continues to work closely with the young people she worked with on the pilot, now in the WLZ Alumni group, introducing them to working with Citizen’s UK and helping them to produce a film about their local area. Farial regularly speaks within the community and as a spokesperson for WLZ.