CEO – Bijal Karavadra started her career working with young people over 23 years ago, working with HAY for the last 19 years. She has worked with Young people in the criminal justice system, supporting them during reparation projects (community service) as well as helping them learn basic numeracy and literacy skills to stop them re-offending. Bijal originally managed the YBP for over nine years. She has been the Development Manager for the YBP’s for over eight years, progressing to Deputy Director for over 5 years. Becoming the CEO in April 2026, Bijal is a SEND Parent with a passion for supporting young people and parents to get the right support. Bijal has experience of parenting and advocacy. She works alongside various agencies such as school, police, CAMHS, social care, NSPCC to name a few. Bijal has worked closely with the local community to build a strong relationship to provide an important service. She has good knowledge of local and national changes which can impact local communities. Bijal has lead all the projects at HAY to develop them including the Young Women’s Creative Writing Project, the Social Enterprise Project and works closely with our corporate partners.
Youth Work Project Manager – Chris Ngoma – Chris is an experienced youth work professional and Project Manager with over nine years of frontline youth work experience, currently working as the Youth Bonds Manager at Hounslow Action for Youth (HAY), where he has been leading impactful projects for the past year. As a Hounslow resident, he is deeply committed to supporting young people in his local community and creating opportunities for them to thrive. Chris’s work is grounded in trauma-informed practice, with a strong focus on creating psychologically safe, relationship-led environments. He uses curiosity to understand the underlying reasons behind behaviour, supports young people with emotional regulation, and maintains a reflective awareness of power dynamics. He has developed and applied these approaches through his work on NHS 10/10 projects and the Partisan Project, which brings together psychologists, therapists, and youth workers to provide integrated, holistic support. Chris prides himself on building consistent, trusting relationships, remaining calm in challenging situations, and contributing thoughtful, reflective insights within team settings. Throughout his career, Chris has worked in partnership with a wide range of agencies, including schools, CAMHS, churches, social care services, and the UK justice system, as well as many other local organisations across Camden, Newham, Brent, Westminster, and Hounslow. This collaborative approach has enabled him to provide well-rounded, holistic support tailored to the diverse needs of young people and their communities. Previously, Chris worked as a Senior Youth Worker at Coram’s Fields, where he led projects focused on reducing youth violence, promoting personal development, and supporting young people facing complex challenges. He has extensive experience managing teams, overseeing safeguarding and risk management, and working collaboratively with external agencies, families, and community stakeholders to ensure effective and meaningful outcomes. Chris is a dedicated and adaptable leader, passionate about fostering environments where both young people snd staff can reach their full potential, and committed to delivering impactful, community-driven youth services.
We are also extremely very lucky to have a number of Part-time and Sessional staff who dedicate their time and energy to the children who attend our Youth Projects.
Youth Worker – Rishika Parkash- Rishi has experience working with young people across youth and education settings, supporting them to build confidence, develop skills, and access new opportunities. At Hounslow Action for Youth, Rishika works across all projects, delivering inclusive projects for marginalised and disadvantaged young people, helping to create positive pathways for personal growth and community engagement. With an undergraduate degree in World History and a master’s in Law, Rishika brings a broad understanding of social issues, advocacy, and equality to their work. This educational background allows them to provide informed, holistic support to young people, helping them overcome barriers, build resilience, and work towards their goals. Alongside this, Rishika has worked in a tuition centre for the past 9 years, supporting children with their education, helping to strengthen their learning, confidence, and academic development. Rishika has also served as Deputy Chair of the Young People’s Stakeholder Network within London Borough of Hounslow, helping to support community efforts towards young people in the borough. Rishika is passionate about creating safe and supportive environments where young people feel empowered to thrive and reach their full potential.
We are incredibly lucky to have a dedicated team of Sessional Youth Workers and Volunteer Youth Mentors, who give their time and energy wholeheartedly to the children, young people, and families we serve.
We are also fortunate to have a wonderful group of Peer Mentors ; young people who have benefitted from HAY’s projects themselves, and who now give back by supporting others on their own journey with HAY.
Youth Ambassadors Azisa, Alizah, Bilqis, and Hasna – Our Youth Ambassadors are previous service users. They support youth voice, support development of projects as well as deliver workshops. Youth Ambassadors are crucial to HAY’s mission and come from a wide variety of backgrounds which include Youth Work, Law, Art as well as backgrounds in Boimedical Sciences.