Director of HAY / CEO – Debbie Hughes has over 30 years’ experience in the public and charity sectors working in Community Development, Sports Development, Community Recreation Outreach and Youth Work. Debbie joined HAY 18 years ago and is responsible for the strategic development of HAY projects. Leading HAY in the development of a more flexible operating model to enable HAY to offer its Youth projects to more young people in Hounslow in the face of funding cuts.
Deputy Director – Bijal Karavadra started her career working with young people over 19 years ago, working with HAY for the last 16 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 and Deputy Director for 2 years. 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. She also leads the development of our Young Women’s Creative Writing Project, the Social Enterprise Project and works closely with our corporate partners.
Youth Bonds Project Manager – Bhavini Kotecha has been a Panel Member for the Youth Offending Service for five years, a sessional worker for the YBP for three years and the YBP Manager for nearly four years. She has also volunteered on projects supporting victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Bhavini is fantastic at engaging young people in creative arts and she is currently training to become counsellor to further help young people who have experienced trauma.
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.
We also have a number of young volunteers with a wide range of skills and abilities who dedicate their spare time to us.