Our Staff
Alexander Schmidt
55+ Social Club & Men's Club CoordinatorAlex has worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years and particularly enjoys developing new projects which bring people together, such as our Men's club, or 4H community garden. He loves music and the arts and created his own radio tribute to Prince when he died in 2016.
Loan Tran
Project DevelopmentLoan volunteered with us in 2013 and helped launch our first Big Day Out. She has been living in Holloway since 1999 and believes community groups play an important role in helping people feel they belong. She wants to help WPCA get the building renovations it needs and organize fun, fundraising events for the community along the way.
Sam Wakelin
Early Years Hub Coordinator​
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 Smith
Youth LeaderShawdon 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.
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.
Carleisha Dixon-Williams
Youth WorkerCarleisha has a BA Honours degree in Criminology with Psychology.
She works as an intervention tutor at Highbury Fields School where she supports children with learning disabilities.
Her drive was influenced by an inspiring teacher who pushed her to achieve her goals.
She also grew up in the area around Whittington Park and is passionate about supporting and motivating young people.
Carleisha has volunteered as a mentor and has worked as a support worker at summer camps.
She aims to inspire the next generation to have self-belief so that they can aspire to be the best version of themselves.
‘To provide a welcoming and well-run centre for individuals and groups in Islington to sustain and develop a vibrant community’.
Help us today to continue to serve the generations for generations.