Yolanda Lear

Experience

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  HEAVEN SENT NURSERY LTD

  Feb 2013 - Dec 2014

  Nursery Assistant
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  Freelance

  Oct 2015 - now

  Qualified Childcare Worker
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  THE FRUIT TREE DAY NURSERY LTD

  Mar 2016 - Jan 2017

  Nursery Nurse
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  Hackney CVS

  Sept 2019 - now

  As a youth leader / worker on the 'Young Black Men Inspirational Leaders' programme I help set-up, organise, participate in, and assist in running local community programmes and projects aimed at young people and adults aged between 11 - 25. Through these programmes, I help them to explore and understand their ideas, values, and beliefs, building their confidence and life skills so that they can make a successful transition to adulthood.Working in partnership with the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), Young Black Men (YBM) programme and Black Men for Change (BM4C). Working on the borough public health and violence reduction pilot programme which has a focus on leadership, peer work, employment, and social enterprise, mentoring and role models, as well as rites of passage work. Participating in sessions and workshops that aim to educate young people and young adults about Black British and African history, racial identity, institutions, and their effect on race relations in the UK. Leadership, personal and professional development, as well as representation skills, making sure that our young people’s voices are heard. Brand and Social Media development for the Politically Black project. Show less

  • Account Project Officer

    Mar 2022 - now

  • Youth Leader

    Sept 2019 - now
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  Peabody

  Sept 2020 - Jun 2021

  Peer Mentor

  A supportive space co-facilitated with Peabody, alongside health care professionals, clinical psychologists and other peer mentors for young people aged 11 - 18 years old to come and speak about issues regarding mental health and wellbeing, providing a wider range of support and expanding the use of our peer-to-peer methodology to provide a wider range of support to Hackney young people. Sessions are hosted weekly every Thursday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Pembury Community Centre in Hackney. Our aim is to create a place that the youth feel comfortable enough to actually deal with the issues affecting them, rather than struggling alone, facilitating, and participating in workshops with them and educating young mental wellbeing. Additionally, reducing stigma around mental health issues and improving access to mental health services for their peers and giving them the tools to manage stress. It allows them to seek advice where necessary, to have a sense of community and connect with people who can relate to them and understand what they are going through. Offering local young people a safe and open place to relax, connect and grow without any judgement. Show less

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  Hackney Play Association

  Sept 2020 - Jun 2021

  Youth Outreach Worker

  Working in partnership with a local community youth organisation at Homerton Grove Adventure Playground and the council to facilitate youth-led community impact sessions, projects and workshops that aim to educate young people and young adults, raising the profile of young people and giving them a voice and the power to build community and bring the world closer together.

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  NHS North East London Clinical Commissioning Group

  Oct 2020 - Jan 2021

  Peer Mentor

  System Influencers Programme (ran by the City & Hackney Integrated Care Partnership)Participated in the System Influencers Programme ran by NHS City & Hackney Integrated Care Partnership, NHS City & Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), and London Borough of Hackney within the Children, Young People, Maternity and Families (CYPMF) workstream. Worked to improve the health, wellbeing, and resilience of the next generation Hackney and the City by liaising with different services and organisations that work with young people and families, developing projects that aim to enhance the lives of the local residents. The main aim of this project was to:• Increase resilience in young people within Hackney and the City.• Improve mental health services and support pathways for young people.• Making sure that young people and their families were listened to, and to pay attention to what have to say. Show less

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  Self-employed

  Nov 2020 - now

  Author
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  Young Brent Foundation

  May 2021 - Jun 2021

  Community Programme Workshop Facilitator

  Participated in and facilitated online community workshops which focused on improving the lives, livelihood, and opportunities of the young people from the London Borough of Brent. The One Flow, One Brent Programme aims to make a difference in reducing and tackling serious youth violence on the designated estates in Brent.The three main council estates that this programme was focusing on were as follows:• Chalkhill – Wembley Park• Church End & Roundwood – Harlesden• Stonebridge – Stonebridge ParkConducted through a series of ‘round table conversations’ using the World Café approach delivered as phases through Zoom with young people who reside on the estates and in the local area, Charitable Organisations, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and Non-profit Organisations. Show less

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  Account Hackney

  May 2021 - now

  Part of an independent advisory group of young people that monitors, researches, and represents the community on policing issues in Hackney. The group started in 2012 as a Young people’s Stop and Search Monitoring Group, tasked with scrutinising police activity in the borough. Since 2019, the group has expanded its role to concern all things related to policing and community safety. The group also leads a series of projects - these include the development of youth-led action research on issues such as trust in police, deaths in custody, the education system, and youth violence. This also includes ‘Community Healing’, a historical research project into community activism and local campaigns for justice.On top of the media and research work the group meets regularly with the local Basic Command Unit (BCU’s) and other policing bodies to hold officers to account on issues including use of force, Section 60's, racial disproportionality and taser usage. The group also provides representation for young people in statutory bodies such as MOPAC and Hackney Council. As part of the group I also participate in outreach workshops for young people in the borough titled ‘Secure the Knowledge’ on a broad range of issues including ‘Know Your Rights’. Show less

  • Account Project Lead

    Mar 2023 - now

  • Youth Justice Leader

    Sept 2020 - now

  • Research Officer

    May 2021 - Apr 2022
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  SWIM: Support When It Matters

  May 2021 - May 2021

  Neighbourhoods Researcher

  Conducted interviews with members of the public in Dalston accompanied by the Director of MIND in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest, and Youth Leaders from Hackney Council for Voluntary (CVS). The purpose was to find out what is required to ‘build back trust’ in the local community.

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  Partnership for Young London

  Jun 2021 - Jun 2021

  Workshop Facilitator and Representative for Youth Organisation

  Participated in and assisted in facilitating the Developing Youth Leaders Event (part of the Young Londoners Fund Local Networks and Partnership for Young London) which focused on young people and how we can develop them.Discussion questions:· What does youth leadership look like, and how do we support young people to develop the necessary skills at all levels?· How do we ensure young people with complex needs are supported to become youth leaders (this question will mainly be explored in the SEND workshop)?· How do we provide opportunities and support for young people to occupy different spaces – this is about youth leadership in different types of organisations? Show less

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  African Community School

  Jul 2021 - Aug 2021

  Summer School Workshop Facilitator

  Facilitated sessions and workshops for the Summer Holiday Programme at Cardinal Pole Catholic School (Homerton) for Year 8 students.Workshops included:• Tree of Life• Newsletter Editing• Youth Mental Health (Part of Undefeated Mind)• Creative Arts (Music and Drama)• Know Your Rights (Part of Account Hackney)

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  Grassroots for Good

  Jul 2021 - Jul 2021

  Football Tournament Assistant

  32 Borough Cup football tournament hosted by Grassroots for Good and Hackney Wick Football Club.

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  Healthwatch Hackney

  Sept 2021 - now

  Public Representatives Project Support

  Public Representatives attend and represent the public voice at governance level meetings across the integrated care partnership in the City and Hackney. Meeting together as a group regularly to share experiences and pool insights and thoughts, allowing reps at individual board meetings to represent the views of the group. Enabling members of the community to bring the public perspective and the wider voice (drawing on insights gained from the feedback database, engagement work and surveys carried out across the system) to the decision-making process, working in partnership with commissioners and providers research, and represents the community on policing issues in Hackney.The Public Representatives currently act in the following areas:• Children, Young People, Maternity and Families workstream• Emotional Health and Wellbeing Partnership• Health Inequalities• Population Health Hub (Wider Inequalities)• Planned Care Workstream• Primary Care Enabler Group• Unplanned Care Workstream (including hospital discharge and end of life care board)• Mental Health Coordinating Committee and Workstream• IT Enabler Group• Estates’ Enabler Group• Workforce Enable Group Show less