THE TEAM
Meet the passionate individuals who drive our community projects and bring creativity to life. Each collaborator
contributes their unique talents and expertise to make a difference in the community. Here's what they say about their experiences on Blue Jay projects.
HEATHER JAMES / FOUNDER / DIRECTOR / PROJECT LEAD
With over 20 years' experience working in diverse, high-deprivation communities, Heather recognised a fundamental flaw in traditional education: "We weren't playing to their strengths - young people were niether being heard nor empowered." This realisation led her to establish Blue Jay, creating safe environments where young people can work alongside professionals, experiment, and discover roles where they truly thrive.
The Blue Jay journey began with a group of British-Pakistani young women from Sparkhill and Small Heath, forming the Based in Brum film crew, to document Birmingham during the Commonwealth Games build-up. What started as celebrating what it means to be a Brummie has evolved into a powerful model for youth empowerment, proving that education and training can be fun whilst building bridges between communities and nurturing young leaders.
Under Heather's leadership, Blue Jay has partnered with organisations ranging from the West Midlands Police Commission to the MECC Trust, enabling young people to deliver professional services including energy advice, filmmaking, and community outreach. Her participants don't just observe - they lead one-to-one advice sessions, create educational resources, and navigate the diverse needs of Birmingham's residents.
"Transitioning into adulthood is not to be sniffed at!" Heather emphasises, drawing from her deep understanding of the challenges young people face. Her expertise in supporting those facing significant language and cultural barriers ensures every individual has a platform to be heard and a path to success.
Through her work as a practitioner researcher in Further Education, Heather continues to investigate how we can better prepare young people for the evolving demands of the modern workforce, always keeping collaboration and giving the next generation "a seat at the table" at the heart of her mission.
Specialisms: Further Education | Practitioner Research | Social Inclusion | Youth Employability | Community Development | Curriculum Innovation | Cultural & Language Barriers | Strategic Partnerships
EMIL TASWAR / DIRECTOR / WELLBEING COACH
Emil Taswar is a wellbeing coach, counsellor and community practitioner with over 16 years’ experience supporting people through coaching, mentoring, training and personal development.
As the founder of Wellbeing With Emil CIC, Emil is passionate about creating practical, accessible spaces where people can build confidence, improve wellbeing and feel more connected to themselves and their communities. His work brings together coaching, counselling-informed practice, group facilitation and creative approaches to personal development.
Emil’s background includes delivering wellbeing support, workshops and coaching programmes across community, education and workplace settings. He has a particular interest in helping people explore self-awareness, resilience, communication, confidence and mental wellbeing in ways that feel real, human and relatable.
As a Director of Blue Jay Exchange, Emil brings experience in wellbeing, community engagement, reflective practice and programme development. He is committed to supporting Blue Jay’s mission of giving people opportunities to be heard, develop their strengths and take part in creative projects that make a positive difference.
Specialisms: Wellbeing Coaching | Community Engagement | Counselling-Informed Practice | Group Facilitation | Youth & Adult Development | Mental Wellbeing | Confidence & Resilience | Training & Workshops
ESHA / SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD / PHOTOGRPAHER
"I’ve been lucky enough to receive an opportunity to work with BlueJay which has allowed me to strengthen my photography and videography skills.
"Since working with BlueJay I have gained valuable hands on experiences which has helped me out of my comfort zone and given me the confidence I need to work both independently and collaboratively.
"As a young girl who is trying to persue a career in media, BlueJay has provided me with the equipment, networking and support needed to succeed which I’m extremely grateful for.
"Thank you for believing in me and supporting me whilst I persue my passions."
ALEX BREVITT / YOUNG ARTIST / PODCAST HOST
"I have worked with Blue Jay Collective for both creating music to perform at the MAC, and to interview for the Culture Cast, and it's always been a positive experience. Blue Jay Collective has good values at its heart and working with Heather and all those involved has been a lovely experience, if not enriching.
"Blue Jay, to me, lets people think about our community and environment in ways that are engaging and accessible, and always from a relatable standpoint. To work with Blue Jay is to consider the world we live in, and to consider what you can do to help yourself and others.
"If you ever find yourself able to join in with anything Blue Jay is holding, I personally recommend joining in on the fun."
LILA MONAGHAN / SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD / PODCASTER
Lila channels creativity into thought-provoking podcasts, providing a platform for authentic voices and meaningful conversations. Her work amplifies the stories and experiences of individuals in our community, fostering connection and empathy.
JAKE HARDING / COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
"We had the pleasure of collaborating with Blue Jay Exchange on a series of intergenerational podcasts called ‘Culture Castaways’ with some of our elderly community group members. The experience was very positive, Blue Jay have proven to be professional and passionate about all of the work they do. We hope to work with them again in future!"
ANDY WICKETT / MUSICIAN / PODCAST PARTICIPANT
"I did the podcast because I thought I'd meet interesting people, see what's going on in the area and be able to promote my music.
"I enjoyed the experience - our personalities sparked, it was a good laugh and Heather made me feel comfortable.
"We talked about loads of things: Birmingham, music - it gave me a new perspective. We come from different generations and cultures and Alex's sparky character was something else."