THE TEAM
Blue Jay is run by people who live and work in Birmingham’s communities. Our directors bring experience in ESOL teaching, energy advice, wellbeing coaching and community art. Alongside them are young mentors who started as participants and now support others, volunteers who give their time and skills, and creative collaborators including a musician. Together we make sure people who are not easily heard have a voice. Here’s what they say about being part of Blue Jay.
HEATHER JAMES / FOUNDER / DIRECTOR / PROJECT LEAD
Heather James, Director
With more than 20 years' experience in diverse, high-deprivation communities, Heather saw a fundamental flaw in traditional education: "We weren't playing to their strengths. Young people were neither being heard nor empowered." That realisation led her to found Blue Jay, creating safe spaces where young people work alongside professionals, experiment, and discover the roles in which they truly thrive.
Heather began her career in Manchester, spending 11 years as a community filmmaker and running creative training programmes for young people who didn't fit easily into mainstream education. She later trained as an ESOL teacher in Malaysia, and has since taught for over a decade across South and City College Birmingham and the city's adult education centres. Alongside teaching, she has worked as an energy adviser, carrying out hundreds of home visits and helping families cut their bills.
The Blue Jay journey began with a group of young British-Pakistani women from Sparkhill and Small Heath, who formed the Based in Brum film crew to document Birmingham in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. What started as a celebration of being a Brummie has grown into a model for youth empowerment, proving that learning can be enjoyable while 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. Participants don't just observe: they lead one-to-one advice sessions, create educational resources, and respond to the diverse needs of Birmingham's residents.
"The move into adulthood is a big deal, and young people need real support to make it," Heather says. Her experience supporting people facing language and cultural barriers means that those who are not easily heard have a voice and a clear path forward. She is a passionate advocate for women organising in their communities, and her most recent project, Retrofit Sisters, opens a door into Birmingham's growing green sector.
As a practitioner researcher in Further Education, Heather continues to explore how we can better prepare young people for a changing workforce, keeping collaboration and giving the next generation "a seat at the table" at the heart of everything she does.
Specialisms: Further Education | Practitioner Research | Social Inclusion | Youth Employability | Community Development | Community Filmmaking | ESOL and Language Barriers | Energy Advice and Retrofit | 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."