About YEF


The Young Ealing Foundation is an independent registered charity established in 2017.


We connect and equip grassroots youth charities, supporters and decision makers, to open up a brighter future for Ealing’s children and young people.

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OUR IMPACT

76
Member Organisations
36,000+
Children and young people reached per year
£258k+
Given out in grants to date


OUR VALUES

OBJECTIVE

We are independent and impartial of any local or national priorities and are led purely by the needs of our members

TRUSTED

Our staff are experienced, approachable and focused, and can provide the expertise and support most needed by our members

BRAVE

We are thought leaders in the sector, are not afraid to lead from the front and respond quickly and decisively in times of crisis

COLLABORATIVE

We model and promote genuine partnership working, and contribute to a strong, non-competitive and cohesive sector

MEET THE TEAM

  • Elly Heaton
    Elly Heaton
    Chief Executive Officer

    Elly has a wide range of management experience across the public, private and third sector. She joined the Young Ealing Foundation in March 2018 because she wanted to lead a place-based organisation that has equality for children and young people at its heart.

    With expertise in youth work, communications, fundraising and strategic development, Elly’s passion is for affecting positive change for children and young people, by supporting grassroots service providers to be strong and sustainable. She hopes that by ensuring strong governance in grassroots organisations, building partnerships across and within the sector, and increasing funding, children in young people in Ealing will all have the opportunity to have healthy, happy and save lives.

  • Tanya Taylor
    Tanya Taylor
    Head of Communications and Business Development

    Tanya has extensive experience in grass-roots campaigning at a local level in Ealing and joined The Young Ealing Foundation in July 2019 wanting to further her work in the local community.

    With a background in digital media and campaigning, she is passionate about championing the voice of organisations making a big impact. Through her work as Head of Communications and Business Development, she hopes to increase cohesion between the voluntary sector and local businesses in Ealing.

  • Yevgeni Zajecs
    Yevgeni Zajecs
    Marketing and Communications Officer

    Yevgeni joined The Young Ealing Foundation in July 2021 as a part of University of West London's Graduate Internship scheme. He chose Young Ealing Foundation because it presented him with an opportunity to give back to the community that he had lived in for over 4 years.

    A graduate in Psychology, Yevgeni is passionate about helping people and learning new things. He has extensive experience in customer service, as a teaching assistant as well as in S.E.N.D. roles.

  • Hollie Hartley
    Hollie Hartley
    Youth Project Manager

    Hollie has worked with young people for fifteen years and is passionate about supporting them to have a voice about the issues that impact their own lives and the communities they live in. Before joining the Young Ealing Foundation Hollie worked at the Lyric, Hammersmith and social justice charity Peer Power developing, producing, and delivering transformational programmes of work to support young people to creatively use their voice to make positive change. Hollie’s practices are rooted in her own arts experience and a strong belief in co-production which she looks forward to utilising to support our Ealing Young Champions.

    Hollie grew up in Ealing herself and cares deeply that young people growing up here have access to opportunities that give the best possible outcomes for them and is excited to work with our members who share this passion. She feels incredibly privileged to now be working in a community that is so close to her heart.

  • Lamise Hassan
    Lamise Hassan
    Membership and Operations Manager

    Lamise joined the Young Ealing Foundation in November 2022 because she loves the work we do to champion the voice of young people and support charities who work with them. The values the YEF holds are very aligned with Lamise's own personal values and she shares a similar passion of empowering children and young people

    Lamise's experience is in event management for grassroots charities, where the majority of the events were developed for children and young people. Her passion for inspiring and working with and for youth also extends to her free time as she creates and manages her own kids magazine. As a highly organised and methodical person, Lamise is looking forward to using these skills to help further develop the operational side of the work YEF does and help their services be even more impactful.

  • Daud Yashaya
    Daud Yashaya
    Arts and Culture Project Administrator

    Daud joined the Young Ealing Foundation in July 2023 because just like the Ealing Young Champions, he was a part of a diverse group of young people who tackled issues in the London Borough of Ealing. The Young Ealing Foundation aims to provide a brighter future for young people and this job has provided Daud with the opportunity to support the community he has been bought up in.

    With a background in Dance, Graphic Designing & Sports, he is passionate about increasing the participation of young people in the Arts & Health industry in Ealing.


  • Rachel Phelan
    Rachel Phelan
    Member Fundraiser

    Rachel has a wide range of fundraising experience and joined the Young Ealing Foundation in February 2024 to support grassroots groups with all aspects of income generation.

    Rachel has worked in fundraising for eight years, supporting a range of children’s charities at both a local and national level. She is passionate that young people are provided with equal opportunities regardless of their circumstances. In her role at the Young Ealing Foundation, she is committed to supporting the voluntary sector in Ealing with all aspects of fundraising. Ensuring that the incredible grassroots groups providing opportunities for young people in the area are well funded and sustainable.

Young People's Foundations

We are proud members of the YPF Network that has been developed in response to the ongoing challenges facing the Children and Young People’s sector.
Young People’s Foundations (YPF’s) bring together the public, private and voluntary sectors to effect positive change for young people.
Together we share a common goal – to help create and champion a more impactful, co-ordinated and sustainable sector to ensure all children and young people have access to quality support and opportunities.
Based in our local communities, each YPF’s services are based on the needs and assets of our area.
Find out more