Community Development Worker

Hi, I'm Hayley! I've been working in Wester Hailes since the early days of the Local Place Plan where I led the community engagement strategy, hosting engagement events and workshops, and asking the community what projects they'd like to see happen in the neighbourhood. When it came time to implement the projects, WHCT brought me on board as the Community Development Worker which I've been working as since 2022!

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Wester Hailes has become my home away from home, and I'm so grateful for all of the amazing people I've met. I'm passionate about community led design, nature, and art. 

Alongside my work for the Trust, I'm currently pursuing my Master's in Architecture, Landscape, and the Environment at the University of Edinburgh. 

Community Development Worker

I’ve joined WHCT as a community development worker since early 2025. A resident of Wester Hailes for four years, I gain insights of challenges local communities face and take a community-led, empowerment-focused approach to community work.

I also work for SCOREscotland as a youth worker to empower young people from multicultural backgrounds. As a trustee of Wester Hailes Growing Communities and a newly elected community councillor, I advocate for local voices. I initiated Westside Art Base, a local community group coordinating Multicultural Community Cinema project in the Wester Hailes.

In my free time, I enjoy films, music, reading, and all sorts of outdoor activities.