Juliet Martin

Juliet has had a diverse arts and creative professional history including community event organisation, festival programming and management and school leadership. Art has been the key tool for social change throughout Juliet’s career and she is passionate about formal and informal learning, literacy, school leadership and achieving the best possible outcomes for communities, children and young people.

Before managing the YHeritage project Juliet was working with the Phoenix Cinema in Leicester, Inspire Library Service in Nottinghamshire and Loogabarooga Festival in Loughborough, she really likes the East Midlands and all the great people and places the county has to offer. Juliet is a local school Governor and although she doesn’t have much spare time she likes to visit the cinema, theatre and the local countryside.

James Stringer

James is the Young People’s Engagement Worker for the project. It is his role to get young people interested in the project and maintain their participation through activities and trips in addition to the project’s core training requirements.

Before joining the Y Heritage team, James worked in the welfare to work sector in roles supporting young people with complex barriers in work placements and education around work skills. James has also worked as a functional skills tutor delivering English and maths qualifications.

James’ interest in Heritage is longstanding and entwined with the city of Leicester via his time studying at the University of Leicester, culminating in a Master’s Degree in Victorian Studies in 2009. James is also heavily involved in Leicester’s DIY music scene and is an Assistant Grappling Coach at Leicester Shootfighters.

Amy Christer

Amy is the Heritage Support Coordinator for Y Heritage. Her role is to work with heritage organisations and support them as they develop their projects with young people of Leicester.

Amy has worked for The Y for many years, in various capacities within the theatre team. She joined The Y in 2006 as Arts and Education Officer, moving to Theatre/Programmer Producer in 2014. She works with Schools as a critical friend, provides monitoring and evaluation of their creative projects, supporting a youth shadow board and regularly running a speed theatre festival.

Amy Trained in Drama and is a practicing actress and creative practitioner. When not working or looking after her two small children, she is treading the boards, sat at a sewing machine, wielding a crochet hook or with her nose in a book. A keen appreciator of all things heritage and proud to have worked for Leicester’s oldest theatre for over a decade. Almost becoming a piece of heritage herself!

Hayley Thornton

Hayley has joined the Y Heritage team as the Heritage Activities Coordinator. She has been working as a theatre actor and writer since completing her training in Drama, Performance and Theatre Arts in 2013. For the past three years she has been a workshop practitioner, working with numerous organisations throughout the Midlands.

Hayley has a long history working with the Y, from first coming to the theatre as part of the 1448 speed theatre festival, to joining their workforce, originally as part of the Front of House team and for the past year as an Event Coordinator. Alongside this, Hayley has writen, produced and performed in her own plays as part of Leicester Comedy Festival on the Y’s Main stage.

In her free time Hayley enjoys exploring history through visits to heritage sites and museums, picnics, seeing friends and making mischeif. Hayley is really excited to be joining the Y Heritage team.