Our Trustees

I have 35+ years of experience in the youth sector. Starting out as a volunteer and leading my own club to becoming a senior manager in a local authority. I have a long relationship with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales which goes back more than 40 years. I have been a proactive supporter of BGC Wales and have recently become a trustee. I am also a vice president of CWVYS and an Ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Wales. Currently I am leading on the development of the Youth Work Quality Mark. Very keen rugby fan and grandad.

Early years spent in several mining communities in the South East Valleys, father a manager with the NCB. Main school years in Aberkenfig and now living in Bridgend. Attended Aberkenfig Boys Club as a 12 year old and remaining with them for over 45 years. Probably undertaking every role possible within a Boys and Girls Club, finally for many years as Treasurer with the Board of Trustees. During this time I was also Treasurer and Secretary of the Ogwr Group, therefore was involved with BGC Wales in it’s different guises for many years.
Since 2004 I have also been heavily involved with Bettws BGC and the creation of “The Lodge”. After having to transfer the assets to another organisation I am so glad to see it now in the hands of BGCW.
I trained as a teacher in Carmarthen and had a 20year career in Comprehensive and Primary Schools, mainly in the Garw Valley before unfortunately having to retire through ill health.
I have worked for Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations(BAVO) and been involved in all aspects of managing and running a charitable organisation and community groups. Qualified in Voluntary Management. Have a lifetime interest in most sports, mainly social as unfortunately my skill
level is pretty low. Facilitating children to play sport or to participate in structured activities at every level has been a main motivation in my involvement with Boys and Girls Clubs, Community Groups and Schools. I am now very appreciative to have the opportunity to act as Treasurer and Trustee on the Executive Committee. Hopefully using my acquired experiences to help ensure that as many Boys and Girls Clubs as possible throughout Wales, particularly those in ex mining communities have the resources and sustainability to provide opportunities for all young people to benefit and develop.

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Cathryn Evans ydw i a dwi'n Rheolwr Ymgysylltu ar gyfer Cronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri Genedlaethol yng Nghymru, yn helpu sefydliadau fel chi i wneud cais am gyllid i redeg prosiectau treftadaeth ledled Cymru.
I'm Cathryn Evans and I'm an Engagement Manager for the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, helping organisations like you apply for funding to run heritage projects across Wales.
Rwy'n dod o Ogledd Cymru yn wreiddiol ond symudais i Gaerdydd ddeng mlynedd yn ôl ac yn ystod saith o'r rheini roeddwn i'n rhan o Glybiau Bechgyn a Merched Cymru. Yn gyntaf fel ymchwilydd gwirfoddol ac yna fel Cydlynydd Prosiectau, gan weithio gyda phobl ifanc a threftadaeth yn ogystal â phrosiectau eraill fel amryw o Gyfnewidfeydd Ieuenctid, y Prawf Canŵio 100 milltir a'r prosiect Cynhwysiant Gweithredol. Roeddwn hefyd yn fentor i'n gwirfoddolwyr ESC yn ystod fy amser yno.
I'm from North Wales originally but I moved to Cardiff ten years ago and during seven of those I was part of BGCWales. First as a volunteer researcher and then as a Project Coordinator, working with young people and heritage as well as other projects such as various Youth Exchanges, the 100-mile Canoe Test and the Active Inclusion project. I was also a mentor for our EVS volunteers during my time there.
Mae gen i radd BA Anrhydedd mewn Hanes a Hanes Cymru, gradd Meistr yn Hanes Cymru ac rydw i'n Weithiwr Ieuenctid cymwys lefel 3.
I have a BA Hons degree in History and Welsh History, a Masters in Welsh History and I'm a level 3 qualified Youth Worker.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn o hyd bod gen i gysylltiad agos â'r sefydliad fel ymddiriedolwr. Mae'r sgiliau rwy'n gobeithio dod i'm rôl yn cynnwys Arweinyddiaeth, Ysgrifennu Ceisiadau, Ymchwilydd, Dealltwriaeth o'r sector, Dealltwriaeth o'r sefydliad, Cyfryngau cymdeithasol a Siaradwr Cymraeg Rhugl.
I'm really grateful to still have a close connection with the organisation as a trustee. The skills I hope to bring to my role include Leadership, Application Writing, Researcher, Understanding of the sector, Understanding of the organisation, Social Media and fluent Welsh Speaker.
Ychydig amdanaf i, fy angerdd yw canu ac rwy'n aelod o gôr o fri rhyngwladol o'r enw CF1, sy'n teithio ledled y byd i gystadlu mewn cystadlaethau ac i berfformio mewn gwahanol leoliadau. Ymhlith y diddordebau eraill mae Hanes, Teithio, Cerdded / Rhedeg, Ymchwil, Cymdeithasu, Chwaraeon a Dramâu Trosedd.
A bit about me - my passion is to sing and I'm a member of an Internationally acclaimed choir CF1 who travel all over the world to compete in competitions and to perform in various locations. Other interests include History, Travel, Walking/Running, Research, Socialising, Sport and Crime Dramas.
Rwy'n credu fy mod i'n berson eithaf hawdd i siarad gydag ac rwy'n hoffi cymryd rhan felly rwy'n gobeithio, unwaith y bydd pethau wedi gwella, y byddaf yn mynychu digwyddiadau ac yn helpu lle bynnag y bo modd.
I believe I'm quite an approachable person and I like getting involved. Therefore, I hope, once things have improved, I will attend events and help out wherever possible.

Born, bred and currently live in Penarth. Qualified as a teacher/youth and community worker at Swansea College of Education.
Started career as a youth worker in Ashford in Kent before moving on to positions in Penarth, Cardiff, Penarth again and lastly Llantwit Major, where I had a special interest in the training of part-time staff.
I finished my career as Principal Youth Officer for the Vale of Glamorgan Council Youth Service. Since retirement I have volunteered in several youth provisions in the Vale of Glamorgan area.
I have been involved in the Boys and Girls Club movement for over 40 years and have served on the Rugby panel. I am currently the Vice-Chairman.

Employed as Office Manager at MSG Labour & Plant Limited. Married to Jane for 36 years, we have two sons, Keiran and Craig, and two grandchildren, Body and Halle. I am also the CEO / Secretary of Afan Lido FC in FAW Tier 2. I have been involved there for 44 years including as a player.
I have been involved with BGC Wales for 24 years, 17 years of which as Football Secretary and also as a trustee.
I represented BGC Wales in Football in 1978 and 1979 as Goalkeeper, I also represented Great Britain BGC as Goalkeeper in 1978 for Scotland's 50th Anniversary. A F.I.F.A Referee for 10 years officiating over 70 International matches over most of Europe and Asia. Expanded International travel for BGC Wales Football for all age groups. Now playing in various countries.

Born in 1949 in Maesteg Mid- Glamorgan, when to Plasnewydd Junior and Infants School before going onto Llwynderw Secondary Modern School, Maesteg where I first met the gentleman who inspired me through the earlier part of my life - namely Brian A Sparkes known by all as 'Sparky'.
Brian was an policeman who whilst playing for Wales in rugby (& international caps) went 'North' and during his time there became a qualified mathematics teacher, on his return to Wales he took up the role of a teacher at Llwynderw SMS where he started the school basketball teams, and so successfully trained so many pupils to 'international' levels at under 15's and 18's levels.
In 1963 I along with another pupil, Mike Summers became the first two international basketball players from the Llynfi Valley (Maesteg), I went onto attaining under 15's, under 18's, under 21 and senior representative levels.
My skills and the love of my sport was then introduced to the world of 'Youth Work' when i firstly took up the role of volunteering at Caerau Youth Club, in the most northern part of the Llynfi Valley where I used my skills to train and develop the young people at the club in the sport of basketball.
This is the time in my when I realised that a passion to have youth work as my vocation in life, this was what I really wanted to do.
I became a WJEC part time youth worker and held the post of coach for many years, then taking on the assistant warden and the warden of Caerau Youth Club - all this as while I was working full time as toolmaker with a company called Tuscan Engineering - next up was to become more highly qualified with diploma in Youth and Community, over a 2 year period, this being interrupted when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour (thankfully benign).
My knowledge and skills have helped me throughout my life - I have gone on to becoming a local and county councillor with Maesteg (12 years) and Bridgend CBC (5 years) - actually being the Mayor of Maesteg TC during 2010/11
I hold the privileged position as Vice Chair of Basketball Wales and was a representative of welsh basketball during the period leading up to and during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. I am presently as well as being a trustee with BGCW am also a trustee of Noddfa Community Project (Caerau) and Caerau Men's Shed - I am also a mentor with Sported, the chair of Invest Local Caerau and a member of Maesteg Gleemen Male Voice Choir
As you note I'm still very busy, although being retired since 2012 and I can assure you I am as committed now as I was when I first came into both youth work and basketball. Although I am now 72 years of age, have a disability - but still have a huge 'Passion' for the encouragement and development of young people.

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