OUR STAFF

Our Trustees

Mark Stevenson

Director

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Stephen Gould

Director

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Ashleigh Jones

Director

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John Matthews

Director

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John Bradwick

Director

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Lee Thomas

Head of Operations

Lee lives within the Cynon Valley and has lived within Rhondda Cynon Taf his whole life, he has an understanding of what challenges different communities face and has worked with Bryncynon Strategy Since 2009 in a variety of different roles. Lee has over 20 years experience within the charity sector working on varieties of projects throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf, starting out his career as a volunteer wanting to earn experience to get into employment he quickly realised that working with the Third Sector making a difference to communities is what he wanted to do.

Lee was made Head of Operations in 2021, he manages all our venues, staff and projects and is committed to improve the services Bryncynon Strategy provide for the community and look into new opportunities to aid making the charity more sustainable in the future.

Nina Finnigan

Listening Project Coordinator

Nina, Joined the team in 2021 to help us build up our services for older people after Covid-19

Nina has had a long career in countryside management, international development and working with some of the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized people in Africa, India and Nepal. She began as a Countryside Ranger, having a degree in Ecology and Marine Biology. She went on to manage country parks in Scotland and Wales but had a career change after Africa when she became the Chief Officer for a County Voluntary Council. She then went on to work in a variety of settings within the third sector.

Nina is passionate about engaging and empowering communities to learn from each other, share skills and gain confidence in what they can achieve. She returned to Wales from rural Scotland to take up this post and has never looked back!

Gillian Bruford

Children and Family Engagement Coordinator

Gillian has lived in the local area her whole life and was a stay at home mother with two children but also child minding three other children for their parents to work before starting with Bryncynon. Gillian started a parent and toddler group with some other local parents back in 1996 due to there being no facilities locally and utilised Bryncynon Community Centre to deliver services.

Gillian started Volunteering for the Bryncynon Strategy in 1998 with the parent toddler group that was set up by local people delivering the service from Bryncynon Community Centre. It was clear that Gillian has interest in children and their need for development, and was persuaded to attend training through Bryncynon Strategy to at gain a Diploma in Early Years.

Gillian has had to overcome many barriers during her time at Bryncynon and with over 24 years service she is one of our longest serving staff members. The positive impact Gillian has had on many children’s/families lives is unmeasurable and she is a real asset to our charity.