Biographies

STAFF

from Deborah Gerrard:

I moved to Powys in 1994 when I commenced employment with Powys Probation Service. I trained as a Powys Challenge volunteer in 1998, initially to learn more about the role of a volunteer, however this led to undertaking some voluntary work which I found to be incredibly rewarding. After many happy years with the Probation Service I left to join the Mid Wales Youth Offending Team in 2002. My role as Referral Order Coordinator involved, amongst many other duties, recruiting and training volunteers. In September 2004 I joined Powys Challenge, as Chief Officer.

My employment history has involved the private, statutory and the voluntary sector, the role within the voluntary sector has been the most demanding but also the most rewarding.


from Christina Bufton:

I am qualified teacher in the ‘post 16' sector, I have been employed in the field of education and training for the past 16 years. During this time I worked with young and mature students both as a college lecturer and as a Training Officer for a private, National Training
Provider and a Local Training Provider. I have been the Literacy Project Co-ordinator for Powys Challenge since May 2002 and have recently accepted the position of Deputy Chief Officer.

I am married with four adult children and have three grandsons and a granddaughter. I have lived in Powys for over 30 years and have developed a broad knowledge and deep understanding of the county, its people, culture and financial climate. I take a keen interest in the issues that affect young people generally as well as understanding the problems facing them and their families regarding amongst others – education, training, travel and employment in this extremely rural area. I like people and want to see them avail themselves of every possible opportunity to live healthy, fulfilled lives. I am totally opposed to social and educational exclusion and a passionate advocate for equality of opportunity.

I came to Powys Challenge to extend the provision of mentored support for education to young people who were excluded from mainstream educational opportunities. The post of Literacy project Co-ordinator was initially for just under 3 years; now with funding assured till August 2008 I still enjoy being able to reach and help young people who would otherwise fail to reach their potential. I am working hard to help raise funding to ensure that the project continues well beyond 2008.

from Ruth Jefferies, Project Manager Brecknock:

I’m interested in ‘what makes people tick’. After careers in the Police and Banking and when my family had grown up I was looking for new directions. In 1995 a friend introduced me to Powys Challenge and I found the work as a volunteer mentor was very rewarding.

I was able to take early retirement in 2001 and gained employment with Powys Challenge as a New Deal Development worker and two years later became Project Manager for Brecknock. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. Working with up to fifty volunteers in Brecon and Radnor I receive the referrals from the various agencies and match clients with volunteer mentors.

I believe the high standard of training the volunteers receive and good communication is the key to successful mentoring. Not only do the clients benefit from the opportunities offered in the mentoring relationship but it is great to see the volunteers achieving their own personal development goals.

from Sharon Jenkins, Project Manager, Montgomery:

I have been working in the Voluntary sector for seven years. My interest in social issues started when I began working for Powys Social Services in 1995. I then moved to Leeds in 1996 where I studied and gained a BA (Hons) in Social Policy. After three years of studying, I continued to live and work in Leeds for another twelve months, remaining in the social care sector. After this I had my first child with my partner and moved back to Powys.

I started my voluntary sector experience by coordinating a befriending project for adults with enduring mental health problems. This involved supporting the clients, but also recruiting, training and supporting Volunteers to become ‘Befrienders' in the local community. Alongside this I accepted a position as a ‘Development Worker', where, with the help of local Volunteers, I managed the Outreach Project from Ponthafren Association. This involved setting up small mental health outreach centres in local towns and villages.

In 2005 I joined Powys Challenge as Project Manager for Montgomeryshire. In December 2005 I also took on the role of Referral Order Coordinator. I have just returned to work after having my second child, and am looking forward to working with existing and new Volunteers with exciting new projects ahead!



TRUSTEES

from Eileen Jobling:

My background in criminal justice comes from being a magistrate in Montgomeryshire for 32 years before taking early retirement from the bench. Being most interested in the constructive sentences, I became a member, and later Chair, of Powys Probation Committee. Prior to the 2001 reorganisation I was active with my opposite number in Dyfed in the amalgamation and modernisation of this probation area.

It was as a probation representative I joined Powys Challenge in 1994. In the Government led, rapidly changing, statutory sector there was little room for local input. As a trustee of Powys Challenge in the voluntary sector it is just the opposite!

from Christopher Geake:

Christopher was born in Aberdare, where he attended school. Since February 2003, when he moved to Llandrindod Wells after 20 years living and working in and around London, he has been employed by Cartrefi Cymru, a national support provider for people with learning disabilities. He is a member of Cartrefi Cymru's Senior Management Team, with responsibility as Regional Director for Mid Wales and the City and County of Cardiff. He also holds the corporate brief for the protection of vulnerable adults, and chairs the company's advisory group on challenging behaviour and physical intervention.

Previously Christopher has held a range of management posts within social care, in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. He also spent some time as Community Development Officer within a social regeneration scheme in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Christopher has been a volunteer with Powys Challenge since September 2004, and a Trustee since May 2005.

from Ruth Forrester:

I have been a qualified social worker for 30 years and have worked as a probation officer. juvenile justice manager and senior manager in Local Authorities. I now work independently in Wales, preparing plans, assessments and chairing panels for family placement. I live in
Radnorshire and am a keen Welsh learner.

from Nina Wilkins:

I first became a volunteer with the Probation Service in 1980 after a spell teaching in our local prison. I wanted to understand the problems and pressures that drive some to commit crime. This started my career working with young people with problems - teaching in children's homes, psychiatric departments and finally running educational access courses into further and higher education. I enjoyed every moment of my work and now retired, give time to Powys Challenge as a volunteer and trustee.