We are delighted to welcome five new members of staff to the Learning Disability Wales team. Lyndsey Richards is our new Projects Manager, and will be managing our work with Gig Buddies, parents with a learning disability, and the Welsh Youth Parliament, as well as developing new projects. Lyndsey joins us following a career spanning over a decade at Welsh Government.
“I’m delighted to join Learning Disability Wales. I understand that having a learning disability means that people find it harder to learn certain life skills and can face many barriers. Supporting members of my own family who have a learning disability has given me a passion to ensure that people with a learning disability have access to the best information, advice, training and support, and are able to speak up for themselves.
“As Projects Manager I will be responsible for our Gig Buddies project – a befriending scheme that matches people with a learning disability and/or autism in Cardiff, with volunteers who share the same interests, so they can go to gigs and events together. I am looking forward to leading the Gig Buddies team as we roll out the project to Bridgend, RCT and Vale of Glamorgan.
“Our Working Together with Parents Network is a partnership project aimed at improving support for parents with a learning disability in Wales, England and Scotland. Funding for the project is due to finish at the end of August 2019. I will be working on sourcing further funding to enable us to continue this important work.
“I am also looking forward to being involved with other aspects of work across the organisation, such as the brilliant work we are doing with the Welsh Youth Parliament. Learning Disability Wales is one of the partner organisations of the Welsh Youth Parliament, launched in January 2019, and are currently supporting two young disabled people – Anwen Rodaway, from the Gower, and Katie Whitlow, from Llandudno Junction – to have a voice within the Youth Parliament.
“Away from work, I am married with two children. We are an adventurous family who like to visit many places and enjoy many outdoor pursuits.”
Improving how we engage with the learning disability sector in Wales
You can read about the other members of staff who have recently joined our team here:
Rebecca Chan – Accessible Information Officer
Angela Kenvyn – Engage to Change Project Manager
Grace Krause – Policy Officer
Rhobat Bryn Jones – Administrator
Zoe Richards, our Acting Chief Executive, has written about how our newly expanded team will have a significant impact on our work, and how we engage with the learning disability sector in Wales.
Our five new members of staff. (Clockwise from top left) Lyndsey, Angela, Grace, Rebecca and Rhobat
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