This month marks an important moment in the fund as the last 2 Directors from the founding Board of Pen y Cymoedd step down from their roles.
“Professor Donna Mead and Dave Henderson have been with the fund since 2016, before we even had an office and have now reached the end of their terms. We want to extend our sincere thanks for their time, commitment and hard work put in to the first 6 years of the Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund. Their efforts along with the other founding Directors have ensured a firm foundation and footing with a clear and exciting path ahead – that is both challenging to what has gone before, effective in who it aims to support now and attempts to leave a legacy for the valleys communities to come.” – Kate Breeze, Executive Director
We asked Donna and Dave about their time at the fund and what they would like to see in the future, here is what they said:
“It is difficult to put into words what it means to me to have been a Director of the fund for the last 6 years but I thought that this quote really summed it up “One day you’ll look back and realise how hard it was, and just how well you did” {Charles Mackesey} -Professor Donna Mead OBE
“When I was fortunate enough to be selected as a founding director of the fund, I was surprised that we, the board, had to set up everything from scratch including finding an office and recruiting staff. This though relieved some of my anxiety about fitting in with the other extremely knowledgeable board members, as practical set up played to my strengths of ‘doing’ rather than discussing.
Throughout my allotted time on the board, I have been fortunate to be working with not just the experienced and well-informed but, more importantly perhaps, enthusiastic and motivated staff and board members dedicated to making a difference. I know that self-praise is not fashionable but I do feel, and hope others feel the same, that over the six years I have contributed somewhat to the establishment of a fund structure that can be built upon to continue to be different and successful in its workings. I am confident that the replacement board members will develop still further the impact of the fund in an innovative and strategic way.
In short, I am grateful to have been given the opportunity and proud of the contribution I have made to the shaping of the fund which I am confident will continue to encourage wider participation from those that are not normally reached. Be that individuals, community groups or enterprises that don’t normally feel funding, in whatever form, is for them. Success will be the eradication of quotes like “coming from the Rhondda you expect to achieve less”, which I heard not that long ago from a resident of the fund’s area of benefit.” – Dave Henderson
As the last of our remaining founder members stood down last week, we are welcoming two new Board members, Thomas Tudor Jones and Stephen Burt.
This is all part of our commitment to ensuring that membership is refreshed over the life of the Fund, regularly bringing in new Directors with new skills and perspectives. No Board member can serve more than two 3-year terms. To read more about our new Board members see here: https://penycymoeddcic.cymru/directors-and-staff/