I’m Ewan, and I’m Chief Exec of Platfform.

I have worked in the charity and housing sector in Wales since I moved to Cardiff when I was nineteen. I love what I do and have always worked for organisations with a social purpose. I became aware of the gross lack of equality and social justice as a kid and this has driven what I do and how I live ever since.

I live in Cardiff – a proud Splott resident, and enjoy lots of trips to Spain where my partner lives.

When I am looking after my physical and emotional health you’ll see me getting lots of exercise, particularly, cycling. I don’t drive so I get around on my bike and public transport. I’ll also be eating healthy food, spending lots of time with friends and family and walking in the mountains.

I always know when I’m tired, stressed or need a break as these things slip away – I don’t get enough exercise, eat unhealthy food, drink too much wine and shut myself away.

I’m Anne-Louise and I joined Platfform as a trustee in July 2020.  I currently work as Executive Director for Communication and Change at Audit Wales, a role I took up in February 2021. Prior to that I worked in Local Government.

During my career I have lead teams across a range of disciplines including HR, Customer Service, Communication, Digital Transformation, Organisational Development and Service Design. It is my early career that continues to influence my thinking. My first role was to be part of a team creating a new service for adults outside of education or employment.  That introduced me to the power of public services and how they could be a force for good or get in the way of people achieving positive outcomes. I am passionate about shaping good services that are purposely designed to meet the needs of people.  That involves starting new conversations and getting the right people, working together to tackle the right problems.

Platfform is a very special organisation and I am thrilled to be part of the team. I am never happier than when I am learning from others and the wealth of knowledge across the teams plus the willingness to think differently really feeds my soul.

My little family consists of my hubby Pete, our dog Buddy and three chickens! I try my hand at growing veg and am looking forward to getting some beehives soon.

I’m Debbie Green and I’m a Trustee at Platfform. Actually I am now the longest serving trustee although it doesn’t feel like that long, because Platfform is an organisation that is ambitious and continuously wanting to do new things. I’m originally from London, but after university moved to Cardiff with my partner who is from North Wales. I now live in Mumbles while doing up a bungalow in south Gower. I have one daughter who is in her final year at university.

My first proper job was training to be an accountant, because I didn’t know what to do with a history degree. Having left one of the big four accountancy firms, I spent some time travelling in India, SE Asia and Australia, before returning to the UK and accidentally discovering that my passion is for working in the not for profit sector. I spent some time at the Arts Council before moving to Chwarae Teg, the women’s’ economic development charity. Currently I am Chief Executive of a housing association, Coastal Housing Group based in Swansea.

I’m a bit of a workaholic, so I don’t have a massive amount of spare time. However I am enjoying living close to the sea, and get out for walks along the coast whenever I can. I am looking forwards to some slightly warmer weather so I can get into the sea, as swimming, particularly outdoors, is something I have always loved. Our rescue dog died quite recently and once we move to our own property we are thinking or getting another dog; the house feels a bit empty without one.

I’ve always thought I am quite a “strong person” which is actually nonsense, and when my mother died, relatively young, and not that long after I’d had my daughter, I carried on regardless for a few months and then hit rock bottom. Both that, and some subsequent stressful work situations, have made me re-evaluate my priorities, and how I take care of myself. Around this time I also developed a keen interest in Buddhism and meditation as a way of thinking differently about myself and the world. That doesn’t mean I don’t get side-tracked by bottles of red wine and cake from time to time.

I’m Jen. I’m a Community Clinical Psychologist and Platfform’s Trauma informed practice lead. Before working for Platfform I worked in Child and Family Community Psychology in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Most of my clinical experience before this was within secure, inpatient and specialist mental health and learning disability services. I’ve experienced first-hand how we’re often getting this very wrong for people, often unintentionally but sadly not always and with costs to both the people we’re trying to support, as well as ourselves as practitioners or helpers.

I have a passion for social justice and a huge interest in community psychology, liberation psychology and holistic approach. Holistic meaning taking a mind, body, soul and circumstances view. Understanding and embracing, rather than reducing, the complexity involved in both our mental health and us as human beings.  It just makes sense to me, not only through my own lived experience, but from examination of the evidence base that we must consider social injustice when looking to understand mental health.  It is for this reason that I am excited to be working for Platfform.

When I’m not doing Platfform things I like to be active. I like wheel adventure sports like skating and mountain biking. I also love heading off to the sea for a bit of surfing too.

You can find me talking more about these things on Twitter @jendaffin and on Instagram @fair.play.psychology

 

My name is Matt Cole. I was born in West Wales and now live in Cardiff.

After graduating with BA hons in Geography, I spent time working in local authority planning enforcement before joining Groundwork Caerphilly. Over the seven or eight years there, I held a number of positions covering operational and programme management along with business development functions.

After that, I joined Platfform as Head of Business Growth, and after a short spell as Managing Director of Gofal Enterprises Ltd, I’m now Deputy Chief Executive for finance, commercial and growth across Platfform and GEL.

Time away from work is spent with my wife and son – and where possible we try to do sporty type things. As I’ve retired from rugby, I try marathons and triathlons, and I am always looking for something to push myself on. A few holidays in the sunshine is always good too.

Staying well for me is a combination of family, work and exercise. Exercise has helped immensely since my son was born in 2012 when he suffered a brain haemorrhage at birth. He’s got very complex health conditions and whilst hugely challenging, it’s truly rewarding to see his development against the odds.

I am the admin assistant at Platfform Wellbeing. Platfform Wellbeing offers counselling to those who feel it would benefit them, workplace training for staff and employee assistance programmes for organisations.

I initially started with Platfform (which was Gofal at the time) in a volunteer placement at Journeys, road to recovery, through their Peer Mentoring Program.

When the Journeys Project came to an end and Breathe was formed, I was fortunate to be offered a role as an Admin Assistant on a part time basis. After building up my skills and confidence over time, I requested to increase my hours and eventually I was offered this full-time position. Doing this gradually and at my own pace really helped me.

I enjoy working with people and see it as my role to make our clients feel welcome, valued and understood. My role involves all administrative tasks that helps to keep Breathe running smoothly which include welcoming clients, taking bookings for counselling and taking payments to name just a few!

Outside of work I enjoy watching cricket, football and rugby alongside regular weekend trips visiting my family in London.

My name is Liz and I’m the Director of Operations.

I live in West Wales with my husband, two teenage children, a border collie called Ethel and a cat called Missy Moo Moo Cat!

I spent my childhood growing up in Porthcawl which is where my love of the beach is rooted. There is nothing like a long walk on the beach to clear my head and feel refreshed.

I graduated from Swansea University 2001 with a Sociology degree, still uncertain about what career I wanted, although I knew from spending time growing up with a family member with an addiction and health issues that I wanted to work with people.

Over the years I have worked in a number of support roles within Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Youth Offending. I found my forté in 2003 when I joined a third sector charity Caer Las and spent 10 years working within supported housing. I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to meet and spend time with so many amazing people who shared their stories and inspired me with their strength and determination. The memories and people I met will always have a place in my heart.

In 2016 I joined Platfform as Head of Service in Gwent to continue my passion of working with people. I have truly enjoyed the three years I have worked here. I have met some fantastic people and continue to be blown away by the compassion of colleagues.

There have been times during my life that I have experienced my own mental health struggles, in particular following the birth of my son. During these times I found the importance of making time for myself whether that was out walking, swimming, reading or talking to friends and family.

I am always keen to explore new ways of managing the stresses of a busy life and have found a new buzz from high intensity training. I have enjoyed attending spin class for a few years and more recently I have started circuit training. I balance this with spending time with my husband and children.

My name is Andy and I have over eighteen years’ experience managing and developing tenancy/floating support schemes and supported accommodation services.

From 2006 until 2018, I managed a floating support scheme and specialist accommodation service for vulnerable adults with complex needs within Swansea. From 2015 to 2018, I was also responsible for running supported accommodation services across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Carmarthenshire, alongside tenancy support services in Llanelli and Carmarthen.

Since January 2019, I have been with Platfform where I manage and develop the services in Swansea.

My passion for this type of work comes from my own personal experiences. I lost my mother at a very young age and consequently was cared for in care homes and foster families. From the age of 15 to 20, I personally experienced homelessness and lived on the streets of Amsterdam.

In my spare time, I like to spend time walking my dogs on the beach, keeping healthy in the gym, enjoying holidays, skiing in the winter and exploring the Mediterranean in the summer.

I also enjoy visiting cities to pursue my hobby of street photography, Indonesian cookery, and spending time being a granddad. I’m also fluent in four languages, English, Dutch, German and Spanish!

My name is Sarah and I’m so proud to work for Platfform and feel very lucky to work with some incredible people. My role is now Deputy Director of Business Development, after being a Head of Service since 2017 and having various operational roles since joining as a Case Worker in 2012.

My role in Business Development involves meeting new people and organisations, developing our external relationships and getting Platfform’s name out there.  In line with Platfform’s vision and mission, the role is about identifying opportunities which contribute to the transformation of mental health services across Wales and beyond. I lead on tendering and bid writing for new and existing contracts, furthering Platfform’s reach and influence wherever possible in collaboration with others.

Prior to Platfform, I worked in low-secure mental health units and 24hr residential homes for people with complex mental health and learning disabilities, including forensic backgrounds.

It’s where I found my passion for working with people, particularly in the field of mental health, and where – in truth – I became incredibly frustrated at the situation many people found themselves in. People were stuck in the system where they were powerless to make real changes or have a say.

It drives me to do better – to ensure people have as much choice as possible over their lives, have their stories heard and have the opportunity of a meaningful life.

I grew up in Derby in the East Midlands, but went to Cardiff University to study English Literature and History. I liked it so much here that I decided to stay!

Outside of work I can be found doing a combination of running, cycling and swimming (separately or together!). I’m a member of a running and triathlon club, and it’s an amazing form of stress relief. I’ve made some great friends and it’s mainly how I socialise now too (work hard, train hard, play hard – right?).

It’s taught me about perspective and not taking yourself too seriously – in a race, and in life, there’s always someone behind and someone ahead so it’s best to focus on what you’re doing and not worry about the rest.

I love yoga too, and finding a form of stress relief through stretching and breathing that doesn’t involve a ridiculously hard session has been useful and kinder to my body!

My name is Chris, and I have 20 years’ experience in the not-for profit and public sectors, including at senior leadership level. I specialise in policy, political influence and public affairs, primarily in disarmament and conflict response.

I've worked in Whitehall and also in the Middle East, South/South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. My current role is Senior Policy & Advocacy Advisor for The HALO Trust, a leading global landmine clearance and conflict recovery NGO. I lead HALO’s UK and global policy and political engagement strategy, including at the UN in New York and Geneva.

I'm also a Trustee of the Association of British Orchestras, which represents the collective interests of the classical music industry in the UK. I hold a BA from the University of Oxford, a Masters from the School of Oriental & African Studies and I am an Honorary Fellow at the University of Manchester.

My name is Evee and I’m a Training Officer with the Young People’s Projects at Platfform.

I was born in north Poland, although I spent most of my childhood in Berlin. I speak three languages - it gets confusing sometimes to be honest!
I moved to beautiful Wales when I was 19 to go Swansea University and finish my BSc Psychology and MSc in Abnormal & Clinical Psychology. I currently live in Cardiff and am loving it.

I had an early interest in mental health as I grew up with family who have lived through struggles and had to go into hospital several times. I’ve held a few roles as support and care worker within learning disabilities and mental health services.

Until my work with Platfform, my most important role was as a volunteer within Swansea Mind. I helped run self-help courses and drop-in sessions for three years. I’ll never forget the amazing people I met, their inspiring stories and the immense diversity of their experiences.

At a certain point, I realised I was struggling with my emotions. It was really hard for me to accept because I’d always wanted to be the ‘supporter’. However, I now take medication to help me manage my mental health as well as counselling during stressful times. I make a daily effort to not give in to my fears and doubts that could otherwise put my life on hold.

In many ways I feel lucky that my experiences and education provided me with a firm foundation for developing coping strategies. It led me to learn about mindfulness, self-awareness and cognitive exercises such as diary keeping and positive self-talk.

I appreciate taking breaks, the power of a good cuddle with a loved one and a brief escape into nature – Wales has some stunning drives and walks. It’s taught me how important it is to connect with others with similar passions so I’m an avid attendee at anime-conventions and work conferences (yes, they’re equally important to me!). I also exercise my body and mind through yoga, running and Zumba classes.

Most importantly, I now know that it is necessary, enjoyable and not selfish to make time for all those things. I hope that I can pass the message on.

My name is Stewart and I joined Platfform’s board of trustees in early 2013 to support the business development activities of the organisation.

I have had a varied professional background with service in the armed forces, front line social housing roles and over 10 years in the computer industry. In my role as senior manager, I work on technology solutions for housing organisations and local authorities to increase access for service users. I am also a current trustee of the Welsh homelessness charity Shelter Cymru.

I’m very excited to be part of this organisation; it’s innovative and expanding all the time. The charity is full of great people and is dedicated to supporting people with mental health issues, so I’m relishing the challenge and looking forward to being part of its continuing success both now and in the future.

My name is Heidi. I was born and raised in Bridgend and currently live in the beautiful village of St. Brides Major in the Vale of Glamorgan, with the lovely beaches of Ogmore and Southerndown just on my doorstep. I live with my husband Darren, 16 year old, x-box obsessed son, Jack and two very naughty Jack Russells.

In my spare time (when I’m not being my son’s taxi driver), I enjoy walking my rather unruly dogs around the coast, eating out with friends and, best of all, enjoying a good karaoke session (I’ve been known to slaughter a good Celine Dion song!).

My work background is a little brief as I enter my 25th year with Platfform in my newly established role as PA/Exec Support! My previous roles in the world of admin have included working in the manufacturing industry and a travel agency.

My work with the organisation over the years has helped me immensely in terms of supporting family members who’ve experienced their own personal battles with anxiety and severe depression.

Platfform has been an extension of my own family at times, especially when I’ve needed support and understanding around family issues. I’m grateful to be able to work with such truly lovely people and look forward to the coming years and the exciting journey that lies ahead of us all!

My name is Nicole. I was born and raised in Rhondda then moved to Caerleon to study. After graduating, I decided to return to my roots.

Music and travel are a big part of my life I enjoy going to festivals and city breaks with my friends. In my free time I love walking along the Welsh costal path with my dog.

Before joining Plattform, I was studying in university and worked part time as a support worker for a charity. As part of my degree, I completed an ethnographic study which looked at how the Sikh community were integrating into British society, more specifically within an area in Cardiff. This study was fuelled by my curiosity for people and cultures.

When I moved to Caerleon I started experiencing sleep paralysis, which was very scary first. After some research and reflection I was able to identify that I would experience this when feeling stressed or anxious so I found several ways to help manage it. This mainly involves being outdoors and connecting with nature, but also chatting to my family.

Supporting people to find their own ways of coping which helps them to live a full life gives me a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction.

My name is Neil Hapgood. I moved to Swansea in 2003 after a period of working abroad. I have since spent over 12 years working in Youth and Community Services.

I have developed the delivery of services in my local authority by 400% over the last 10 years. My interests lie in the development of products and services that have the depth and quality to have a long lasting impact on people’s wellbeing, and how these services can be monitored and improved.

In 2006, I was fortunate enough to survive a brain haemorrhage whilst surfing in Cornwall. After a few weeks in a coma, I made a good physical and cognitive recovery but it was the beginning of a spell of struggling with mental health. It is this experience which has inspired me to become involved with Gofal.

In 2007 I was the Welsh winner of the ITV 'feel good factor' award for his work with young people and attended the pride of Britain awards.

I also hold a degree in Management, and MA in Health and Community Development from Demontfort University.

Hi I’m Siobhan and I have been working at Platfform since December 2018, managing our young people’s projects which I love!

I have always worked in services that help children and young people and that is what keeps me inspired. Having experienced difficulties in my own childhood and understanding what it is like to be labelled “deviant” and to feel misunderstood, it’s my passion to see children and young people thrive and succeed. I am a strong believer in the power of connections and relationships and would not be where I am today if it were not for some key people in my life who believed in me and saw the bigger picture around me. It’s important to me to try wherever I can to be that key person to others when they may need it and highlight the incredible strengths people have.

I have studied psychology to Masters Level and have an interest in adverse childhood experiences, trauma, vicarious trauma and staff wellbeing. Prior to joining Platfform I have worked as a play worker, youth worker and parenting support worker before moving into a role managing community services in a domestic violence charity where I worked for nine years. I would have definitely pursued a career in ballet dancing had it not been for developing scoliosis as a teenager and having corrective surgery, but I still enjoy a good dance-off and love creative and expressive movement and music. Life is a lot like a dance with its ups and downs, twists and turns!

I live in Swansea with my husband, two young daughters and two cats Stimpy and Betsy. I enjoy simple things like laughing with friends, listening to the rain, going for walks, eating out, looking at the stars and wondering about the meaning of life. When I do enough of these things it helps me maintain my wellbeing and I am much better now at recognising when I need to re-charge which for me is often time spent alone with no agenda.

I am really happy to be working for Platfform and developing our young people’s service so that it continues to make a positive difference to the lives of our future generations.

 

My name is Cher Lewney and I am a Scot who has lived in North Wales since 2006. I live with Philip and our three sons (Joe, 20, Josh, 16 and Greg, 14) and our favourite son, Eric the Tibetan Terrier.

I have worked in the public sector nearly all of my career, primarily across local authorities and housing, and have specialised for the last ten years in digital transformation.  Not being particularly technical, I work across the business and IT to work out how to use technology to design and deliver better systems for customers and service users.

I had to give up work last year when my son’s mental health issues escalated to the point that he is no longer in education. He has struggled since he was eight years old and we have found it incredibly difficult to get support and help for him. While situations are complicated and solutions are not always easy to find, our experience has shown me so clearly how services don’t work together to really try to help the person who needs it. I recognise that most people who work in public services really want to do a good job so it’s not necessarily their fault – but they are trying to do a difficult job within a system that doesn’t work for anyone.

So I want to try and do my bit to help, in whatever way I can.

Alongside that, I am doing a funded Masters in Research through Bangor University, which is looking at the design and delivery of public services (there’s a theme!), and try to run 2-3 times a week.  While it’s neither fast nor pretty, each run is rewarded with wine.