Foundation Director Gavin Hawkey Expand Gavin is Foundation Director, the organisation’s most senior employee and is responsible for the day to day leadership and management of the organisation. A graduate of Cardiff Metropolitan University, Gavin has 15 years’ experience in community sport and major sports events including spells with the FAW Trust, Cardiff Council, the Football Association, Cricket Wales and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. Gavin is a member of the English Football League Trust Advisory Board, providing advice and guidance to a national charity which unites the work delivered across England & Wales by the network of community trusts and foundations with links to 72 professional football clubs. He is also a trustee at Student Volunteering Cardiff, a student led charity offering volunteering opportunities in Cardiff and surrounding communities. Email: [email protected]
Programmes Director Simon Stephens Expand Simon has been with the Foundation since 2008, working across all key outcome areas during his 10 years with the official charity of Cardiff City Football Club. Simon is also a member of the EFL Trust Health panel as well as sitting on the Dementia Friendly Cardiff Sub-Group. Simon has a achieved a Level 5 ILM qualification and also graduated from University of South Wales with a degree in Sports Studies. Email: [email protected]
Head of Finance & Operations Paul Bullock Expand Paul joined Cardiff City FC Foundation in February 2020 as our Head of Finance and Operations, working within our Core team. Paul has vast experience in accounting practice, working across multiple industries and sectors and a further 15 years experience operating and managing within private companies across London and Cardiff. Paul has an AAT qualification, as well as MBA level in VSI Executive Education. Paul has is also a graduate from the University of South Wales with a degree in Football Coaching and Performance. Email: [email protected].
Head of Education Geraint Wadley Expand Geraint looks after all of our education programmes, from the Level 1 Traineeship to the Level 3 BTEC Sport. Geraint has worked for the Foundation since 2010, starting out as a tutor before becoming a manager and then Head of Education. He also taught Physical Education in secondary school before joining us. Geraint graduated from University of Gloucestershire with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science and also has a PGCE in Secondary Education Physical Education to his name. Email: [email protected]
Education Coordinator Dan Hilltout Expand Dan joined the Foundation in December 2017 and has a PGCE in Secondary Education, MA in Sports Development, BA Hons in Sport & Coaching as well as various coaching qualifications in football, rugby, cricket and racket sports. He has also been a Physical Education teacher in Welsh schools as well as having experience in personal training and coaching football in the USA. Email: [email protected]
Finance Officer Tracey Wellbeloved Expand Tracey is one half of our finance department and has been with the Foundation since 2015. She also has AAT Bookkeeping qualifications in both computer and sage areas. Tracey has also had various roles within different finance departments with a career spanning over a 35-year period. Email: [email protected]
Governance and Quality Officer Su Osborne Expand Su has worked for the Foundation for almost three years and has over 10 years experience in work based learning, as well as 25 years of experience in youth work - mainly with the Scout Association. Su also has a Level 3 Qualification in Business Administration, safeguarding and a Level 2 Diploma Anatomy & Physiology. She is also qualified to teach Prevent for managers. Email: [email protected]
Employability & Skills Coordinator Elaine Williams Expand Elaine joined the Foundation in November 2017, looking after all of our employability and skills projects which include the likes of Premier League Works and our 'Get Into' projects. Elaine studied at Cardiff University and graduated with a BA Hons in Education. Elaine has previously worked as a Special Constable for Dyfed Powys Police, MWW Fire & Rescue Service for 22 years and volunteered with Powys Probational Service. Email: [email protected]
Marketing and Communcations Manager Huw Day Expand Huw currently looks after all of our Sales and Communications and Fundraising Events and has been with the Foundation since 2012. He graduated from University of West England with a BA Hons in Sports Business Management. Email: [email protected]
Disability Coordinator and EDI Lead Chris Foot Expand Chris joined the Foundation in 2019 and is our Disability, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. Chris has experience in socially inclusive sports development having previously worked for Disability Sport Wales, the FAW Trust and Game On Wales. Chris also holds his UEFA 'B' Licence, UEFA Certificate in Football Management, FA Level 2 Futsal Coach and is a Level 1 & 2 FAW Coach Educator. Email: [email protected]
Kicks Coordinator Ben Burns Expand Ben joined the Foundation in the summer of 2017 and works as our Kicks Coordinator, overseeing projects our inclusion projects including Premier League Kicks. He also has experience in youth work at the Beacon Centre in St. Mellons and is a former community coach with Sport Cardiff. Ben also graduated university with a degree in BSc Sports Development as well as holding a UEFA 'C' Certificate in Football Coaching and accredited qualifications in youth work. Email: [email protected]
Primary Stars Coordinator Dean Pymble Expand Dean has been with the Foundation since 2010 and his lead responsibilities include overseeing a number of our projects that include Literacy, Numeracy, Healthy Living and Premier League Primary Stars. Dean has also delivered Soccer Schools and Matchday packages. Dean gradated from UWIC with a BSc Hons in Science in Health, Exercise and Sport and on top of this, is an FA Tutor for AFPE Level 3 supporting Physical Education and School Sport as well as holding a UEFA 'B' License, First 4 Sport Level 3 in supporting Physical Education and School Sport and a Level 5 qualification in ILM. Email: [email protected]
Safeguarding Development Manager Roxanne Williams Expand Roxanne currently oversees the Foundation's safeguarding operations, working across every department to ensure our safeguarding standards are at their highest. Roxanne previously worked at Snowsport Cymru as their National Safeguarding Officer, responsible for delivering the national safeguarding standards set by Sport Wales and the NSPCC. Roxanne also has qualifications in Case Management, Adults at Risk, Risk Assessment in Recruitment and ILM 2 Leadership & Management qualifications. Email: [email protected].
Fundraising Manager Sarah Austin Expand Sarah currently works as part of the Core department, as the Foundation's Fundraising Manager. Sarah graduated with a degree in English BA from the University of Leicester and has been working in fundraising since graduating in 2011. Sarah has worked for a number of charities working with children and young people as well as various other health charities. Email: [email protected]
S.E.N.D Multi-Sport Coach Chloe McBratney Expand Chloe joined the Foundation in 2019 as part of our PL/BT Inclusion project but now works under our Primary Stars department as a multi-sports coach in Special Schools and S.E.N units of mainstream primary schools. Chloe also been volunteering at Barry Town Football Club as a disability football coach for the past seven years and holds her FAW B and C licences in goalkeeping. Email: [email protected].
Multi-Sport Coach Liam Nagi Expand Liam has been with the Foundation for 10 years and has coached at a number of teams across South Wales as well as U19 sides in the Welsh Youth League. Liam is also a fluent Welsh speaker and has been working on our Premier League Primary Stars Project for the past 2 and a half years. He has also currently earned his UEFA C license, a degree in Football Coaching and Performance Foundation degree from University of South Wales, and has been on multiple AFPE courses. Email: [email protected]
Multi-Sport Coach Gary Wilmot Expand Gary is the longest serving member of the Foundation - joining when the Foundation was formed in 2009 - and has been a Community Coach for the past 16 years. He was also a Club scout for 15 years, as well as a Cardiff City Academy Coach for 12 years. Gary also has a certificate in youth work, an FAW 'B' License coaching badge and qualifications in the English F.A Level 1&2 Youth Modules. Gary is also a member of the RCT Schools F.A. Email: [email protected]
Multi-Sport Coach Tom Knight Expand Tom has been with the Foundation since 2015 and works on our Primary School Projects including the Premier League Primary Stars Project. Tom started on Jobs Growth Wales, before also working within Primary Schools within S.E.N Units. Tom also holds a FAW 'C' License - coaching women and girls football for the past 10 years - and disability coaching with Swansea City, as well as earning an AFPE Level 3 qualification and graduated from the University of Wales Trinity St. David with a BA Hons in Primary Education. Email: [email protected]
Multi-Sport Coach Tom Hawkins Expand Tom has been with us since February 2017, after progressing through our education ladder after leaving school. Joining our Futsal Programme in 2012, he graduated from the University of South Wales via the Foundation Degree in 2017. Tom has also coached grassroots football with Aber Valley for the past five years and also holds a UEFA 'C' License as well as qualifications in Football Coaching & Administration and Community Football Coaching. Email: [email protected]
School Outreach Officer Ben Gorvett Expand Ben has been with the Foundation since June 2019 and currently works as a School Outreach Officer. Ben’s responsibilities include delivering PSHE, Literacy and Numeracy lessons on our Transition and Premier League Inspires projects to support children with their transition to secondary school. Ben graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University with a BSc Hons in Sport and PE before completing a PGCE in Primary Education, where he specialised in KS2 teaching. He has also obtained a FAW C License and gained experience coaching with Swansea University Men’s Team. Email: [email protected]
School Outreach Worker Iain Darbyshire Expand Iain currently works on the Foundation's Transition and Premier League Inspires projects, providing extra-curricular activities and workshops for primary and secondary school pupils. Iain has experience working as a Teaching Assistant and Multi-Sports Coach roles in a number of primary schools. Iain is also the current Cardiff City FC Women's Head Coach, holding his UEFA 'B' licence as well as a degree in Football Coaching and Performance from the University of South Wales. Email: [email protected]
School Outreach Worker Ross Branson Expand Ross works at Cardiff West Community High School as part of our Premier League Inspires Project and currently holds a UEFA 'C' License and has a qualification in preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector. Ross used to coach on our Premier League Kicks and Inclusion projects before moving to our Education department and now onto Premier League Inspires. Email: [email protected]
School Outreach Worker James Bloom Expand James is an ex-professional footballer representing Cardiff City, Falkirk and Alloa Athletic. James has also represented Wales at U17, U19 and U21 level as well as being selected for Welsh and Great British University sides. James holds UEFA 'B' and 'C' coaching licenses and graduated from university with a degree in BSc Football Coaching & Sports Performance as well as holding a number of youth work qualifications. Email: [email protected]