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 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 Coordinator Jack Mullen Expand Jack makes up the other half of our finance team and joined us in March 2015. Jack has various accountancy and practice experience after he accepted his first finance job at the age of 17. Since joining the Foundation, Jack has led on improving financial processes and forecasts as well as attaining a number of accountancy qualifications. Email: [email protected]
Finance Coordinator 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]
Sales, Marketing, Communications & Events Coordinator Huw Day Expand Huw currently looks after all of our Marketing, Sales, 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 Josh Law Expand Josh has been with the Foundation since 2013 and looks after our disability and mental health projects. He graduated Swansea University in 2009 with a BSC Hons degree in Sport Science and joined us via Jobs Growth Wales. Josh has also had Disability Inclusion training and holds FAW Coaching badges, a Level 4 diploma in Management and is a AFPE qualified coach. Email: [email protected]
Inclusion Coordinator Zac Lyndon-Jones Expand Zac joined the Foundation on a full-time basis in 2013 and his responsibilities include overseeing all of our inclusion projects including the likes of Premier League Kicks. Zac volunteered for us and worked for us on a part-time basis between 2008 and 2013 as well at the Cardiff City FC Academy. Zac is also a UEFA 'B' License holder and also graduated from the University of South Wales with a BSC Hons in Football Coaching and Performance. Email: [email protected]
Sport & Health 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]
Education Tutor and Safeguarding Officer Jody Parry Expand Jody began as a volunteer with the Foundation before commencing into employment with the social inclusion department in 2015 and has had teaching experience in primary and secondary schools as well as pupil referral units. Jody has a degree in BA Hons in Physical Education with QTS and holds Level 3 qualifications in both teaching S.E.N units as well as personal training. Jody is also a member of the British Triathlon Federation and participates in Welsh events. Email: [email protected]
BTEC Level 3 Tutor - Education and Sport Matthew Pugh Expand Matthew has been with the Foundation since 2015 and looks after students on our BTEC Level 3 Education and Sport programme. Matthew has various experience in education and training as well as a PGCE and a Level 1 Football Leaders Award to his name. Email: [email protected]
BTEC Level 3 Tutor - Education and Sport Christian Byard Expand Christian began a volunteer with the Foundation before commencing into full-time employment with our social inclusion department. He also has five years teaching experience in education in a number of different schools and colleges. Christian graduated university with a BSc in Sports Development and also has a UEFA 'B' coaching License, PGCE in Post 14 education and is a FAW Qualified Coach Educator. He also coaches Pen-y-bont Academy. Email: [email protected]
Employability & Skills Coach Michael Jeffery Expand Michael has a strong background in youth working, and before joining the Foundation was a Youth Worker with Bridgend County Council for seven years working with hard to reach young people. Michael is also a qualified MPCT Tutor, as well as teaching employment skills to learners at GCSE Level 2. He has a degree in Youth and Community Work from Cardiff Metropolitan University. Email: [email protected]
Transition Coach - Premier League Primary Stars 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. Email: [email protected]
Inclusion Project Worker Ben Burns Expand Ben joined the Foundation in the summer of 2017 and works on our inclusion projects including our Premier League Kicks sessions. 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]
Multi-Sport Coach & Literacy Lead 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]
School Support Coach Mohammad Akmol Expand Mohammad joined the Foundation on a permanent basis in January 2019, working on our Bridging the Gap Project, which supports secondary school students with their studies outside of school through workshops and physical activities. Mohammad had been working with the Foundation part-time, whilst studying for his Sport Leadership & Development degree, which he earned at the University of South Wales. He has also had coaching experience with FA Wales. Email: [email protected]
Community Coach - Premier League Primary Stars Ryan Wilkinson Expand Ryan has worked for the Foundation since 2013 after joining us on a work placement via university. He has also worked in different schools delivering Futsal. Ryan has a FAW 'C' Certificate and is studying for his UEFA 'B' License, taking part in an AFPE course through the English F.A and has completed over 400+ hours of voluntary work. Email: [email protected]
Multi-Sport Coach - Women's & Girls Lead 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]
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]
Work-based Learning Coordinator/Futsal Coach Daniel Smith Expand Dan has been with the Foundation since 2010 and spent six years with the academy prior to joining us. He looks after the all of our Futsal teams, who also study on the education programme. Dan is also currently working towards earning his UEFA 'A' License. Email: [email protected]