Meet Bethan - Our Volunteering Officer & Monmouthshire Team Manager
Before joining GAVO, Bethan was a primary school teacher. So how did she go from teaching in schools across South Wales and Bristol to supporting volunteers and representing the Third Sector in Monmouthshire?
Her journey into the voluntary sector began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she found herself looking for a different path. She joined Barnardo’s, supporting families through parenting programmes, before eventually finding her way to GAVO.
And, as Bethan puts it, she “hasn’t looked back”.
From teaching to the voluntary sector
Bethan joined GAVO in 2021 as an Engagement Officer for Newport and Monmouthshire before taking on a full-time, permanent role as Adult Volunteering Officer in Monmouthshire in 2022. In November 2023, she expanded her role to also manage part of the Monmouthshire team.
No two days are quite the same.
In her volunteering role, Bethan might be finding individuals a volunteering placement, supporting an organisation to recruit and retain its volunteers, working with partners to arrange volunteering activities or working with WCVA.
Alongside this, she works with her colleague Chris to support the Monmouthshire team, share information between staff and senior management, and communicate with public sector bodies to make sure the needs and priorities of the Third Sector are heard.
Why volunteering is about more than giving your time
One of Bethan’s favourite parts of her role is celebrating the wonderful volunteers at the annual Monmouthshire Volunteer Awards.
For her, the awards are an opportunity to discover not only what incredible community action is happening across the county, but also what drives people to give up their time freely to support others.
“I truly believe that Monmouthshire is the thriving community it is due to the impact the thousands of volunteers make in their local areas.”
Bethan is particularly passionate about talking about the impact volunteering has on volunteers themselves, as well as the communities they support.
She feels this is something that isn’t spoken about enough in the sector and is determined to keep highlighting it during her time at GAVO.
A voice for Monmouthshire’s voluntary sector
Bethan describes Monmouthshire as a much more diverse county than people might realise, with different types of organisations developing in different areas based on their local priorities and interests. It’s one of the things she enjoys about her role. “It makes my work varied and I am always learning,” she says.
Bethan is also passionate about ensuring the voluntary sector is seen as an equal partner alongside the private and public sectors.
“I firmly believe we know our communities the best and should have a seat at the tables that make decisions that impact them.”
She works closely with a range of partners across Monmouthshire, including the council, health board, Gwent Police, housing associations and other important stakeholders.
She is particularly proud of the strong working relationships GAVO has built with its partners in the county.
Shaping the future of volunteering
Looking ahead, Bethan is currently working closely with WCVA and Welsh Government to develop the New Approach / Welsh Vision for Volunteering.
Although the work is still in its early stages, she is excited about the opportunity to bring ideas and initiatives that could make volunteering more flexible and accessible.
“The vision is that volunteering becomes a way of life, it is just something that everyone does and I am excited to be a part of that.”
For Bethan, volunteering is about creating opportunities for people to get involved in a way that works for them, while recognising the huge contribution volunteers make to the places they live.
And finally, a little bit about Bethan…
Outside of GAVO, Bethan is obsessed with health and fitness. Most days, she’ll find time for some kind of physical activity, whether that’s lifting weights, taking part in a class or heading outside for a run.
She’s also a mum to a happy and chatty baby, a rescue Staffie cross and a grumpy tortoise.
After rediscovering her love of reading through an incredible fantasy series, she now makes use of any spare time to pop her nose into a book — even if it’s only to get through a page or two.
More recently, Bethan has started dabbling in content creation and is enjoying playing around with editing videos and photos for her own health and fitness pages on Instagram and TikTok.
And her personal motto: “Don’t forget to live.”
For Bethan, it’s a simple reminder not to forget to find ways to have fun and experience new things in between all the tasks that need completing in everyday life.
