New Chair of Trustees for Adferiad!

We are delighted to announce the appointment of the Reverend Sue Northcott as the new Chair of Trustees of the Charity. Sue takes on the role from Clive Wolfendale who has completed a three-year term as the inaugural Chair of Adferiad.

Sue, a Time to Change Wales champion,  has shared her personal story of life with a serious mental health condition on many occasions to help challenge and combat the stigma associated with serious mental illness. Sue has kindly shared a little of her story below:

My name is Sue Northcott, I’d like to introduce myself. I think that being born in a council house in Sandfields, Port Talbot had a lot to do with the development of my social conscience, which has been a driving force in my life.

I worked in IT as a Database Administrator in the public and private sectors, before taking early retirement in 2024. I was an active trade unionist for over 30 years. This included being branch chair during the first privatisation of a government agency and supporting my members in the private sector. I have been involved in my local community for many years, volunteering for all sorts of organisations. I served as a Town Councillor for 17 years, including a year as Mayor of Pontardawe. This involved chairing all the Council’s meeting, representing the Council in the community and representing my community in the wider world. I have level 4 and 5 qualifications in Leadership and Management, obtained as a (very) mature student.

I’m a mother of two, a Mamgu to one, and was recently widowed. I’m currently serving the Church in Wales, part-time and unpaid, as a priest in the role of Assistant Curate in the Cwmtawe Ministry Area, and received my first degree, a Batchelor of Theology, this year. I’m a qualified BSM meditation teacher.

I am a suicide survivor and suffer from extreme anxiety and recurring clinical depression. I have recently been diagnosed as neurodiverse, with dyspraxia and suspected ADHD, which explains a lot.

I became a Time to Change Wales Mental Health Champion in 2015 after discovering Hafal at the National Eisteddfod. I have shared my story in person, by writing blogs, and on radio and television. My role also led to me setting up DVLA’s Mental Health Staff Networking Group, which I chaired until my retirement.

I was honoured to be asked to join Hafal’s board as a member trustee several years and have continued on the Adferiad board though the recent merger. I hope to be able to use my extensive experience in my new role as Chair of Adferiad, helping to renew the focus of our organisation on its members and service users, while ensuring we remain a supportive employer of choice, and a campaigning force.

Adferiad’s Chief Executive, Alun Thomas joined with members of the Board of Trustees of the charity in praising the outgoing Chair Clive Wolfendale.

“Clive took on the role of the first Chair of Adferiad at the point of merger, supporting the whole team through the transition which took place in the middle of the Covid 19 pandemic. Clive’s commitment, energy, and constructive oversight were key to our successful evolution into one of the largest health and social care charities in the UK. Clive always wanted the merging charities to have a safe and secure future, and his work both as a former CEO and latterly as Chair has ensured we are well positioned for the future. Clive will take the role of Vice Chair alongside former WCADA Chair Howard Jones”

Clive Wolfendale as the retiring Chair of Trustees added,

“I am so very pleased that Sue wished to take up the reins as Chair of Adferiad. Her personal experiences, her values, and her commitment to our mission is remarkable, and I feel so proud that we will be led by someone who has experienced many of the challenges faced by our clients every day. Sue will I’m sure take Adferiad to greater heights and enable the team to deliver to the Board’s ambitious expectations.”

Sue will take up the role from the September 2024 AGM.