About Us

Quick Links (click to get to the relevant section):

• Introduction & History
• Information Leaflet (PDF)
• Mission Statement
• Vision Goals
• Values Statement
• Gweini Personalities
• Together Organisations
• Council of Reference
• Gweini National Council
• Gweini National Board
• Local Gweini Councils
• Local Gweini Forums
• Voluntary Sector Work Groups
• Voluntary Sector Partnership Council

Welcome, Introduction & History

Gweini Serving the Christian Voluntary Sector was established in October 1999 by Care for Wales, Cornerstone Church Swansea, Evangelical Alliance for Wales and Tearfund.

Gweini is run under the umbrella of the Evangelical Alliance Charity No 212325 and is known as the Council of the Christian Voluntary Sector in Wales, previously called the Council of Christian Community Work in Wales.

Dan Boucher, the Evangelical Alliance Assembly Liaison Officer at the time, initiated the idea and he worked tirelessly to bring a number of key individuals from other Christian Organisations to form the nucleus of Gweini.

The organisation has grown to its present level and both Swansea and Cardiff have active Local Gweinis in place. The time came to increase the momentum to establish fully effective Local Gweinis throughout Wales and in mid 2005 we embarked on an ambitious plan to complete this aspect of the work within three years.

We ask you to consider joining us in the fulfilment of our Mission and Vision; the statements are available elsewhere on this site. Please see our Membership and Friends section for an easy to complete application.

Julian Richards
President of Gweini

Information Leaflet

Click anywhere on the leaflet below to view/print (PDF)

Gweini Mission Statement

Gweini …Serving the Christian Voluntary Sector:

Representing …to all levels of government.
Networking … locally and nationally.
Informing … about funding and best practice.

Gweini Vision Goals

1. Effective REPRESENTATION will result in Gweini being
recognised as a truly representative, informed, credible and
trustworthy voice by all involved in the sector.

There will be nationally controlled communications to ensure
that there is regular contact and that the views of the National
Council, both reactively and proactively, are fully reflected to the
National Assembly Members, all political parties, National Civil
Service departments and other National Public Sector bodies
operating in the voluntary sector throughout Wales, at all levels.

Representing the Welsh Christian Voluntary Sector concerns
to Westminster, European Institutions and the United Nations.

There will be locally controlled communications to ensure that
there is regular contact and that the views of the Local Gweini
Council, both reactively and proactively, are fully reflected to
Local Authorities Councillors, all local political parties, relevant
local government officers and appropriate local Public Sector
bodies, at all levels.

To be seen as a well known, connected, appreciated, valued
and a highly credible player by the secular Voluntary Sector.

2. To be recognised as the main point of contact for NETWORKING provision for the Christian Voluntary Sector, both those working at home and overseas. Also, it is to be effective as a key focal point for the networking development of mutually supportive, effective and growing relationships and partnerships within the sector.

3. To provide excellent, readily accessible, and regular INFORMATION about policy issues, fundraising, best practice and current developments in the sector.

4. To aim for the highest quality in all we do and seek to leave a very positive impression with all the ultimate beneficiaries of all our services.

5. All Visions, Strategies and Targets must allow for and encourage sustainability and expansion where appropriate.

Values Statement

MOTIVATION

We believe: -

the best model for a stable society, has practical demonstrations of love, care, compassion and acts of obedience, and follows the great command in John 13 v 34.”A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” We are committed to such biblical truth.

we should seek the peace and prosperity of our nation in accordance with Jeremiah 29 vs. 7 & 8. “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

our Christian faith and prayer is essential and strengthens our motivation in all our actions.

we will bring legitimacy and value to the Christian Voluntary Sector in the eyes of the entire nation, as we begin to change the attitude of society towards the importance placed on faith and biblical truth by the Christian Voluntary Sector.

PEOPLE AND DIVERSITY

We believe: -

that all people are worthy of respect, without prejudice.

that serving our communities will be recognised, supported and valued by the widest expression of church.

that the freedom of people of all faiths or no faith to share but not impose their worldview should be respected.

we will be able to consult within the Christian Voluntary sector and ensure that we more than adequately and correctly represent their views.

we should encourage and enable employees and volunteers to achieve their goals, undertake personal development and training, be fulfilled, learn how to achieve excellence, grow by learning from their mistakes and to share their ideas. This will be achieved by building a workplace that informs, encourages, monitors performance, provides feedback, trains and rewards excellence and achievement.

we should and will adopt an organisational, management and leadership structure that facilitates and welcomes involvement from all staff and volunteers in the achievement of our vision goals, strategies and targets.

GENERAL OPERATING PRINCIPLES

We believe: -

we can, and will be focused - giving priority to the issues, which maximise the impact of our available resources.

we can and will communicate our work in a readily accessible format to the voluntary sector.

we should seek the highest standards of integrity, financial accountability and stewardship to achieve excellence.

we will be forward looking and constantly pressing forward to face the issues and challenges of tomorrow.

that we need to recognise, appreciate and value all our resources, including financial, and ensure they are properly used, cared for and managed. Accounting will be as open and accessible as possible, using current recognised procedures.

MECHANISMS

We believe: -

that ensuring child and vulnerable adults protection, and health and safety procedures are fully implemented is of the utmost importance

it is wise to prepare an annual development plan and we will regularly monitor and review these strategies and targets making any changes necessary and desirable to achieve the vision goals.

it necessary to maintain a national organisational structure that enables a high level of input from the locally based Councillors and the National Council.

Gweini Personalities

Julian Richards (President of Gweini)
Elfed Godding (Chairman)
Dan Boucher (National Vice President representing CARE)
Jim Stewart (Policy Director)
John Richards (Finance & Operations Director)
Tony Ford (Chief Executive)
Rachel Davies (National Vice President representing CARE)
John Evans (Research Director)
Annemarie Walton (National Vice President representing Prospects)
Phillip Nicholas (National Vice President representing Danescourt Christian Fellowship)
Hywel Meredydd Davies (National Vice President representing Tearfund)
Chris Cartwright (National Vice President representing City Temple Cardiff)
Rob Jones (National Vice President representing Bethlehem Church Life Centre Cefn Cribwr and Networking Director)
Ralph Upton (Local Gweini Director)
David Vincent (National Vice President representing Tearfund)
Carl Brettle (Information Director & Council Member)
David Pike (Minutes secretary)
Matt Rees (Assistant to Policy Director)
Professor Andrew Henley (National Vice President representing St Michael's Church, Aberystwyth)
National Council Members Specialists
George Karani	Environmental and Equality / Diversity related issues
Mary Nicholas	Welsh Language with particular responsibility for GIG (Hope for Wales)
Tim Lyttle	Health
Phillip Vickery	Community and Homelessness
Kevin Tugwell	Grandparents Network

Evangelical Alliance Wales working with other Christian agencies.

Registered Charity Number: 212325

'Gweini' is Welsh for ‘To Serve’ and this is our raison d’être:

Founding Together Organisations

Council of Reference

Lord Anderson of Swansea

John Bushell

Stephen Crabb MP

Councillor Mike Day

Rt. Hon. Earl of Powys

Janet Ryder AM

Arnallt Morgan (Apostolic Church, Swansea)

Chris Cartwright (City Temple, Cardiff, Elim Pentecostal Church)

Gerald Williams (Former Tennis Commentator)

John Vickery (Calvary Chapel)

Karen Lowe (Antioch Church, Llanelli - Pioneer Churches)

Lyndon Bowring (Care)

Mal Pope (Singer)

Mike Sutton-Smith (New Covenant Church, Swansea - Ministry Without Borders)

Nick Bradshaw (Baptist Union of Great Britain)

Peter Baker (Highfields and FIEC)

Sam Wong (Chinese Church)

Stuart Bell (St. Michael's Church, Aberystwyth - Church in Wales)

Hwyel Meredydd Davies (Tearfund)

Sion Meredith

Gweini National Council

The role of the National Council is to deal with National issues that are usually dealt with either by the Welsh Assembly, Westminster, Europe or the U.N. We wish to be seen as taking the lead in the Voluntary Sector as well as being seen as a valued contributor to society. There is a proactive remit as well as the more usual reactive responsibilities.

There is a balance of Councillors to ensure that there is, as near as possible, equal prominence is given to the three key Mission Goals of Representation, Networking and Information.

This is a truly representative body to reflect the views from all of Wales. The Council is made up of two representatives from each Local Gweini Council. Additionally, there are a number of specialists who are invited to join the Council to ensure that this is a very well informed body. A number of key Christian Voluntary Organisations who provide significant additional support to Gweini will also be invited to hold a prominent position on the Council.

The Council provides the detailed remit for the actions of the Gweini Board to undertake in the form of a comprehensive annually revised development plan. The commitment to the National Council is as focussed as possible requiring the minimum number of meetings required to provide the necessary oversight and guidance to the Board.

Gweini National Board

The Board delivers the Development plan approved by the National Council. It is made up of elected National Councillors, invited specialists from the National Council, paid and volunteer Directors and other co-opted specialists.

It undertakes the day to day running of Gweini. The Directors will ensure that the balance of effort regarding Representation, Networking and Information is maintained.

The financial, fundraising and compliance requirements of Gweini will be the Boards responsibility.

Local Gweini Councils

A Local Gweini Council covers each Local Authority and it is possible that one Local Gweini Council will cover more than one Local Authority.

The Local Gweini Council provides leadership and direction. It will deliver the National Plan locally by seeking to establish many Local Forums dealing with one or many of the topics below. The Local Forums report to the Local Gweini Council and deal with Representation and Networking.

Local Gweini Forums

Each Local Gweini Council establishes networking and representing forum groups of specialists with the aim of eventually covering all the following topics :-

Voluntary Sector Work Groups

Total: 16 groups with 255+ areas of work!