Meet the Team

I was born in the Rhondda and spent 30 years working for ITV Wales in various management roles. I am now retired but still carry out some freelance broadcasting work on a part-time basis and enjoy supporting the voluntary sector in Rhondda Cynon Taff. I am a board member for several charities involved with social and community development. I became Chair of Arts Factory in October 2017

I have volunteered at Arts Factory since 2006 and wanted to help direct the Company so became a Director in 2010 and continue to remain focussed to Arts Factory’s mission and values.

As a former employee of Arts Factory and a person who has been involved with the organisation for the past 17 years in various roles,  I am a firm believer in treating everyone as an equal, and that is what Arts Factory is all about. Being able to support the staff and volunteers of Arts Factory is rewarding and that’s why I decided to become a director.

I have been working for Arts Factory as a tutor/driver for over 5 years, I bring over 50 years of experance in both the private and 3rd sectors, having served at all levels of business administration, I have now joined the Arts Factory board of directors to assist in their development in gaining a successful & fruitful future for the organisation.

Rick Lines has more than 25 years professional experience in the charities sector, including at Chief Executive level, and brings to the Board a range of related skills. He is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Law at Swansea University.

I have been employed since 2001 in a Finance role and took on the Head of Operations role in 2008, I manage the day to day running of the Company and strive to ensure we stay on mission to continue to help change peoples lives.

I am a Graphic Designer and Photographer with over 25 years’ experience in the Design industry. I came to Arts Factory in March 2000 and single-handedly established the successful design studio that is in place today.

I have won numerous awards for my design and photography, the most recent being best brochure design for Royal Mail Wales through the Charted Institute of Public Relations.

I have great passion for design with work ranging from graphic design, branding, exhibition design and photography to website creation.

I started working at the Arts Factory in November 2019 after over 15 years of working within the homelessness sector. I applied for the role of Health & Wellbeing Coordinator because it was a position that I had the skills to fulfil and I was able to put something back into the community where I live. I enjoy working with people and was looking for a new challenge to make a difference to people’s lives. My job focuses on providing activities that improve physical health & wellbeing for all adults within the community to alleviate loneliness and isolation. The role is very rewarding and I enjoy planning new, fun and interesting activities for the group to take part in.

My background is working in business, Mental health, substance misuse and counselling.  I was delighted to be called and given the position of Project Co-ordinator for the Changing people – Changing lives active inclusion Project witch will benefit the people in Rhondda Cynon Taff.  Arts Factory is such a fantastic organisation to work for, they wholeheartedly support the Community and the area of immense benefit to it’s Volunteers.  Some giving Arts Factory their free time for up to 20 years…. my suggestion would be if your not sure what we are about. come and visit us, chat to us and see the life changing work taking place…..

I started work in GE Aircraft Engine services in Caerphilly back in 1987 my Role was a Production Assistant then I eventually moved onto a Materials Manager position looking after all their accessories and LRUS in the business my role was to ensure I got the parts back from all our vendors on time as in a 21 Day window to ensure I had the engine clear of material ready for build I would be working on a SAP System of which I was a super user and accountable for all the transfers of parts and Life Data of LLPS to ensure a clean launch of the engine.

The last 2 years of my career I moved up to our Accessories Business Unit as a Material Controller as part of a team of 3 working a shift pattern controlling all gearbox material and stores and accumaltion areas having daily production meetings with all stakeholders ensuring we met our weekly targets I would enjoy cycling to work then from Ferndale to Caerphilly daily.

I have been a volunteer for the last nine and a half years. Before I came here all I did was walk to Tonypandy Library or Ferndale Library to do job search and walk back to the flat I had in Penrhys. The only time I caught the bus was to go up my mother’s to help her out. I kept to myself and did not socialise. It was through going into the back to work scheme with Ty Catrin in Pontypridd I was introduced to Arts Factory on work experience placement. I was taught how to lists books on the Amazon website and to handle the sale orders and more. Arts Factory has helped me to re gain my social skills and manage my money better. I have found myself something I love to do and the people here have saved me from myself. I have now gained full employment within the Arts Factory as a Marketing Production Assistant.

I started to volunteer at the Arts factory in October 2016. I went to Porth Plaza for a jobs fayre and came across the Arts Factory stall and met Lisa Wills, Head of Operations. I mentioned my background was admin based and that I was really interested in helping out with the admin/finance volunteer position they had on offer. I was looking to get back into work, so this was great for me.

I was invited to the Arts Factory for an induction and I was very pleased with the Arts Factory and how welcoming all the staff and volunteers were.

A year and three months on, I had an amazing opportunity to become a part of the Active Inclusion Team. Which was a new Administrative post funded by the WCVA. I was lucky enough to get an interview and I was elated to receive the news that I had got the job. So I am currently the Active Inclusion Administrator – Changing People – Changing Lives which will benefit people in Rhondda, Cynon, Taff.