Meet The Trustees

My name is Claire and I joined as a Trustee of Brecon Mind in November 2022. I had been looking for a trustee role for some time as I wanted to put the skills that I have gained during my career to good use. I was excited to find out more about what Brecon Mind did and where I could contribute.

A little bit about me. I grew up on a farm in the Brecon Beacons and after spending many years in Oxford I now live back on the farm with my family. Family is my number one priority and I love spending time with my daughter, reading together and visiting new places.

I studied Politics at Aberystwyth University and have extensive experience in the public sector which includes specialising in strategy development, expanding and leading multi-agency partnerships and commissioning services for large organisations.

I am currently Chair of governors at Sennybridge Primary School,  Vice-Chair of Powys County Council Standards Committee and an independent member of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority Standards Committee.

I am really enjoying my time as a trustee. The other trustees are absolutely fantastic to work with and my contributions feel valued and listened to. I feel that I am constantly learning about the different things Brecon Mind does and is involved with and I look forward to building on that.

Crad comes from a construction background and has had a carpentry and joinery business in Brecon for over 35 years.

He joined the board as a trustee in 2020. Crad and his wife Dawn have three grown-up sons and live in the hills above Sennybridge, where they enjoy riding their horses and walking their spaniels.

Crad is also a keen cyclist and enjoys competing on his cyclocross bike during the winter months.

“Becoming a trustee of a local mental health charity, is something I’ve found to be both challenging and really rewarding. As someone who has lived experience of poor mental health, both personally and in my extended family, it’s a great thing to feel you can actually contribute and make a real difference supporting others.”

David has been a Trustee for Brecon and District Mind since 2017. David is a business consultant specialising in the application of Systems Thinking Methodology, helping senior leaders and frontline staff transform the delivery of services. He has previously held senior and management positions in both the public and private sectors and is currently on the Board of Directors of a professional cleaning company aiming to provide secure and sustainable employment for individuals with challenging circumstances.

David is married with two children and enjoys the outdoors, especially walking the family cockapoo, Luna, as well as a passion for music, sport, and the performing arts.

I joined the Board of Trustees in December 2022 and started as a Volunteer, facilitating the Writing for Wellbeing Course in March 2023. I’m very excited to be part of such a dedicated and nurturing community and am inspired by the quality and vast range of services offered to support members. I’m passionate about being an ambassador to help change mental health discrimination and shift attitudes towards sexual abuse and addiction.

So, who am I? I’m a redheaded writer, poet and author of my first book, ‘Wearing Red, One Woman’s Journey to Sanity,’ in which I share my story of mental health challenges – debilitating mood swings exacerbated by childhood trauma and addiction. Most importantly how I found the wisdom and courage to create a new life of dignity, respect and transformation. reclaiming my sanity in the process.

I’ve developed my own wellbeing kit over the years, which I share in a weekly blog, on my website www.evaroshan.com. A practical resource of reflection, insights and tools on self-care, to help us all stay afloat despite adversity.

My background is in the addiction recovery field and personal development. I spent three years as CEO of a national addiction recovery charity, ARA, based in Bristol. Then became a Life Coach and set up my own personal development consultancy, Creating Choices in 1996, focusing on the importance of relationships, behaviour and feelings, as we search for purpose and meaning in our lives.

I have an MSc in Communications and have trained in Psychosynthesis and Gestalt philosophies, which inform my work. I am also a certified ‘Writing for Wellbeing’ practitioner.

I moved to Brecon in July 2022, from Bristol to be closer to my daughter and grand-daughters. I live with my husband Jonny, a guitar maker and have three daughters; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

I joined Brecon Mind as a Trustee in November 2022. I have lived in the Brecon area for ten years and previous 17 years in Crickhowell.
I worked in the NHS for 25 years with an interest in aquatic therapy, chronic pain and community Physiotherapy.

For the last six years I have been working in and around social care and currently work with people who are setting up their own enterprises in social care with older people. I currently work full-time in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Outside the day job, I am a hill walker and mountain climber and a qualified Mountain Leader.

I am happy to be part of Brecon and District Mind and support the organisation with the important work it does.