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I’ve built a number of projects from the spark of an idea to fully fledged and viable organisation. From getting funding, to building teams, to the personal growth journey, I understand what’s involved in making projects work. I deeply believe that everyone has the power to create the change they want to see and live the life they want to live and get a buzz from the conversations that lead there.

Lynne Davis has been working in food systems transformation for over a decade. Lynne has founded a number of projects and businesses in the agroecological sector including Dean Forest Food Hub, Street Goat, the Food Data Collaboration and the Open Food Network, where she served as CEO for eight years. Lynne has degrees in engineering and agricultural economics and has facilitated research and engagement with the Landworkers' Alliance, the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission and the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience. She has sat on the coordinating group for the European Coordination of La Via Campesina, the Landworkers' Alliance and is current chair of the Ecological Land Cooperative. Lynne is passionate about how social business can seed personal and system transformation.

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Digital leader with a passion for making a positive social impact! With years of experience in

delivering inclusive and innovative strategies, they have led to the development of tablet borrow

schemes and internet loan initiatives, enabling service users to access technology and stay

connected.

I enjoy working with community experts, local organisations, and service users to deliver user-

centered solutions that improve lives.

I can help with:

Developing a digital skills plan

Creating digital forms

Providing digital support and training

Creating digital content

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Richard Walters - Gilfach Goch Community Association

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Richard Walters - Gilfach Goch Community Association

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Richard can support with FareShare, Outdoor work around garden/allotment development, running projects, sourcing funding, working with partners to establish projects.  Managing a building as well as the staff working within it.
Richard is responsible for running projects within the GGCA, maintenance and upkeep of the building, staff supervision and project appraisals, keen to work in the outdoors - working on projects to develop external growing areas and wildflower meadows as well as development of an allotment site..

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If you would like to request support from the Peer Mentoring Programme please complete the following form: 

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If you would like to request support from the Peer Mentoring Programme please complete the following form: 

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If you would like to submit your interest in becoming a Peer Mentor  please complete the following form: 

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If you would like to submit your interest in becoming a Peer Mentor  please complete the following form: 

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The Peer Mentoring Programme is a FREE programme designed to assist community and voluntary groups across Rhondda Cynon Taf to gain valuable support and skills from mentors that have the experience needed to help them. Peer Mentors are recruited from the community and voluntary sector in RCT and can…

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An enthusiastic and dedicated professional with over 20 years extensive experience with community engagement, charities and setting up and running my own organisation. An exceptional leader who is able to develop and motivate others to achieve targets; can demonstrate a strong ability to manage projects from conception through to successful completion.  A proactive individual with a logical approach to challenges, performing effectively within a highly pressured working environment. David can help with assisting you to connect with your local community and finding and developing collaborative opportunities.

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I am the business development officer at Settled It! Cymru Ltd, where I identify process, funding and scaling the organisation to meet the needs of the community, my background is in youth and community work where I have worked for small charities on local initiatives and a national charity supporting young people and organisations from across Wales.

I have been a part of large grant applications, administered small grant applications so believe I have a range of experiences when supporting others.

My background is in evaluation work, resource development and project development so again I have a range of experiences to draw from. I have skills with CRM systems, Google workspace intergrations, fundraising software and social media campaigns. My accident accomplishments are varied I enjoy consultation and Co-creating the most and therefore I have received a High Sheriffs award in Community work in 2020 which is one of my favourite moments of that year, I’m a qualified youth and community worker at level 7 and have business management qualifications at level 5 so I’m usually good at busting the jargon.

I can help with; Membership / client retention, funding for grants, in-kind funding development, social media campaigns, operational management, process development, onboarding volunteer strategies, working with young people, community participation, project development and management, Software identification and procurement, stakeholder development, community mapping, linking work to national and local agenda's, outcomes setting, evaluation development.

Finally as I could go on, a quirky fact is that I have competed with young people from the South Wales in England for the Small Ships Race on old Schooner boats chocking up around 4000 miles in that time I have still not learned to tie a not properly.

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I have a degree in Accounting and Finance, specialising in Management Accounting (C.I.M.A.).

I have worked in the charitable sector and in RCT since 2011.

I initially worked as a Finance Manager for a charity and in 2015 founded and run my own Community Interest Company, Manage Money Wales.

My skills are in Financial Management: Setting up and managing financial systems, such as payroll and book keeping; budgeting and forecasting; preparation of year end accounts; financial reporting to the board; applying for, managing, monitoring and evaluating grants.

I have additional experience in marketing strategies and ensuring legal requirements are met.

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I am the founder of a successful training company since 2010, specializing in designing and delivering training programs. With over 20 years of experience as an ICT instructor, I am also a qualified NEBOSH H&S tutor, well-versed in occupational Health & Safety requirements and policies. In 2022, I launched Reel Minds CIC, securing £50k+ funding through effective marketing strategies. Notably, I have garnered substantial media exposure, including BBC Wales TV coverage, live interviews on BBC Radio Cymru, and guest appearances on The Dr. Rodcast. Our social media presence has flourished, with a monthly post reach of 19,000.
I can help with:
Increasing your social media reach - Marketing
Making sure you are legal – Policies and Procedures
Growing your organisation – finding and applying for funding

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Hannah Hitchins - Growing Space Pontypridd CIC

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Hannah Hitchins - Growing Space Pontypridd CIC

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My names Hannah, a Creative Arts Facilitator and Director of Growing Space Pontypridd CIC.

I have a passion for my local environment and improving peoples health and well-being through nurturing with nature.

Growing Space Pontypridd engages with the community in creative arts opportunities in the great outdoors. From my experience of working for over 17 years in community arts I have seen how important it is to bring people together, to create, to inspire and to nurture. People believe in themselves if you believe in them. Lockdown gave me a wider appreciation of not just the arts but of my local environment and the green spaces that connect us, that inspire us and that give us a feeling of wellness.
As a family we have always created and learnt through play, through experimenting, through getting messy and exploring the natural environment. I aim to bring that passion to others, of all ages, all abilities and foster and nurture our communities in believing in themselves.

Along side my work, I work part time as a trusts and foundations fundraising officer for a children's charity and as a freelance bid writer for local charitable organisations with a community and environmental focus.

I can support you in areas of organisational management, community development, fundraising and best practice to ensure you develop and thrive.
Fundraising support - Bid writing skills, identifying funding, identifying your USP, processes and policies support. Organisational management: visioning & business development, partnership working, best practice. Installing confidence in others to grow and thrive.

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I come from a background of Criminal Justice and Community. I currently manage a Not-for-Profit project, as well as being a full-time carer for my adult son. I am a director for several local Social Enterprises. All of which have a sustainability element. I have successfully bid for funding to establish and run numerous community groups and social enterprises over the last 20+ years. Totally in excess of £1m I am well versed in the area of Circular Economy and Sustainability. I am a qualified business and life coach as well as a trained mentor.

I can support with:

Circular Economy

Governance

Business Planning

Sustainability

Funding

Recruitment

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A highly experienced project manager with vast experience of working in the third, business and housing sector. Currently working as a project Manager at Down to Zero, working with communities and housing to reduce their carbon footprint whilst improving the foundational economy. Strong understanding of global and local policy context with 4 years non- executive director experience of a housing association and 3 years’ experience as chair of Cymoedd Creadigol Ltd.

Qualified Teacher – PCET

Msc – Global Governance

FD – Film and Video Production.

Key strengths and areas for Mentoring:

ABCD

Co-production, engagement and consultation.

Social Business Governance.

Teaching/Coaching.

Funding and income generation.

Carbon Calculation and baseline assessments.

Innovation and change.

Engaging communities through film.

Welsh Speaker.

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I’m Coordinator for the Listening Project, an intergenerational one to combat loneliness and

isolation among our older communities. I manage a food poverty programme, including a food

pantry which was described as Wales’ “Hero” project by the funders. I manage a team of

volunteers, recently gaining the Investing in Volunteers Standard and in my current post I have

successfully bid for over £450,000.

Previous jobs include countryside management, community development and Chief Officer for

a County Voluntary Council.

I can offer support in:

• Fundraising

• Project Management

• Volunteering, including recruitment, retention and training.

• Developing programmes around food poverty, food pantries etc.

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My most recent role with YRP enabled me to work with a number of community partners on a Welsh Government BeActive Project, a partnership which showed just how an advocacy service can work alongside social prescription, developing this project to work together with each other to help others improve their health and wellbeing was very satisfying . With over 700 individuals mostly children and young adults, my role was to identify their needs and offer support. I have met personally and guided them though a wide verity of services and activity aimed at improving their health and wellbeing.

I have introduced a Health and Safety Checklist as part of our registration and Risk Assessments in all aspects of the running of a WG BeActive project. For me this role has I feel given me the most satisfaction in my working career.

My best role is one of supporting new groups, helping them form committees or write a strategy/plan. I am also very good at connecting up networks, so could help set up a new network for a group.

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I have worked in Horticulture and Business for over 40 years in, education, running my own nurseries and garden centre, cut flower growing and fruit and vegetable production. Always on the principles of being better than organic with low or zero impact on the environment.

So, if you want to propagate more plants from cuttings or seed, introduce qualifications, give your clients the benefit of horticultural therapy or simply improve your income stream by selling produce I can help.

I have extensive knowledge of growing Fruit and Vegetables, maximising the use of tunnels or greenhouses to get the most out of them, and no dig techniques. Perhaps writing a business plan, production schedules or simply plant variety selection. If its horticulture or business set up or just producing plants for “free” I can help.

I have worked with community groups for over 30 years. My first experience was setting up two centres for training young people as part of the Youth Training Scheme one in the Rhondda the other in the Cynon Valley. Implementing qualifications, growing schedules and sales areas.

Building sensory gardens in Pencoed Junior School also at Drive in Talygarn. Advising on garden layout, plant propagation and plant growing techniques also at Drive in Talygarn.

Delivering Horticultural training to many of the frontline staff who deliver the content to community organisations throughout South Wales and advising on the best practise for their client base too numerous to mention

I have helped many other community groups such as B-leaf in Bridgend and more recently Tonyrefail Community School where I am now based to implement plant sales and box schemes to help with income.

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I’ve been delivering sustainability focused community projects for the last 4 years. Including developing sports and well-being groups alongside other organisations, and retaining volunteers to ensure longevity. I have recently supported a group to set up a sustainability hub and repair café, which involved all legal and financial processes (registering with Companies House, bank account etc) and also completing a community asset transfer with RCTCBC.  This also involved fundraising over £100k, recruiting employees and project managing a full renovation of the site. I am determined, enthusiastic and supportive, where there’s a will, there’s a way!
The main areas of support i can provide are: community asset transfer, property renovation (quotes and project management), funding, sustainability.

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Kenneth Moon - Cymdeithas Tir Pontypridd Land Society

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Kenneth Moon - Cymdeithas Tir Pontypridd Land Society

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I trained in Permaculture Design and Education and have worked on community led sustainability

for over 20 years. At Interlink I mentored and supported Social Enterprises & Community

Organisations across RCT from initial ideas to running organisations. I’m a founder & Chair of Tir

Pontypridd and chair RCT Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

As a peer mentor I can support you with community engagement, setting up and running your

organisation, funding, business planning, lease negotiations, partnership working, community

growing, community energy, land access and sustainability. I’ll work you to support you to be the

best organisation you can be.