Our work in Wales

We are part of Carers Trust, an ambitious national charity committed to improving support and services for unpaid carers.

Carers Trust Wales aims to shape a better future with and for carers in Wales by raising awareness, empowering carers and influencing change.

We work closely and collaboratively with our Network Partners – local and regional independent charities which deliver information, advice and practical support for unpaid carers in Wales. 

Last year our Network Partners reached more than 36,000 carers in Wales

We know that there are at least 370,000 carers in Wales (which is 10% more than the population of Cardiff) and that three in five of us will become a carer at some point in our lives.

Carers Trust Wales is committed to making sure that all carers receive the recognition and support they deserve.

Meet the team

Carers Trust Wales Advisory Board 

Mark Llewellyn

As Professor of Health and Care Policy at the University of South Wales, Mark has been immersed in the issues of carers and the third sector in Wales for many years. His work has centred on gathering evidence about the ways in which relationships between people, their carers, and the local and national organisations that support them can be improved, and applying that in practice. He has been particularly focused on the ways in which carers’ voice are, and are not heard, and the extent to which people are able to exercise voice and control over what matters to them. The key focus for Mark is to forge a connection between evidence, policy, and impact, and to maximise the positive contribution that independent research and evaluation data can make to the everyday experience of unpaid carers across Wales. Mark lives in South-West Wales with his wife and three sons, where he volunteers at the local cricket club.

Sally Anstey

Sally Anstey is a trained nurse, with an understanding of the challenges associated with health and social care. Born and brought up in London, Sally initially trained as a nurse and returned to Wales, where her maternal grandfather, a very proud Welshman, was born. Sally worked across all care settings in many clinical roles finally specialising in End-of-Life Care. Sally, because of Long Covid took semi-retirement from the School of Healthcare Sciences Cardiff University in 2022. She retains contact as an Emerita Reader involved in MH and patient empowerment research. Giving primacy to voice and experiences of patients and carers was an essential part of her work. Their stories have enabled the design, development, delivery and evaluation of projects to raise awareness at strategic, organisational and clinical levels to support and empower them in their unpaid caring roles. Sally is proud to be the Welsh Ambassador for Carers Trust. Additionally, she works as a volunteer teacher in a local primary school, is a PPI member of the Wales Evidence Centre (WG) and a Sounding Board member of the Wales Genomics Partnership.

Gareth Morlais

Gareth is a Welsh language technology specialist with the Welsh Government, working with groups developing speech-to-text, computer aided translation and conversational artificial intelligence, all in the Welsh language. Gareth’s voluntary role with Carers Trust Wales is independent of his work with government.  In his spare time, Gareth is a trustee of Ymddiried Media Grants Cymru, was a non-executive director of Breaking Barriers Community Arts and runs several independent websites. Having helped care for family members, friends and neighbours, Gareth feels it’s important unpaid carers get all possible help and support.

Jo Galazka 

Jo works for Unite the Union as a Regional Women & Equalities Officer in Wales. The role involves representing members in the workplace, negotiating with employers and fighting for fairness and equality in the workplace. She is passionate about ensuring carers are properly supported in work and have a voice in the decision-making process. She has lived in Cardiff for the last 10 years and is an avid campaigner for carers’ rights. Becoming a young carer at the age of 9 has shaped the person she has become and her lived experience has made her determined to champion carers’ rights at every opportunity.   

Ifor Glyn 

Ifor Glyn started his career at the Swansea Drugs Project, one of the first harm reduction agencies in Wales. He also helped establish a substance misuse service within Caerphilly Social Services and worked at WCADA (Welsh Centre for Action on Dependency and Addiction Ltd) before returning to the Swansea Drugs Project as its CEO in 2007.  In 2017, Ifor took up the role of director of the Swansea Carers Centre, a charity providing a range of services to unpaid carers in Swansea, such as respite in the home, day centre, welfare benefits, counselling, activities, drop in, specific services for young adult carers, parent carers and mental health. Despite no longer working in the substance misuse field, Ifor continues to be passionate about minimising the harm caused by drugs or alcohol to individuals and communities. Additionally, Ifor is a Welsh speaker and is a frequent contributor to Welsh Language TV and radio.   In her spare time Alison enjoys reading and spending time with her family, including her 3 grandchildren. 

Alison Harries

Alison Harries is CEO of Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales. 

Alison has worked for Crossroads/Carers Trust since 2003 in various roles.  Alison was the first Registered Manager under the then CSSIW in 2004, alongside her role as the Scheme/Business Manager. In 2007 the organisation underwent a merger with a network member in the same county.  Alison’s new role at that time was Operational/Registered Manager, she was appointed CEO in 2016.

In April 2021 the organisation re-branded as Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales. The reasoning for “West Wales” was that there is no Network Partner in Pembrokeshire and we had formed a consortium with our Network Partners Credu and Carers Trust Crossroads North Wales to provide information, advice and respite care in Ceredigion. They are the only regulated Network Partner hybrid service in West Wales, regulated with Care Inspectorate Wales to deliver care alongside Carers Support Services that offer information, advice and access to financial support. 

During Alison’s time with Crossroads, she has experienced many changes and challenges along with some wonderful humbling experiences of working with unpaid carers. Alison’s experience of being a young carer and, later on in life, balancing her roles as a working carer trying to look after ageing parents with poor health, and at that time a mother to a young family has put her in a good position when trying to understand why a Carer feels as they do and empathise with their situation. Alison is enthusiastic and committed to driving new projects forward.

Jen O’Hara Jakeway

Jen is CEO at Credu, supporting young and adult carers and is in awe of the carers of all ages that she knows personally and professionally. Meeting people on a daily basis that care for their loved ones through illness or disability whilst navigating complex systems drives her to want to make caring profoundly recognised, valued and supported locally and nationally.

Jen has a background in asset based community development, strength based approaches to support and organisational development. She is currently undertaking doctoral research on a part time basis.

Don Reed

After leaving a board level business career of over 30 years as a Commercial / Financial Director Don’s intent has been to offer his skills and experience to help organisations who serve local Welsh communities, particularly focusing on areas close to his heart.

During his time in business he and his business partner created employee/member benefit solutions for large organisations in both the private, public and charity sectors. Part of his research highlighted that many unpaid carers were effectively invisible with their beneficial contribution to the wider economy going largely unappreciated and unsupported by Government and Society. In response Don provided a number of local councils with reports proposing additional ways of reaching out, offering further support and giving visibility to unpaid carers within their boundaries.

Don wishes he could say that his research and theoretical knowledge would have prepared him for his own personal unpaid carer journey, but it didn’t. The long road walked with his Mum through the different stages of dementia over 9 years, alongside his Dad who could not come to terms with his mother’s declining functionality, was poignant to say the least, underlined by having no siblings. Don’s carer journey is ongoing as his 94 year old father becomes increasingly frail and dependent on him.

Richard Marsh

Richard started his professional career in corporate finance/investment banking, initially in London and then in Paris. After completing an MBA at INSEAD in France, he returned to the UK in 1997 with FTSE100 distribution company Bunzl, working in the corporate development team before taking on the role of CFO of a subsidiary in the North of England. Richard then relocated to western France in 2004 at another Bunzl subsidiary before moving to Amsterdam in 2006 as CFO of their Continental European activities. He returned to his home town Cardiff in 2021 and now works from home three days a week as Finance Projects Director for Bunzl. He has no direct experience of providing unpaid care other than looking after his elderly mother.