Tai Ffres

Hugh is an enthusiastic advocate for improving young people’s access to housing that is suitable, affordable and sustainable.

Currently the Project Manager for End Youth Homelessness Cymru, a coalition led by Llamau, Hugh has overseen work on LGBTQ+ young people’s experiences of homelessness, on links between the care system and homelessness, and is involved in a number of exciting new approaches including Housing First for Youth and Upstream Cymru.

Hugh holds an MSc in Housing and has over a decade’s experience of working in housing and homelessness with Community Housing Cymru and Llamau prior.

He is also a board member of TGP Cymru, a Welsh charity which advocates for young people in the care system.

Hugh is passionate about promoting active travel, a huge music fan and a keen runner. He is also trying to teach himself the piano and apologises profusely to the neighbours!

Hugh’s pronouns are he / him.

Craig enjoyed a 38 year career in the civil service after joining the Welsh Office in 1981 and transferring to Cardiff Bay in 1999 to help establish the National Assembly for Wales (Senedd Cymru, the Welsh Parliament).

Craig was Senior Private Secretary to the Education Minister in Welsh Government and later became Chief Adviser to the Presiding Officer at the Senedd before becoming the Director of Engagement.

He left the Senedd in September 2019 and has since been appointed to the Employment Tribunal (England and Wales) as a non-legal member.

Craig is a board Member of Tai Pawb; Chair of South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus and Deputy Chair of LGBTQymru, which created the first ever Wales-wide Virtual Pride in July 2020.

Craig’s pronouns are he / him.

Dr Jen Lyttleton-Smith is a researcher specialising in care-experienced childhoods, co-production, and wellbeing. A sociologist by background, she was awarded her PhD in 2015 for her study of gender and early childhood.

Jen works in the CASCADE Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre within the Cardiff University School of Social Sciences and currently holds a Health and Care Research Wales Post-Doctoral Fellowship to examine the use of co-productive approaches with children in Welsh care and the impact on their well-being.

She also co-leads the Evaluation of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014 with responsibility for assessing the impact of the Act on people who need care and support. Her work is driven by a passionate belief in the value of listening to children and young people on the issues that affect them and in centralising their views in decision-making.

Having grown up in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Jen now lives in North Cardiff and aspires to make a meaningful contribution to her local community, and further afield in Wales.

Jen’s pronouns are she / her.

Sue Revell is on a mission to inspire leaders to think, dream and be bigger in their mission to make a difference. With 30 years experience, both in coaching and in leading change, Sue coaches leaders who want to achieve confidence, impact and fulfilment in leading change, making a difference, and leading a life that matters.

Sue works internationally with leaders in the political arena and in the private and public sector. Her extensive leadership experience spans healthcare management, strategic planning and complex project management and delivery.

She is a guest lecturer with Cardiff Business School and Glyndwr University, and over the last ten years has held Non-Executive/Board Member roles within the Pobl Group and the Chartered Management Institute in Wales.

Sue is inspired by this project because of the opportunities to work with young people to co-create a new and different approach.

Sue’s pronouns are she / her.

Alan is currently a senior member of the management team at Active Gloucestershire as Head of Insight and Intelligence; a charity tackling health inequality through helping more people get active and enjoy the benefits of a healthier and active life.

Having previously worked at Charter Housing for five years as Tenant Insight Manager, Alan helped to improve governance, minimise the negative impact of welfare reform, and worked closely with other housing associations and organisations such as Housemark, OCSI and Housing Partners to learn, share and develop insight.

Alan was born and raised in East Sussex and moved to Wales in 1996 to study the trombone at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. He is a keen runner and cyclist, having taken part in numerous marathons and triathlons.

Alan’s pronouns are he / him.

When I first read about Tai Ffres, I found it to be extremely exciting and innovative. I found out about it initially through the DofE, with whom I work to promote and showcase the amazing work that young people do and their contributions to society.

The concept of a housing service solely focused of the needs of young people recognises that our needs and priorities are different to what is currently offered. I am most excited about the chance to reduce the negative connotations associated with communities of young people. Tai Ffres can help to prevent the isolating loneliness felt by young people living alone, by creating homes within a safe and nurturing community.

As a young person hoping to move to my own place, I want to give some insight regarding what is important in a first home – such as the importance of environmental issues, broadband, local services or the appearance of the properties.

My name’s Hia, I’m 19 and I’m currently studying English, Film and TV at Aberystywth University.

I’m involved with the Tai Ffres Youth Board as I want to make a difference to young people’s lives. As someone who is young and has been homeless, I understand the struggle and feeling like you are constantly unseen and unheard. I want to be able to make a change, so no one goes through what I’ve been through, and to create awareness around these issues.

I’m Lois, I’m 19 years old and currently taking a year out before going to university to study Social Anthropology.

Whilst in sixth form, my passion for social justice led me to research how the Finnish social policy on homelessness could be applied here in Wales. My Welsh Bacc project explored the extent to which Wales could learn from how Finland have approached homelessness.

This gave me an opportunity to visit and witness the excellent work of Digartref Môn, and this inspired me to take a more active role in the work of Llamau and United Welsh.

As a member of the very first Children and Young People’s Advisory Panel for the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, I was allowed to express my opinion and make informed decisions that would impact public policy. This opportunity has made me increasingly aware of the importance of listening and responding to the challenges facing young people; something I hope to bring to Tai Ffres.

I am currently in my second year of studying Sociology at Cardiff University. In my spare time I am avid about my volunteering work with young people for DofE Wales.

I am a young leader for the charity, which includes facilitating the success of young people from all different backgrounds by coaching and mentoring them so that they feel fully prepared to take on any challenges within the award.

I am also a regional youth ambassador for DofE Wales. This role is centred around how we can encourage and raise awareness of the award nationally, so that anyone regardless of background and personal circumstances feels that they are able to achieve the award.

I have also recently been a young judge on the Princess Diana award panel for the South West. This involved acknowledging the highly commendable social and humanitarian aid carried out by young people who had often faced various adversities themselves.

I want this fantastic opportunity to be influential in developing a bespoke housing service for young people.

I’m involved with Tai Ffres as it’s such an exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative and progressive project. United Welsh and Llamau are organisations that have a person-centred approach to their operations.

I think the involvement of young people in Tai Ffres is vital, especially as no one knows better what concerns young people, what young people value and what young people like and don’t like better than young people themselves.

I endeavour to represent this while participating on the Youth Board; I actively engage with not just my situation as a young person but include the many varied situations that my peers are experiencing. I think in doing so, I’m an advocate for positive actions surrounding what a bespoke and sustainable housing service should look like for young people.

I have recently completed a research dissertation surrounding the disaster experience of people rough sleeping and the role of Assertive Outreach in Cardiff.

Throughout my studies and personal life, where I have been a volunteer and subsequently employed as a youth worker by the council, a constant thread has emerged of a desire to tackle problems faced by young people.

I’m Rhiannon and I’m from Newport in South Wales.

I started volunteering at the age of 9 for sports with the West Cluster and continued until I was 12. I then moved onto volunteering with Newport Live where I have been able to start my own dance club, attend and lead at sports days and sports in the parks. I’ve also visited schools for young people with disabilities to help them to engage in sport. I’ve been fortunate to gain a lot of qualifications with Newport Live that will help me teach different varieties of sports.

Alongside volunteering, when I was in school, I became an Anti-Bullying Ambassador and a Mental Health Ambassador. I talked to people that needed support and gave assemblies to all year groups about the signs and where support is.

Growing up, I have tried a bit of everything – I don’t like to do one thing! Over the years this has included martial arts, singing, dancing, being part of a football college and much more.

I love a challenge and meeting new people and having new experiences. I hope to train to become a lifeguard and personal trainer soon.