SVC values itself for being a student-led organisation. We feel that students should be given the opportunity to have a say in how the projects and the organisation is run. Our group of trustees (“The Exec”) are a group of interested volunteers who oversee the charity’s work and ensure it continues to develop. Members are elected annually at our AGM and each member has a different role.
The Executive Committee for 2011/2012 are:
Chair - Thomas Wells
Hello. I am a postgraduate studying an Ancient and Medieval Warfare Masters. I am also a Cardiff University Alumni and I was heavily involved with SVC throughout my undergraduate degree. I volunteered for Home and Away in my first year, Co-coordinated Weekenders Siblings in my second and was the Vice-Chair last year. Having been a volunteer and having spoken to those we help at SVC I know the huge difference those of you who join us will make to those in the local community who need a bit of help. It is this knowledge that drives me in my role as Chair. As Chair my main function is to be the face of the charity and talk to our external partners and the organisations we work with, as well as lead the Board of Trustees in the continued development of the charity. I have many plans for the development of the charity some of which are already well underway. I will work passionately to make the volunteering experience the best one you will have at university should you choose to join us.
Vice-Chair - Emma Harris
Hello! My name is Emma Harris and I’m about to begin studying for my final year of Applied Psychology. I first got involved with SVC in my second year of university as a volunteer on the Greenhill School project, helping teenage boys with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. This was a bit of a challenge but I really enjoyed it, and last year I went on to volunteer as part of the Ty Celyn Youth Club, helping children and adults with various learning disabilities. As clichéd as it is to say volunteering has been rewarding, it really has been! The experience has not only been thoroughly enjoyable but it has provided me with the opportunity to help people I otherwise would never have met and also allowed me to develop new skills. As Vice Chair, I hope to continue to contribute to all the work the charity does and am looking forward to finding opportunities to help even more people, and get even more students involved with SVC!
Secretary – Rhiannon Fyfield
Hi my name is Rhiannon Fyfield and I am doing a Phd in the School of Psychology. I was involved with SVC throughout my undergraduate studies, both volunteering for Home and Away, Out and About, Ty Gwyn, Greenhill School and coordinating Primary School Tutoring. Volunteering and being an active part of SVC Exec as an undergraduate was a fantastic experience which helped me to develop personally and also gain invaluable experience. My years of volunteering definitely helped me to gain my position as a Phd student at the university. I now look forward to further contributing positively to Student Volunteering Cardiff, contributing to the continuing success of the charity this academic year.
Treasurer - Nick French
Mr Nick French is the Chief Executive of Innovate Trust, a sister charity to SVC. His experience of working for a larger charity will prove invaluable to SVC. .
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Communications Officer - Maggie Gaston
Maggie is a 3rd year Cardiff University student studying Journalism. Her role on the Executive Committee will be to promote SVC and its activities across the student base and the University. The skills she has learnt in her degree so far will help her to put together the monthly newsletter and write promotional pieces for Gari Rhydd, Cardiff University’s student newspaper.
Social Secretary - Abbie Johns
Hi. I’m Abbie and I am just about to enter my third year, studying sociology. I started volunteering with SVC in my first year, working on the primary school tutoring project. It gave me loads of opportunities to get hands on in the classroom and brilliant experience for teaching and PGCE. I went on to co-ordinate the project last year and not only learnt valuable skills but a lot more about what SVC does as a whole and the incredible work it does for Cardiff as a community. I have met some amazing people whilst working with SVC and I hope that as social secretary this year, I will provide lots of fun-filled opportunities for you to do the same.
Fundraising Officer – Kirsty Miles
Hey my name is Kirsty and I’m just going into my final year studying Education at Cardiff. I have been involved in volunteering for the last two years at university. Last year I was the Project co-ordinator for Primary School Mentoring and volunteered on the Wednesday Club and Llanrumney Reading Project where I gained invaluable experiences in a school environment. I have been a keen volunteer since I was at school and have had the chance to be involved in many community based projects in Cornwall (my home place) whilst meeting some amazing people along the way! This year, I am one of the new Fundraisers on the Exec Committee for SVC. This means that we will be promoting the SVC name among students and raising lots of awareness and money (hopefully) through lots of fun and exciting activities! Volunteering is about passion, enthusiasm and using your gifts and talents for the greater good! It is such an important thing to be involved in nowadays and definitely fills a gap that is much needed for vulnerable young people and adults in the Cardiff area. Giving up as little as just an hour a week can make such a difference to some people’s lives without you even realising it AND it looks great on your CV!! We have loads of opportunities available and I hope you come and see what you can get involved in to make the most of your time here at Cardiff! 
Fundraising Officer – Jackie Kopelman
Hi my name’s Jackie and I’m a medical student, but I’m doing a year of psychology this year before I finish medicine. At university I’ve volunteered at St. Monica’s and Home and Away, as well as some volunteering outside SVC. I went on to co-ordinate St. Monica’s last year. I’m really keen to be a fundraiser for SVC with Kirsty this year, as I think volunteering is a great opportunity to learn new skills and meet like-minded people. I hope we can raise more interest and support for SVC, because of all the amazing projects it offers.
Project Representative – Georgina Spriggs
My name is Georgina and I’m a 3rd year Psychology student. I’m a Project Representative on the Board of Trustees for SVC. I will be helping to continue the success of SVC’s projects for education, children and young people, older people and homelessness. I’ve been actively involved with SVC since my first year and I volunteered on the Primary School Tutoring and SVC Dance projects. In my second year, I continued to volunteer on these projects as well as Confident Kids. For the last academic year, I was also one of the Project Co-ordinators for the Primary School Tutoring project. I enjoyed the responsibility of promoting the project and assisting the dedicated volunteers. This year, I will also be the Project Co-ordinator and a volunteer for SVC Dance which provides a dance class for pupils at a local primary school. Volunteering as part of SVC is an excellent opportunity for students to make a big difference to the lives of people in Cardiff, and to gain valuable experience in areas such as education and mental health. I’m looking forward to my role, to working with the rest of the executive committee and to being a part of this fantastic charity.
Project Representative – Anna Mahoney
Hi, my name is Anna Mahoney and I am a third year Law student. I started volunteering with SVC in my first year at Cardiff on the CASH homelessness project and in my second year I volunteered on the Park Road mental health project. Having enjoyed my time volunteering so much I decided it would be great to become more involved in SVC as an excellent organisation and to gain a greater insight into the workings of a charity. During my role as a Project Representative, I look forward to enhancing communication and mediation between project coordinators and the office, in order to resolve any issues that may arise, to ultimately further and improve upon the great work of SVC. I am also excited about aiding the new fundraising officers in their pursuits this year, and in raising the profile of SVC and the benefits of volunteering generally.
