The International Day of Charity was celebrated last month; a day to raise awareness of charitable causes that bring people together to make a difference and commemorate the humanity of the people behind them.

Evolve Care Group’s writer, Beth Tingle, spoke with Wendy Hawkins, former CEO of the Welsh charity Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs Wales, who lives at Gibraltar Nursing Home, one of the group’s homes in Monmouth.

Wendy, a 72 year old citizen of Cardiff who has lived all over Wales and England, invited Beth from the group’s central office in Bristol to spend the day with her in her Monmouth care home and learn about her life and time working in the charity sector.

On arrival, Beth was given the grand tour through the homes eloquent hallways, their walls adorned with personal identity boards illustrating the many personalities and life histories that make up the community at Gibraltar, until eventually they reached Wendy’s room.

“She was as warm and welcoming as I expected her to be and I was eager to get to know the woman who had gone from small town farm life beginnings to climbing her way to a CEO position”, Beth tells us.

Farm Life Beginnings

Life for Wendy began at Doghill farm in the Vale of Glamorgan, until the family swapped one countryside dwelling for another when Wendy was 11 and moved to Tump farm in Monmouthshire with her mum, dad and brother Glynne.

Her dad believed in working hard and for everyone to play their part, and so they all had their roles on the farm. The responsibilities she was trusted with developed a strong work ethic in Wendy from a young age, and would come in handy when a future opportunity was presented to her.

When Wendy left school her farming roots remained, and she became a teacher in rural science. She taught for a few short years before motherhood called and she took a break from work life to introduce daughter Nia and son Owen to the world. It was only when they started playgroup that she was presented with an opportunity that would steer her away from teaching and onto a surprising but welcoming path.

The Children Left Playgroup but She Didn’t

In 1985 Wendy was introduced to Wales PPA (Wales pre-school Playgroups Association) charity, which is known today as Early Years Wales and was invited to come on board as a trustee on the committee. When a roof of a school building fell in they pulled off a successful raffle and campaign to get it fixed, and Wendy got her first taste of what can be achieved when you come together as a community. They even got a grant from the lottery to write a book about the charity’s endeavours, with Wendy contributing a chapter titled ‘The Children left Playgroup but I Didn’t.’

Over 16 years of working for Wales PPA and climbing her way from trustee to National Executive Officer had supplied Wendy with all the knowledge she needed to step into a role that came with huge responsibility. In 2002, she was appointed as Director of Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Club, a charity whose purpose is to prevent latchkey children, instead offering them a safe space to come to before and after school as well as school holidays. This operates as a vital service to families, allowing parents to work longer than what the school day permits. Working closely with the Welsh Government, Wendy helped to set up, develop and support out of school childcare clubs that are affordable and accessible.

A Life of Purpose

Finding a naturalness to her role in charity work in a way she never quite did as a teacher, Wendy said the achievement she felt when a grant was accepted was the most fulfilling part of her role. “That’s when you measure the success of what you’re doing, and you realise that you can really make a difference.”

Speaking with today’s CEO of Kids’ Club, Jane O’Toole, she had only loving things to say about her former boss. “Wendy was a great teacher and guide, supporting me to learn Third Sector governance, and together we developed the newly formed organisation, its policies and procedures and helped it grow. Most of all she was a great support to my career development and I will never forgive her for persuading me to apply for her position when she retired! Joking aside, without her, I would not have the confidence to do what I do today, continuing in her work of leading this great organisation which is celebrating its 21st birthday this year.”

Road to Recovery After Illness

In 2015, just three days into her retirement, Wendy woke up and found herself lying on the floor of her home. “I remember thinking what a foolish thing for me to have done” she explained to me, since her initial thought was that she had fallen out of bed in her sleep. But a few moments later reality set in and the seriousness of the situation dawned on Wendy. She couldn’t move.

Wendy had experienced a stroke, leaving her with severe weakness in her left side and a long road to recovery in front of her.

After decades spent fighting for a better life for others, it was time to focus on herself for a change. Since a fall in her home fractured her ankle, Wendy has been unable to walk and after spending time in hospital and a care home that didn’t meet her needs, she was welcomed into Gibraltar Nursing Home in 2021.

When Beth asked how she found life at Gibraltar different, Wendy explained: “There’s good community spirit here, everyone gets along and it’s a nice atmosphere to be a part of. And you can’t fault the care.”

It was clear she had built up good relationships with team members, with Wendy spending a good part of the afternoon singing their praises.

Wendy has spent a huge portion of her life improving the lives of those who live in her little corner of the world.

The Monmouth Care Home is proud to support their family members and the causes that are important to them and have made a donation to Kids’ Clubs in Wendy’s name to support the many wonderful projects they continue to operate and contribute towards ‘A Wales where children play, and communities prosper.’