Meet the Team
Julie Cull
Operational Co-ordinator
I’ve been with the charity since April 2023 and previously worked with WCVA, gaining valuable third sector experience. Working for a grassroots charity is gratifying and humbling. Assessing clients and realizing how we can help them is moving, and our volunteers often find their experiences life-changing and skill-enhancing. My role involves meeting both clients and volunteers, which is thought-provoking. Our support helps people maintain their independence at home.
I’m passionate about football, a Liverpool FC supporter for over 50 years, and love traveling, especially to Ibiza. I’ve been learning Spanish for fun for a year.
Contact: operations@gninc.org.uk
Zoe Engstrom
Community Volunteer Engagement Officer
I started with GNINC on June 3, 2024, to help expand the charity. I’m excited to spread the word about GNINC’s impactful work. I’ve wanted to work in the third sector and found a perfect fit in GNINC. I love its personal touch and the support it provides, which is crucial in a stretched social care sector.
Working here allows me to help lower the pressure on social services and provide comfort to those in need. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, especially baking bread, and creating new recipes. I’m also in my third year of learning Spanish.
Beverley Clay
Administration Support
I started work at GNINC in June 2016, making me the longest-serving employee. I work Thursday and Friday mornings in the office. The best part of my job is knowing that we help people stay in their homes. When we’re stretched, I volunteer and assist clients, which is very rewarding. I also help with events, like our annual tea party, where I meet many clients I speak to regularly.
GNINC is special because we provide local support in north Cardiff, fostering long-lasting relationships. I enjoy gardening, being outdoors, traveling to new countries, and learning about their history and culture.
Contact: support@gninc.org.uk
Louise Westlake
Administration Support
I started volunteering with GNINC in November 2021 and began working in administration support in May 2024. It’s rewarding to bring the community together positively. Our clients appreciate our volunteers, often praising their kindness and support. GNINC provides crucial social contact and practical help, especially during the cost of living crisis and with limited funded alternatives. Volunteering tackles loneliness and loss of independence, improving life quality for both volunteers and recipients. Acts of kindness make everyone feel good. In my free time, I enjoy curling up on the sofa with my pets, a good book or film, and a glass of wine.
Contact: support@gninc.org.uk
Meet our Trustees
Alison Gibbons
I joined GNINC (formerly Llanishen Good Neighbours) in 1998, after moving to Thornhill. Inspired by the support GNiNC offers, which I wished existed for my mother living alone in Bristol, I volunteered to support others. This involvement has fostered a sense of community and allowed me to meet wonderful people, both clients and volunteers. Our work significantly enhances clients’ lives, providing essential social interaction that often develops into friendship, benefiting both parties.
Since childhood, I’ve been passionate about choir singing, particularly Renaissance and Tudor music. I also enjoy historic dancing with My Lady’s Dancers, performing at venues like Apsley House and Blenheim Palace.
Jenny Smedley - Treasurer
We moved to Cardiff, and I joined GNINC as a volunteer in 2006. In 2022, I became a trustee and have been the Treasurer since 2023. Taking over from Alison, the former Treasurer, was a big step, but her support made it easier to learn the ropes.
Being part of the charity is a rewarding way to stay connected and give back to the local area. GNINC offers invaluable support, including shopping assistance and companionship calls, promoting mental health and wellbeing. With our expansion into Rhiwbina, we aim to make a real difference. Despite a busy schedule, I enjoy jigsaw puzzles in my downtime.
Julia Rayer
I have volunteered for GNINC for about 20 years, serving two terms as a trustee and helping with events. Being involved with GNiNC is rewarding; it’s great to meet people and cheer them up, even just chatting on the phone. It’s moving when clients appreciate the volunteers’ efforts.
GNiNC is a vital community asset, helping people stay in their homes. I hope it will support me when I’m older. For relaxation, I enjoy reading, swimming, walking, and meeting up with friends.
Phil Patterson
I joined GNINC as a volunteer in 2019 and later became a trustee. Being involved in GNINC is very special to me; I love helping others and seeing their appreciation.
Once, I noted only the name and address for a task. Upon arrival, I asked Mary, “Where are we going?” She guided me, and I eventually dropped her off at the library, only to learn she was visiting the memory clinic upstairs. The moral: always note task details!
Supporting those less fortunate is essential, and that’s what GNINC does. In my free time, I enjoy gardening and playing bowls at Rhiwbina Recreation Club.
Rosemary Mathews - Chair
My association with the charity began in 1981 with South Glamorgan Care for the Elderly. After moving to Llanishen, I reconnected with GNINC through my church and later became a volunteer when my children grew up. I love this local charity and its community impact. A volunteer once shared that taking a lady to her social gathering might be her only laugh that week. Chairing since June 2023, I’ve worked with trustees, staff, and volunteers to modernize our efforts, ensuring our valued work continues for another 40 years.
I love to spend time at my caravan on Gower, or pottering in the garden, having catch ups with friends, and really enjoy a good crossword and jigsaw to keep my brain fit.
Contact: Chair@gninc.org.uk
Sebastien Vanoni
Sue Stockdale - Secretary
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