Welcome

Thank you for taking an interest in the role of CEO at the Bevan Foundation. I believe this is a remarkable opportunity to make an impact on the lives of people across Wales, at a pivotal moment of the nation’s history.

The Bevan Foundation was created because of the extra powers that came with Devolution a quarter of a century ago. The Assembly, later Senedd, created an opportunity to tackle the disadvantages many Welsh communities face.

Twenty-five years on, not enough has changed, we still are left behind in many areas. Poverty and child poverty is shockingly high. We need a CEO determined to change that, not just with anger but with answers. The policies we develop and campaign for must provide solutions that can be delivered.

This is a moment of change in Wales. Next year we have key Senedd elections which appear genuinely in the balance. The foundation is not party political. Our CEO must be ready and able to work with, challenge and influence politicians of any stripe and convince them the steps needed to ensure a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable Wales. 

This is a great time to join the foundation. Thanks to the excellent work of our staff and outgoing director, we have a solid platform, with more multi-year funding in place. The team has grown, giving us the scope to do more than ever before. We have a track record of achievement and influence, from free school meals to lifting the education maintenance allowance, we have developed evidence-based policies to improve the lives of people across Wales.

There will be challenges. As CEO, you will lead a disparate team, a mix of office and remote based. We are a small charity with a big impact, and the CEO needs to be able to both get stuck in and step back to see the bigger picture. Our retiring director has led the charity for 23 years, leaving big shoes to fill.

Yet I cannot think of a more exciting role for the right person in Wales today. As CEO of the Bevan Foundation you will influence the parties leading up to 2026 election, and the government that comes from it. You will lead a bright, talented and hard-working team and support them to deliver change that lifts people out of poverty and social injustice. If you are ready for all of that, then we’d love to hear from you.

Gavin Thompson

Chair of trustees