Tearfund Makes New Appointments in Wales

Tearfund has appointed two new managers of its branch in Wales. Miriam Evans, a former GP Practise Manager, and Hywel Meredydd, an Anglesey Church Minister will job-share the post, bringing to Tearfund a strong blend of skills and experience from their varied careers.

Evans, currently the Acting Manager of Tearfund in Wales, will oversee more than 180 Tearfund volunteers throughout the country who raise funds, pray and campaign on behalf of the poor. Evans has herself volunteered with Tearfund for more than 20 years and seen firsthand the impact of Tearfund partner's work in Kenya, Bangladesh, Thailand and Peru.

Meredydd, Minister of Llangefni Evangelical Church for the last 27 years and former Welsh Secretary for the Evangelical Movement of Wales, will manage Tearfund's relationship with a vast network of churches throughout the country. Formerly Chair of Tearfund in Wales, Meredydd trained at Bala Bangor Theological College and the University of Wales.

Meredydd is also heavily involved in his local community, as Chair of the Enterprise Board for Anglesey and Vice Chair of the Anglesey Local Health Board. His involvement in sport and passion for volunteerism has led Meredydd to be a council member for the Wales Sports Council and a board member of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).

Rev Elfed Godding, Chair of Tearfund Wales and General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance in Wales, said, "Hywel and Miriam bring to Tearfund Wales an excellent complementary blend of gifts, expertise and experience of working with and on behalf of the poor. I look forward to working closely with them."

Meredydd and Evans replace Siôn Meredith, who left Tearfund last year after 13 years to take up a new role with the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Evans said, "I really look forward to working with the great team of committed Tearfund volunteers that we have in Wales and together with them, build even more support for the life-saving work of Tearfund's partners in some of the world's poorest communities."

Meredydd added, "Drawing on my twenty seven years of experience as a church leader, I look forward to helping to connect churches and Christians throughout Wales to the extraordinary work being carried out by local churches in over 60 countries throughout the developing world. I will endeavour, only with God's blessing to build on the fine work of my predecessor."