Team | CELS Cymru

Growing stronger together!
One team, One dream!

We’re Hiring – Join the CELS Team

CELS is expanding! We’re looking for someone ambitious to take on an exciting new role, helping us deliver community projects and grow our work across Anglesey and North Wales.

The Opportunity

Full-time role: £31,666 per annum (37.5 hrs)
Or apply for one of two part-time posts:
- Community Development Officer (3 days, £19,000, Lottery-funded for 3 years)
- Business Development & Operations Officer (2 days, £12,666, permanent)

Why Apply?

Holidays not limited to school terms
Real experience running a business (with support)
Pathway to becoming a company director
Be part of an award-winning, bilingual team
Flexi working with hybrid approach

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Job Spec - Community Development Officer

Job Spec - Business Development Officer

Our Board of Advisors

Our Board of Advisors is a group of experienced professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge from education, health, business, and community development. Each advisor provides unique insights and guidance, ensuring our programmes remain impactful, relevant, and aligned with best practices.

Louise Kerfoot-Robson

GwE Health and Wellbeing Supporting Improvement Advisor

Louise brings over 30 years of teaching experience, including her role as Deputy Head Teacher at Ysgol Eirias, a large secondary school. Currently serving as a GwE Health and Wellbeing Supporting Improvement Adviser and Joint Lead for PDG and LAC PDG, she has extensive expertise in supporting schools to enhance pupil outcomes within Health and Wellbeing. Since observing our programme in 2023, Louise has worked closely with us to develop our approach, ensuring it aligns with best practices in education and wellbeing.

Rhian Grieves

Deputy Head Teacher
Ysgol Cybi

Rhian is an experienced educator who served as Head of Ysgol y Parc before becoming Deputy Head at Ysgol Cybi, a large primary school with over 600 pupils. Ysgol Cybi has supported our program since its inception, and we are proud to present it there every year. A passionate advocate for our work, Rhian continues to provide invaluable guidance and support, helping us improve our impact in schools.

Carla Desmond

Healthy Schools Officer

Anglesey County Council

Carla is dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing in schools across Anglesey through her role as a Healthy Schools Officer. She supports schools in creating action plans around seven key health topics, facilitates staff training, and develops resources and toolkits to enhance curriculum delivery. Carla also oversees local phase accreditations, helping schools achieve recognition for their efforts. Her expertise in health education and her ability to connect schools with relevant support has been invaluable in strengthening our programmes.

Tanya Jones

Bangor University

Tanya is a former secondary school teacher with years of classroom experience. Her career has spanned roles at M-SParc, where she supported the development of small businesses, and with the Urdd's apprenticeship team. Tanya is now working in a role at Bangor University. Her combined expertise in teaching, business development, and apprenticeships brings valuable insight to our team, supporting the growth and delivery of our programmes.

Jamie Sheridan

Straits Line Ltd

Business Wales

Jamie is a highly skilled and intuitive Commercial Manager with a wealth of frontline experience in driving business growth. With a proven ability to build and nurture impactful relationships with stakeholders—colleagues, customers, and suppliers—he consistently aligns his strategies with organisational goals to achieve measurable success.

As the founder of Straits Line Ltd, James brings a dynamic and innovative approach to commercial development, specializing in enabling growth across diverse sectors. His broad expertise and track record of delivering successful projects make him uniquely positioned to provide insightful guidance and practical solutions for organisations like ours.

Lianne Blackburn

Experienced Educational Leader

Flintshire

Lianne brings extensive experience as a former class teacher and deputy headteacher. Having been involved with the Character Development Award from its inception, she was a passionate advocate for its implementation across Wales. Lianne has contributed to curriculum development, aligning our programme with national frameworks. Now working independently, she continues to share her expertise, helping us enhance the educational impact of our initiatives.

Meet The Team

We are a growing team of like minded professionals dedicated to the growth of young people in the North Wales area. Each instructor has valuable areas of expertise to develop character through a holistic approach.

Here we are showing off our Inspiring Impact in Education across Wales award!

Dylan Jones

Director

Dylan, our founder and visionary leader, brings over 15 years of education sector expertise. He's excelled in various roles across primary and secondary settings, youth services, community groups, and sports clubs in North Wales. Since 2017, Dylan has championed character education throughout the region, fueled by his passion for nurturing the full potential of children and youth. With a BSc in Sport Health and PE, along with a PGCE with QTS qualification for primary teaching, Dylan's leadership is further underscored by certificates in wellbeing and character development, and a trauma informed schools diploma. His leadership approach drives transformative education, ensuring excellence and growth.

Cai ab Arfon

Instructor

Cai holds a master's degree in Mathematics and has 14 years of teaching experience. He combines his passion for practical development with a strong focus on health and well-being, both in the classroom and on the field. As the leader of a local football club, Cai emphasizes teamwork, fitness, and personal growth, making him a valuable instructor at CELS. His dedication to fostering resilience, physical health, and mental well-being aligns perfectly with the core values of the Character Development Programme. As with all our instructors, Cai is a fluent Welsh and English speaker with a passion for delivering activities in a fun, exciting way.

Kelly O'Donnell

Instructor

Kelly brings over 20 years of experience in the education sector and is a proud first-language Welsh speaker. Passionate about outdoor learning, she creates opportunities for children to grow in confidence, resilience, and teamwork through outdoor experiences.

On her journey to becoming a Mountain Leader, Kelly recently completed the famous 'Ras Wyddfa' from Llanberis to the summit of Yr Wyddfa and back. She is energetic, enthusiastic, and compassionate, with a natural ability to build positive relationships.

Outside of work, Kelly runs local events including Mish Mash – a community group focused on bringing people together and giving children lasting childhood memories, and volunteers her time to support the running of the local community hall.

Chris Harding

Instructor

Chris, an accomplished professional with a degree level academic foundation in the realm of sports and sports science. Chris boasts expertise as a certified gym instructor and personal trainer, coupled with a wealth of experience in orchestrating physical activity sessions for diverse age groups.

Originating from Llanberis, Chris brings with him the added distinction of fluent Welsh proficiency, enhancing his value to our team. His skill set encompasses specialised domains such as conflict resolution, project scheduling, and performance evaluation. These areas serve as the foundation upon which he imparts his wisdom and expertise, contributing to the holistic development of our future generations.

Cai Tudur Jones

Instructor

Cai is an illustrator, writer, and creator with a degree in Illustration, joining us through the M-SParc Skills Academy. He has illustrated published children’s books and brings a wealth of creativity and storytelling to our team.

Passionate about content creation, Cai works closely with our instructors to develop engaging social media content that highlights our programmes and impact. His creativity and eye for detail help bring our work to life, ensuring our message connects with schools, families, and the wider community.