Gwanwyn
Changemakers
We are delighted to present these portraits of older people in Wales who have challenged stereotypes of ageing, and made a significant contribution to Welsh culture.
By Jon Pountney.
Anita Worthing came to ultra-marathon running later on in life but has worked tirelessly to raise funds for charities through her endeavours. She is also passionate about supporting others in their running journeys.
Sir Karl Jenkins is one of the most performed living composers across the world. He has 17 gold and platinum discs and was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales in 2022.
Mark Drakeford MS started his career in the third sector, before becoming a professor of Social Policy and Applied Social Sciences at Cardiff University. A 40 year career as a Labour Councilor, Cabinet member and working in the First Ministers office, led to his appointment as First Minister on 12 December 2018. These photos were taken before his appointment to the new cabinet.
Mary Lloyd Jones is one of Wales most popular and well-established visual artists, blending her interest in ancient cultures and languages with landscape. She has been exhibiting her work across Wales and internationally since 1960.
Meena Upadhyaya is a pioneering and award-winning geneticist who is passionate about uplifting ethnic minority women in Wales.
Pete Newman’s love of music has been instrumental in the development of the Blaenau Gwent Community Radio station, providing a platform for a wide variety of entertainers. “Better Late & Clever”, is Pete’s video podcast dedicated to preserving the incredible experiences of older people.
William Thomas can lay claim to having one of the most recognisable faces in Wales, thanks to a successful acting career that has continued for over 50 years, appearing in Doctor Who, Torchwood, Pobol Y Cwm, and Hinterland/Y Gwyll.
In August, The Wales Veterans Football Association hosted the Wales 24, the 5th edition of the world’s largest international football tournament for players over the age of 70. The Welsh over 70s team recorded 4 wins and a draw, going on to win the trophy.
We’d love to discover your favourite older change-makers. Do you know someone 50+ who has made a difference to you, locally, or in Wales? Then why not nominate them and tell us how they’ve made a difference.
Geunor Roberts is full of energy. She is a choir leader, a national judge, and the National President of Merched y Wawr. Despite suffering from arthritis, nothing stops Geunor from travelling across Wales and achieving remarkable things in her community.
How do I nominate a changemaker?
Please download and complete the form below, this will ensure we have all the information we need. We’ll also need a photo of the person you’re nominating. Please ensure you have their permission to send us their photo. If you’re sending your photos to us by email, please sent it to us either as a jpeg or png. If you’re sending your photos by mail, please ensure you include this with your nomination form.
Please send your completed nomination form and photos by email to gwanwyn@agecymru.org.uk or by post to
Age Cymru
Change Makers Project
Mariners House
Trident Court
East Moors Road
Cardiff, CF24 5TD
Please ensure you include their photo when submitting this application. Please note that we unfortunately cannot return any photos sent to us.
Gwanwyn Festival 2024: Celebrating ‘change’. Changes we’ve made, changes we’ve seen, and how change inspires us to be creative in older age.
Gwanwyn is a month-long national festival held across Wales in May each year, showcasing creativity in older age. Since 2007, Gwanwyn has worked with artists and organisations of all sizes to promote a wide range of arts activities, from stand-up to stitching, from Bollywood to book clubs.
Gwanwyn Festival offers opportunities for older people to become involved in arts and creative activities, either as practitioners, organisers or audience members. Gwanwyn Festival also helps older people to recognize the benefits that being creative can bring to their health and well-being.
The theme for May 2024 is ‘change’. We’ve been inspired by older people that have created cultural change in Wales, and want to know what change means to you.
As part of our Gwanwyn festival, we’re highlighting older people that have challenged stereotypes of ageing or have been trailblazers in their fields.
To keep up to date with news and find out how you can get involved in Gwanwyn Festival, join the mailing list by emailing gwanwyn@agecymru.org.uk
