Mary Newman MBE
Mary Newman – Chair of VCS Cymru
Mary is eighty one years old, has been married for fifty nine years, she has seven children, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Mary was brought up in Grangetown and has lived in Cardiff all her life apart from two years in Cyprus when her husband was stationed there.
Mary has been involved with VCS since the mid-seventies. She was employed by VCS, in 1977 as a Community Development Officer for two years.
She then went to college, at the instigation of VCS, and studied to be a Social Worker. After college, she worked as a residential Social Worker for eight months when she moved to Cardiff Cyrenians working with the homeless. Mary still works two nights a week with the Huggard Centre.
From 1975 to 1986 Mary was a City Councillor, serving on the Housing and Personnel committees and their sub committees. She received one of the first Community Champions Awards.
In 2007 Mary received the MBE from the Queen for her work with the Homeless.
Mary has served on numerous committees in the voluntary sector in the city and in her local community.
At present she is also chairman of the Global Community Learning Branch of WEA Cymru and is treasurer of the Llanedeyrn and Pentwyn Community Group.
