JigSo Children's Centre Cardigan

Jig-So is a Charitable organisation established in 1992, it is also a Company Limited by Guarantee. It is managed by a group of trustees who meet at least six times per year. Trustees are recruited from the local community and are elected at the Annual General Meeting. Its constitution outlines the work of the organisation as follows -

'The aims and objectives are the preservation and protection of health, the advancement of education and the relief of distress within family relationships supporting children, their parents/carers and significant others i.e. grandparents, based in Cardigan and encompassing Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

The provision of a resource and advice centre to advance the education of the public in good parenting skills and the provision of facilities for recreation and leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the condition of life of the inhabitants of Cardigan, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire'.

Linda Grace - Chair

Linda is retired. She was formerly an experienced qualified nurse in the areas of general nursing, psychiatric nursing and learning disabilities nursing. Linda has extensive experience of senior management in both the public and private sectors, leading a number of diverse teams. Linda was an elected town councillor for 17 years in Wales and has been Mayor of Cardigan on three occasions.

Linda is currently an active volunteer for the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, delivering Parent protect training to health and social care professionals and members of the public for the Foundation's Stop it Now! Campaign.

Within Jig-So, Linda provides leadership and is a strong advocate for staff development. With her extensive experience of children's services Linda is the designated person responsible for safeguarding. Linda is particularly skilled at identifying new and innovative approaches to service development and she is an excellent networker. Linda demonstrates well developed skills in persuasion, influencing and negotiation.

Brenda Jones - Vice Chair

Brenda is retired. Her early career saw her as Deputy Manager of one of the first Family Centres in Britain for National Children's Home (NCH). Having moved to Pembrokeshire, Brenda worked for 20 years in both Dyfed and Ceredigion Social Services in various teams dealing with children and families.

Brenda established Jig-So as part of her role in Social Services, with a view to it becoming independent. Brenda has been centrally involved in establishing a number of community-focused initiatives locally including Cardigan Play scheme, Toy Library and After School Club.. She has been a trustee for a number of organisations over the years and currently, in addition to her role in Jig-So, Brenda is a trustee for Canolfan Hermon, a successful community social enterprise.

Brenda has a range of general management skills. She has experience of project management and an understanding of the commercial aspect of running a social enterprise.

Margaret Gallagher

Margaret is an Australian who has lived in the UK for 26 years, 18 of them in Ceredigion. She has a BSc and MA in Psychology from the University of Sydney. For over 20 years, in both Australia and the UK, she worked in social care and health in both the statutory and voluntary sectors, developing and delivering services for adults and families. The focus of her work has been in supporting those with mental health issues or with debilitating conditions. She has worked at all levels from strategic and managerial to operational and front-line service delivery.

After her retirement she undertook a number of courses in visual arts, as well as a few in alternative therapies, and has just completed an MArts in Ancient Civilisations at UWTSD Lampeter. She is passionate about learning and has an extensive and constantly expanding library. Since completing her formal studies, she has been accepted as a trustee for both Jig-So and the Ceredigion Care Society, and is looking forward to getting more involved with Jig-So as a volunteer.

Kathleen Martin

Originally from Lancashire, Kathleen has lived in Ceredigion for nearly 30 years, mostly on a smallholding working with sheep, mountain ponies and chickens. She comes to Jig-So with experience as a playgroup organiser, PE and maths teacher and youth club leader. She has also worked in Africa helping to empower underprivileged women and in Paris teaching under-5s English as a foreign language. As well as her involvement with Jig-So, Kathleen is a County WI Trustee and Chair of Aberaeron and Cardigan civic societies. Kathleen is a keen crafter and teacher of household and craft skills and has an MA in local history from UWTSD.