A new cohort of ambassadors has joined charity PRIME Cymru to help raise awareness of the support available to people aged 50 and over across Wales.
The group brings together former PRIME Cymru clients, Volunteer Mentors and high-profile figures, all united by a shared belief in the value, experience and potential of people later in their working lives.
The ambassadors will help spread the word about PRIME Cymru's work supporting people aged 50 and over into employment, self-employment, volunteering and training.
Among the new ambassadors is Stephen Kinnock, Secretary of State for Wales and MP for Aberafan and Maesteg.
Speaking about the value that older workers bring to the workplace, he said:
“Age is just a number. It's got to be about how you feel in yourself, mentally and physically. People in their 50s and 60s and 70s are very robust, resilient, smart, bring that wisdom.
“Over 50s just bring so much value to the workplace. They have got a lot of lived experience. They've got the ability to refer back to things that might have happened in the past that help you plan for the future.
“And they bring a lot of wisdom and also a real desire to support younger people. You see how much value younger people get from working with more senior colleagues.
“It's really important for the sense of self-esteem and worth that people over 50 have, and it's also really good for the workplace. Most businesses benefit hugely from having the wisdom and experience of people who are over 50 in their workforce.
“I think that is what people can really bring when they're slightly older and that's why I'd say the work of PRIME Cymru is so important.”
Joining Mr Kinnock in the ambassador cohort are HR specialist and PRIME Cymru Volunteer Mentor Julie Grabham; former PRIME Cymru client and The Great British Sewing Bee finalist Debra Drake; International Trade Advisor and PRIME Cymru Volunteer Mentor Clive Barnard; PRIME Cymru Volunteer Mentor and former businessman Nick Carruthers; former PRIME Cymru client and businesswoman Suzie Rees; and former PRIME Cymru client and Accessibility Consultant Karen Harris.
For the ambassadors who have experienced PRIME Cymru's support first-hand, the charity's impact is personal.
Debra Drake, who appeared on BBC's The Great British Sewing Bee, became a PRIME Cymru client around three years ago while embarking on the journey of starting her own business.
She said:
“I was lucky enough to get involved with PRIME Cymru about three years ago. My Mentor is called Nick and he is brilliant. He's coached me through this very steep learning curve of starting my own business.
“Having spent a lot of time with him, I trust him. And he asks me the right things to push me forward, to understand my business more than I did before I got involved with PRIME Cymru.”
PRIME Cymru was founded in 2001 by HM King Charles III, then HRH The Prince of Wales, in response to letters he had received from people aged over 50 who felt they were facing barriers to employment because of their age.
Today, the charity has a team of Development Officers and Volunteer Mentors who provide one-to-one support tailored to each person's individual circumstances and ambitions.
This can include help with CV writing and interview preparation, building confidence, identifying opportunities, exploring self-employment and understanding financial options, among many other areas of support.
Over the past three years alone, PRIME Cymru has supported more than 3,500 people, with the vast majority achieving a positive outcome.
The new ambassadors will play an important role in helping more people discover the support available and highlighting the contribution that people aged 50 and over continue to make to workplaces, businesses and communities across Wales.
Watch Mr Kinnock explain why supporting people aged 50+ matters, and why unlocking the potential of older workers is so important for Wales: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqzZZ0V4Iz0
