Lucy was asked to answer this question- You should vote for me in the Upper Cwmbran election because– and this is her answer

My name is Lucy Williams and many of you will recognise me as one of your current Community Councillors for Upper Cwmbran and Thornhill. My husband David and I lived in the ward for 26 years, raising our 6 children there.

We recently moved to Llanyravon but it’s fair to say that my roots and heart still belong in Upper Cwmbran. I was actively involved in the schools our children attended, St David’s Primary school and then St Alban’s R.C. High School, where I was a governor for 12 years – 4 of which I served as chair. I am currently serving on the board of governors at Pontnewydd Primary School.

I spent my whole career working within Health and Social Care which has given me a wealth of experience in supporting vulnerable and marginalised groups. I initially trained as a nurse before moving into Health Visiting. When the children were small, I worked for Torfaen Crossroads, an organisation that supports unpaid/informal
carers.

Latterly, I became an assistant social worker supporting individuals being discharged from hospital to access help and support to enable them to return home. My working
life has given me a wide insight into the challenges and barriers facing people of all ages in their day to day lives.

I retired in 2017 and was delighted to have more time dedicated to serving the local community. During the covid pandemic, I worked alongside Councillor Steve Evans
and a great team of volunteers, establishing the Food Bank at Thornhill Community Centre, ensuring that our most vulnerable residents were taken care of.

I actively support the work of the Centre and am a regular volunteer at the Cosy Kitchen lunch club, a well-established enterprise giving local residents the chance to come together over a meal to connect and chat. I am a board member at Able Radio, another excellent project which runs a day centre and community facility situated in Upper Cwmbran. It supports adults and young people with additional learning needs.

It has a very positive impact on both its clients and their families. I am passionate about the environment and am a regular volunteer at Blaen Bran community woodland. I have been actively involved in tree planting projects, most recently working with the Blaen Bran Committee collaborating with the Welsh Government project to provide a free tree for every household. I firmly believe that the woodland is a gift we hold in trust for future generations, and I’m delighted to play my part in ensuring it is cared for and thrives.

Becoming a Borough Councillor seems like a natural progression to my community council work and would enable me to offer support at a wider level in the challenging
times that lay ahead for many residents. I look forward to working as part of a committed, local Labour team alongside Steve Evans and our three wonderful Community Council candidates Leanne Lloyd-Tolman, Gareth Lloyd-Tolman and Sean Wharton.

Click here to read a full list of all the candidates standing in the Torfaen County Borough Council elections on Thursday 5 May 2022.