Rev. Dean founded the charity back in 2019 and since then has led the charity as Chair of Trustees, building its reputation and steering its growth. Now, Rev. Dean will step down from the Board of Trustees to take on this new role to drive the charity forward into the future.

Rev. Dean hands on the role of Chair of Trustees to Mrs. Diane Brierley. Diane is currently the Treasurer on the Board and chaired the recruitment committee for the CEO post. Diane brings with her considerable experience of leading organisations, being the Executive Chairman of Cadwaladers Ice Cream, and having had a successful career in business with various companies.

Commenting on today’s announcement, she said,

The Board of Trustees is delighted with the appointment of Reverend Dean Roberts as the new Chief Executive Officer of The Parish Trust. Since founding the Charity in 2019, Rev. Dean was instrumental in leading the Charity to meet the needs of the local community during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Since then, the impact of the important work that the Charity has done has been significant. Led by the needs of the community, the work has included setting up a toddler group, youth club, community choir, and lunch club alongside the very important work of The CARE Project providing food and other support to families. We look forward to the future and seeing the impact of the Charity benefiting many more within our community.

Rev. Dean starts his new role as Chief Executive Officer having spent nine years in various roles in the Parishes of Bedwas, Machen, Marshfield, Michaelston-y-Fedw, Rudry, and St Brides, and latterly as Rector and Vicar in those areas. Rev. Dean is well known in the communities that The Parish Trust serves and comes into this role fully aware of the needs of the service area, and the opportunities for the charity to meet those needs.

Speaking about his new appointment, Rev. Dean said,

I am incredibly privileged to be appointed as the CEO of The Parish Trust. When I founded the charity back in 2019, I had no idea that the charity would grow to what it is today. The fact that the charity is able to appoint a CEO speaks volumes about the progress that has been made, and is testament to the passion, commitment, and faith of the Board of Trustees, the incredible staff team that we have, and our volunteers who are at the heart of our operations here. As CEO, I will strive to take the charity from strength to strength, continually finding new ways to bring life in all its fullness to more and more people. And as I take on this new calling, I do so by reminding myself that I am doing it for the benefit of others, and in the name of Jesus and his teachings, on which this charity is founded. We look to the future daunted, but incredibly excited at how The Parish Trust is going to grow, and how opportunities are going to unfold for us in this new chapter.

Rev. Dean will officially start his new role in the coming weeks after leaving his post with the Church in Wales. He will continue to undertake some ministerial duties as an ordained minister including as a Chaplain in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

We understand that not everyone shares our faith, and we exist for the benefit of everyone, regardless of their beliefs. For us, however, Christmas is the time where we remember that God so loved our beautiful but broken world that he came to us in the person of his Son, Jesus. He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our brokenness, and rose again from the dead for us so that anyone who receives him as a gift into their lives will know the assurance of everlasting life. Because of this wonderful gift, The Parish Trust seeks to be a gift to all those we aim to serve.

God never promises us an easy life, and the last year will have been difficult in so many ways for a good number of us. And yet, Jesus also had a very difficult life, so he knows what we’re going through, and he promises to be with us if we ask him to be. One of Jesus’ other names is “Emmanuel” which means “God is with us”.

You can find out more about what Christians believe about Christmas by reading this little booklet.

If you have any further questions, you can always get in touch with us and we’d be delighted to discuss them with you.

Our genuine prayer for you this Christmas is that you’ll sense that God is with you, and that by trusting in him, you’ll receive this wonderful gift of everlasting life and the peace that and joy that comes with it.

Wishing you all the best for the rest of December, a peaceful holiday, and a wonderful start to the New Year!

With all my love and prayers,
Rev. Dean Aaron Roberts
Chair of Trustees