Youth factor is a youth organisation, focused on improving provision in the area of Merthyr Vale and Aberfan.  Our aim to improve local facilities for young people to help them develop vital skills. But it also allows us as a community to co-create community spaces (such as the redevelopment of "The Mack" in Aberfan). Other community projects like the digital benches, these benefit the community in having places to sit out of the rain, the young people that build them get valuable workskills experience and advantages, we are also working with other local groups and charities such as Taff Rocks .   

team coms

Abby

Hi! I’m Abby I’ve been living in Merthyr Vale for the past year, but before then lived in Aberfan for 12 years. I am currently studying Psychology and Counselling with the Open University, as my passion is to work with people and try to help as best as I can. I have been volunteering in my area for the past 5 years, 2 of those years were with St John Ambulance

Jordan

Hi, my name is Jordan. I have lived in Merthyr Vale since I was born, and there’s not much for young people to do. I’m volunteering because I want the community I’m a part of to take back the land it deserves and use it for the things we, the community, feel we need

Travis

Hi there, my name is Travis I moved to the area in 2018 and bought my first house on the old colliery with my partner in September 2019 and I am a member of the team looking to increase and improve the amount of facilities and activities that are out there for young children in the hopes of one day starting my own family and raising them in the area.

Lynne 

Natasha Evens Camelleri#

Tash has 16 years of experience in the youth and community service. She's worked with the youth offending team, youth rehabilitation team, Parc prison, Merthyr council youth service, (youth mentor, senior youth worker,) Aberfan and Merthyr vale youth project, time banking coordinator, family support worker for Barnardo’s, peer mentor for barod.  With in depth knowledge and experience of additional needs and commitment to providing equal of opportunity.  Chair of the national autistic society Merthyr Tydfil, she was recently awarded the community star award by AM Dawn Bowden. 

Tash has highly relevant Project management experience including safeguarding for youth and community, mental health first aid, drug alcohol awareness and needle exchange assessor training. 

Catherine Downs 

Cath has 12 years’ experience in the youth and community service. Having volunteered from the age of 15 in youth clubs in the local community Cath then studied youth work and qualified level 5 in youth studies. 

Cath has worked in the following roles:

Detached youth worker for Merthyr Youth Service

Senior Youth worker Willows Centre 

Gurnos workshops-working with young people who were not in full time stream school 

Youth Manager for Bryncyon strategy- running of 3 youth provisions in the cluster  

Promotion to full time position with communities fits RCT. Cat is an young mother who shares the same concerns regarding a lack of youth provisions and an increase in youth mental health.