Natalie Sargent

Development Manager for The Coalfields Regeneration Trust in Wales. I have worked in the voluntary sector for 24 years. Having founded a social enterprise in 2000 tackling environmental issues, I have delivered workshops in schools encouraging young people to consider career paths in the voluntary sector - particularly with an environmental focus. I have a background in supporting third sector organisations responding to need – this could be funding, governance, volunteer recruitment/retention, signposting to specialist services. I have been an Investing in Volunteers Assessor and Renew Wales Coordinator and over the last 10 years a large focus of my role has been to support communities to safeguard community assets (land and buildings) within the former Coalfield areas. I have recently completed a year with Cardiff University Circular Economy and Innovation Communities focusing on the potential development opportunities for former brownfield sites and have continued to work on this challenge.