Asha Vijendran

I’ve worked in the Voluntary Sector for over 18 years, 10 years in direct service delivery, and 8 years in fundraising. My career started at The Prince’s Trust, working with young people who were not engaged in education, training, or work, particularly those who had experienced care or had been involved with the police.

My career then led me to an amazing role leading a nationwide Children and Young People’s Programme at Mencap. Working with a team of 45 we had the incredible opportunity to nurture the confidence and skills of young individuals, as well as supporting them to become ambassadors for Mencap.

Before joining Community Foundation Wales, I worked at Welsh Refugee Council leading their income generation. Raising over £1.6 million of income to support asylum seekers and refugees across Wales.

Throughout my professional journey, I have been driven by a deep passion for the well-being and empowerment of the people and communities we support.

I am the Head of Grants Operations and with my exceptional team of Grant Officers, our primary mission is to help Welsh communities to thrive and change lives.

A key aspect of my role is listening to the people and communities we support to understand their challenges and solutions, ensuring the grants we deliver support the change they want to see.

I am committed to ensuring the accessibility of our grants for everyone and welcome any feedback regarding our application process and the support we offer.

Community engagement, making sure service delivery is person-centered, equality, Salesforce, anything IT (Office 365).

I also have a passion for travelling, so if you want any hints on where to go just ask.

I take great pride in my Welsh heritage. I spent most of my childhood exploring beautiful places such as Tenby, Snowdonia, and Big Pit! I love that I have beaches and mountains within an hour of my house.