MENNA Jones is to stand down as the chief executive of Caernarfon-based Antur Waunfawr, the social enterprise has announced.

Established in 1984, Antur Waunfawr is a progressive social enterprise that offers employment, training, and wellbeing opportunities to adults with learning disabilities.

Antur Waunfawr was established by R. Gwynn Davies, one of Wales’ foremost disability rights pioneers.

It was considered innovative during the 1980s, providing opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the community, rather than providing them with care and work in specialist centres.

In two years’ time, Antur Waunfawr will be celebrating four decades of existence, but the social enterprise is now embarking on a new period as its chief executive of 27 years stands down.

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Menna Jones joined Antur Waunfawr in 1995. Prior to that, she had worked as personal secretary to MP Dafydd Wigley, as a development officer for Tai Eryri, and worked to help develop after-school clubs across North Wales.

According to Antur Waunfawr’s senior manager Haydn Jones, the enterprise has transformed under the leadership of Menna Jones.

Haydn said: “When Menna joined Antur’s ranks, it was a grant spending operation with a £250,000 turnover and 25 people working for organisation.

“Menna took up the job with tenacity and a determination to transform Antur Waunfawr into a sustainable but ethics-driven business.

“She grew a voluntary organisation into a self-sustaining one by generating commercial income and gaining contracts.

“And the fruits of her labour are evident.

“By now, the company is a viable Social Enterprise with a turnover of £3.2million, and the staff cohort has increased over four-fold.

“With Menna’s guidance, Antur Waunfawr has purchased and developed property and site projects, and has innovated in the environmental sector, specifically in recycling and reusing, as well as green energy.

“It has also become a professional organisation that secures and manages several European and National Lottery grant projects.”

Under Menna Jones’ premiership, Antur Waunfawr has developed three green businesses that offers employment and training opportunities to adults with learning difficulties.

Its main site in the Eryri village of Waunfawr includes a seven-acre park and sells homemade crafts and homegrown food produce.

It also brews its own cider, Perllan y Fro, one of which won the Great Taste awards in 2021.

Antur Shredding, located at its Caernarfon base on the Cibyn Industrial Estate, provides a confidential shredding service for businesses and individuals across North Wales.

On the Cibyn site, Caergylchu is also based, a materials recycling facility established in partnership with Gwynedd Council in 2005.

The enterprise’s innovation in the field of recycling and reusing also extends to Warws Werdd, also based at the Cibyn Industrial Site.

The Warws Werdd sells second hand furniture, appliances, clothes, and other items.

The Antur’s latest project is Beics Antur, a bike hire shop based in Caernarfon.

A spokesperson on behalf of Antur Waunfawr added: “Antur Waunfawr is always looking forward to the future, and we’re excited to be embarking on a new journey.

“But it’s bittersweet. Menna oversaw decades of sustained and ambitious development at Antur Waunfawr.

“She has a fervent passion for community led innovation, and she espouses very strong social justice values which are essential for an organisation like Antur Waunfawr.”

Antur Waunfawr is now in the process of recruiting a chief executive to lead the enterprise’s strategy and to build on their success to date.