A businessman proud of his roots and keen to put something back into the community which nurtured him is the winner of a Church in Wales sponsored award.
Geraint Lewis may look every inch the smart executive but there’s an untamed streak about him and he’s in the business of putting people in touch with their “wild” side.
The Managing Director of Seven Sisters-based outdoor activity centre, Call Of The Wild, was named this year’s Business Leader in the Community in the Leading Wales Awards this week. The award was sponsored by the Church in Wales and the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Rt Rev John Davies, presented Geraint with the stunning glass trophy.
Call Of The Wild offers a range of activity breaks in the Brecon Beacons National Park, including corporate training and adventure holidays, and it has helped to turn around the fortunes of the community in which it is based.
Set up in 1997, it now employs 25 people full-time in one of the most socially and economically deprived areas in Wales. At its core are strong key values of using local culture, history, sites and people.
It success is motivated by Geraint’s desire to put something back into the community in which he grew up.
“I’ve done a fair bit of travelling in my time – I went to university in London and then I hitchhiked around the world – but I’ve never found anywhere to match Wales. The strong sense of community here, particularly in the old South Wales coalfields, is deep-rooted and calls you home. It’s important to me and I want to put something back.”
Geraint, 44, has thrown himself into community life – apart from the business, he is a governor at the primary school, Ysgol Gymraeg Blaendulais, plays rugby for the village team and sings in Onllwyn Male Choir.
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, gave the keynote address at this year’s Leading Wales Award ceremony at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff. At the event Geraint also picked up an award in a new category which recognises leading management and leadership skills development.
“I’ve very surprised and very delighted to have won both these awards,” he said. “It was an honour just to have been short-listed. It underwrites all we have been doing for the past 12 years and gives us a terrific boost.”
Bishop John Davies praised Geraint’s achievement. He said, “It takes vision and commitment to be a successful leader, to be someone who can inspire all around him and really make a difference. This is what we see in Geraint and I congratulate him on winning the two awards.
“The Church in Wales is delighted to be part of the Leading Wales Awards with its support for new aspirations and achievements across the country.
“The Business Leadership in the Community award we are sponsoring for the second year running fits in well with our commitment to local people and organisations. We believe the way a leader of any organisation relates to the needs of local communities reflects the levels of trust, motivation and wellbeing in its spiritual architecture.
“The Church has a ministry of encouragement. Practical examples of good leadership really matter in local communities and one task of the Gospel is to value and encourage them wherever they are found. These awards encourage people to help make our communities better places.”
