Our History

Valeways was established in 1996 by four individuals with funding from several public bodies including Countryside Council for Wales, Let’s Walk Cymru, Wales Council for Voluntary Action and Vale of Glamorgan Council. A full-time director was appointed along with small team of full and part-time employees.

The activities included a walking programme with published leaflets for self-guided walks, monitoring of the condition of and access to footpaths as well as carrying out maintenance of gates and stiles.

The first major change in the organisation came in 2007 when the director left and the Trustees took over management of the organisation. After this, new employees were appointed, one of whom was invited by the Trustees to take over the management of the organisation.

Funding from public bodies was withdrawn incrementally between 2011 and 2013. A 5-year Plan prepared in 2013 by the Chair of Trustees recognised the problems, but received little support from within the organisation.

Employees and Trustees came and went, with the charity eventually stabilising its finances and resourcing in 2015. By this time all the previous major sponsors had withdrawn and a portfolio of smaller sponsors was being developed.

This arrangement continued until 2018-19 when circumstances beyond Valeways’ control led to the income falling significantly below the cost base.  This meant that the Trustees found themselves unable to support an operating model with paid staff. The two part-time staff were made redundant and the transition to a full volunteer led and resourced operation began.

Through 2020 and early 2021, despite interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, recruitment of new Trustees has resulted in a determined and successful effort to find new sources of funding, which means that Valeways is now financially sustainable.