Alabaré welcomes Bishop of Swansea and Brecon as new Patron

Alabaré runs homes and a range of support activities across Wales, dedicated to helping veterans who have become homeless since leaving the Armed Forces, enabling them to regain their wellbeing and build successful, independent lives of their choosing.  Bishop John joins the charity as a Patron, helping to raise vital awareness of the charity’s work, and its life-changing impact on many veterans each year.

Originally from Ashton-under-Lyne, Bishop John Lomas joined the Royal Navy after leaving school to train as an aircraft engineering mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm. He worked on aircraft carriers around the world and served in the Falkland War. After leaving the Navy he spent two years in the Middle East working on Tornado jets.

Bishop John began training for ministry at St Michael’s Theological College in Llandaff, Cardiff and was ordained in 1994.  His first curacy was at Rhyl where he served for five years from 1994 to 1999. He was also Padre to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. He then returned to the Royal Navy as a Chaplain to the 3rd Destroyer Squadron serving on HMS’s Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool.

John returned to Wales as Vicar of Holywell in 2001, where he spent the next 10 years before being made a Canon Cursal of St Asaph Cathedral in 2008 and serving as Area Dean of Holywell from 2008 to 2011. He became Archdeacon of St Asaph in 2014 and subsequently was appointed Archdeacon of Wrexham in 2018. He was appointed Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in November 2021.

Bishop John has a particular affinity for Alabaré through their work with Armed Forces veterans in Wales.   The charity is the largest provider of supported accommodation for veterans in Wales and provides a range of activities and services to improve the wellbeing and regain the health of those living in their homes and in the local community.

Bishop John says:

“Having spent 14 years in the Royal Navy, and therefore being a veteran myself, I am very much aware of the acute difficulties facing some who leave our armed forces for civilian life.

“Meeting with some of the veterans at the Swansea home has given me an insight into the vital service Alabaré can and does provide for veterans who need a helping hand when difficulties arise. The threat of homelessness and isolation is a real one, and so to be approached by Alabaré with a view to becoming involved is an honour.

“As Bishop for the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon I see this as another example of the sterling work being done across Wales and beyond. I am pleased to play a small part in this life changing work.”

Malcolm Cassells, Chairman of Alabaré says:

“I am delighted to welcome Bishop John as a Patron of Alabaré. We provide support to some of the most disadvantaged people in society, and we try to do so with compassion and care to enable them to lead a fulfilling life.  We are committed to growing our services for veterans in Wales, and ensuring the very best support is available for those who find themselves homeless or vulnerable.  I know this resonates with many of the priorities that Bishop John has in Wales and so we look forward to working together to benefit Welsh veterans now and in the years to come.”

Elusen sy’n cefnogi Cyn-filwyr yng Nghymru yn croesawu Esgob Abertawe ac Aberhonddu fel Noddwr newydd

Mae’r elusen Alabaré, sy’n cefnogi cyn-filwyr Cymreig, yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi bod Y Gwir Parchedig John Lomas, Esgob Abertawe ac Aberhonddu, wedi ymuno â nhw fel Noddwr.

Mae Alabaré yn rhedeg cartrefi ac amrywiaeth o weithgareddau cefnogi ledled Cymru, gyda’r nod o helpu cyn-filwyr sydd wedi dod yn ddigartref ers gadael y Lluoedd Arfog, gan eu galluogi i adennill eu lles ac adeiladu bywydau llwyddiannus ac annibynnol o’u dewis. Mae’r Esgob John yn ymuno â’r elusen fel Noddwr, gan helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth hanfodol o waith yr elusen, a’i heffaith sy’n newid bywydau llawer o gyn-filwyr bob blwyddyn.

Yn wreiddiol o Ashton-under-Lyne, ymunodd yr Esgob John Lomas â’r Llynges Frenhinol ar ôl gadael yr ysgol i hyfforddi fel peiriannydd awyrennau mecanyddol yn y Fleet Air Arm. Bu’n gweithio ar longau awyrennau ledled y byd a gwasanaethodd yn Rhyfel y Falklands. Ar ôl gadael y Llynges, treuliodd ddwy flynedd yn y Dwyrain Canol yn gweithio ar jetiau Tornado.

Dychwelodd John i Gymru fel Ficer Treffynnon yn 2001, lle treuliodd y 10 mlynedd nesaf cyn cael ei wneud yn Ganon Cursal Cadeirlan Llanelwy yn 2008 a gwasanaethu fel Deon Ardal Treffynnon o 2008 i 2011. Daeth yn Archddiacon Llanelwy yn 2014 ac wedi hynny cafodd ei benodi’n Archddiacon Wrecsam yn 2018. Cafodd ei benodi’n Esgob Abertawe ac Aberhonddu ym mis Tachwedd 2021.

Mae gan yr Esgob John berthynas arbennig ag Alabaré trwy eu gwaith gyda chyn-filwyr y Lluoedd Arfog yng Nghymru. Yr elusen yw’r darparwr llety â chymorth mwyaf i gyn-filwyr yng Nghymru ac mae’n darparu amrywiaeth o weithgareddau a gwasanaethau i wella lles ac adfer iechyd y rhai sy’n byw yn eu cartrefi ac yn y gymuned leol.

Dywed yr Esgob John:

“Ar ôl treulio 14 mlynedd yn y Llynges Frenhinol, ac felly bod yn gyn-filwr fy hun, rwy’n ymwybodol iawn o’r anawsterau llym sy’n wynebu rhai sy’n gadael ein lluoedd arfog am fywyd sifil.

“Mae cyfarfod â rhai o’r cyn-filwyr yng nghartref Abertawe wedi rhoi cipolwg i mi ar y gwasanaeth hanfodol y gall Alabaré ei ddarparu ac mae’n ei ddarparu i gyn-filwyr sydd angen help llaw pan fydd anawsterau’n codi. Mae bygythiad digartrefedd ac unigrwydd yn un go iawn, ac felly mae cael fy nullo gan Alabaré gyda’r bwriad o gymryd rhan yn fraint.

“Fel Esgob ar gyfer Esgobaeth Abertawe ac Aberhonddu, rwy’n gweld hyn fel enghraifft arall o’r gwaith rhagorol sy’n cael ei wneud ledled Cymru a thu hwnt. Rwy’n falch o chwarae rhan fach yn y gwaith hwn sy’n newid bywydau.”

Dywed Malcolm Cassells, Cadeirydd Alabaré:

“Rwyf wrth fy modd yn croesawu’r Esgob John fel Noddwr Alabaré. Rydym yn darparu cefnogaeth i rai o’r bobl fwyaf difreintiedig yn y gymdeithas, ac rydym yn ceisio gwneud hynny gyda thosturi a gofal er mwyn eu galluogi i fyw bywyd boddhaol. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i dyfu ein gwasanaethau i gyn-filwyr yng Nghymru, a sicrhau bod y gefnogaeth orau ar gael i’r rhai sy’n dod o hyd iddynt eu hunain yn ddigartref neu’n agored i niwed. Rwy’n gwybod bod hyn yn atseinio â llawer o’r blaenoriaethau sydd gan yr Esgob John yng Nghymru, ac felly edrychwn ymlaen at gydweithio er budd cyn-filwyr Cymru nawr ac yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.”