Action for Children practice manager Sue Marsden has retired after 33 years of delivering support to Carmarthenshire’s most vulnerable families. 

Sue’s career has seen her be at the forefront of pioneering services that have helped transform the lives of families across the county.  She has delivered projects that support families with children with mental health issues, women who have had their children taken into care or adopted and innovative mental health initiatives in schools such as ‘Feeling the Fizz.’ 

During the Covid 19 crisis, Sue helped ensure services continued in the most challenging of conditions and her commitment to the families and her team was second to none.  Her last official act was attending the Action for Children ball in Llanelli recently where she was honoured by Kirsty Williams and Sarah Maclean, Carmarthenshire’s Action for Children Action Squad. 

Sue said: “It’s been 33 amazing years with Action for Children, and I can’t quite believe it’s the end.  We’ve built a brilliant and passionate team here that always go the extra mile for the families we support in Carmarthenshire.  It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to work with them all and it’s very difficult to walk away.  I leave the team in a great place and I’m looking forward to reflecting on the great times, camaraderie and friendships as I enter my retirement.”

Charlotte Phillips, Children’s Services Manager for Action for Children in Mid and West Wales, said that it’s difficult to measure the immense impact of Sue’s contribution to Action for Children and the families the charity supports in Carmarthenshire. 

“It has been 33 years of passion and dedication and she will be sorely missed.  Staff and families have lined up to pay tribute to Sue and it’s been really moving to see just what she means to people.  She will leave a huge hole but her legacy is a brilliant team and she richly deserves a long and happy retirement.  We will always be grateful for everything she achieved.”