First Winner of the Graham Benfield Outstanding Achievement Award

ProMo Cymru’s Development Director, Marco Gil-Cervantes, has won the Graham Benfield Outstanding Achievement Award at the Welsh Charity Awards 2026.

Marco received the award at the ceremony at the Hilton, Cardiff, on 15th October 2026.

A new award with a special meaning

The award is new this year. It’s named in memory of Graham Benfield, who was WCVA’s Chief Executive from 1989 to 2014. It celebrates people whose contribution reaches beyond a single project or moment. It looks for dedication, leadership and a lasting commitment to communities and the voluntary sector in Wales.

WCVA recognised Marco for more than 30 years of leadership in the voluntary sector in Wales. This includes his leadership of ProMo Cymru and our work using digital with young people, communities and organisations across the country.

From one project to a national organisation

Marco’s journey with ProMo began 28 years ago. He started as a project worker supporting young people in Cardiff to develop ideas and businesses in the cultural industries. Those young people came up with the name ProMo, and the star in their original logo is still part of our identity today.

What began as a one-person project now has over 50 staff and works across Wales, the UK and Europe. Under Marco’s leadership, we:

• developed Meic, the national information, advice and advocacy helpline for children and young people in Wales
• transformed a vacant bus ticket office into The Abacus, an artist-led community space in Cardiff
• played a key role in saving the Ebbw Vale Institute, the oldest workers’ institute in Wales, which we now manage as a community and cultural building

Marco is always the first to say that none of this has been a solo effort.

In his award acceptance speech, Marco shared: “For me, leadership is about involving everyone in creating our work. It’s about helping everyone to be a leader, to have control and agency. It means helping others to believe in themselves, letting them lead, and giving them a real part in shaping the future.”

In May 2026, Marco handed over to our new Co-CEOs, Arielle and Cindy, and became our Development Director. He now focuses on strategic growth and future opportunities for ProMo.

What the award means

Accepting the award, Marco said that recognition from the sector meant a great deal, because “acclaim from your peers is the best acclaim there is”.

Early in his career, working in Bilbao, Marco was taught that it’s never “my business” or “your business”, but “our business”. It’s a lesson that has stayed with him ever since:

“I really believe an individual alone achieves very little. This award has my name on it, but it’s always been about ‘our’.”

Marco Gil-Cervantes, Development Director, ProMo Cymru

Our Co-CEO, Cindy Chen, paid tribute to Marco’s legacy at ProMo:

“For over 28 years, Marco’s name has been synonymous with ProMo Cymru. Through his vision, resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit, he transformed what began as a one-person operation into the remarkable organisation we are today. Llongyfarchiadau! We could not imagine a more deserving recipient.”

The award also means a lot in Ebbw Vale, where Tim Carter, Centre Manager at the Ebbw Vale Institute (EVI), sees Marco’s impact every day:

“It was great to see Marco recognised for his leadership in the voluntary sector. Marco played an instrumental role in saving the Ebbw Vale Institute, Wales’s oldest Workers’ Institute, from dereliction and demolition. By leading the longest-running Community Asset Transfer in Wales, he has helped regenerate the southern end of Ebbw Vale town, around Church Street, for the benefit of the local community.”

Marco also had a message for the third sector: “Remember how innovative and effective you all are. Say it loud and proud. This sector reaches parts others cannot.”

Diolch, Marco

From all of us at ProMo Cymru, llongyfarchiadau, Marco, and diolch for everything!

Read more about the award on the Welsh Charity Awards website, and Marco’s story in A New Chapter for ProMo Cymru as Marco Reflects on 27 Years.

Thank you to WCVA and The Open University in Wales for a wonderful evening. Congratulations to all this year’s winners and finalists.