Welcome to my world, a beautiful place where life is always adventurous, sometimes surreal, occasionally unconventional but never ever (ever!) boring.
I have the pictures…and the scars, to prove it.
As my bog standard social media bio says, I’m an editor, journo, speech writer, blogger and communications specialist – with a passion to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything I do.
As a respected voice of the community, I’m honoured to be one of Wales Arts Review 100 Women Writers of Wales.
I’m a regular columnist for The Glamorgan Star and a prolific contributor to many local, regional and national print and digital publications.
Read my latest weekly Voice of the Community opinion column in the Glamorgan Star – the Vale’s newest publication covering Barry and beyond here.
An award-winning queer activist, dedicated community supporter and passionate arts lover, I often combine my campaigning and communication skills to make that crucial difference.
I am also use my voice as a regular Guest Speaker for the Springboard Womens’ Development Programme, as a Mentor on the Equal Power, Equal Voice Mentoring Programme, and on Stonewall Cymru Women’s Panel Sessions.
I am also a Stonewall School Role Model and Barry Pride Ambassador.
A founding member of LGBTQymru, I also act as Associate Editor for its unique, free, fully bilingual, queer, quarterly digital publication – the LGBTQymru Magazine.
A very visible, and vocal campaigner for the #BlackLivesMatter movement; I am a founding member of, and Communications Advisor for Stand Up To Racism (Vale).
And Editor of the Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Stakeholder Bulletin.
I am Media Advisor for the Cadstock Community Music Festival, and the Annual Neil Lewis Fundraising Gig.
And I have also been actively involved in many campaigns and community causes. These included Gobaith’s Suicide Support Centre Fight, and Save Sam’s Ward.
Blogging as Mrs SVJ, I’ll try to keep you informed, entertained and inspired with my Sharp Views, Arts Reviews, and Community News.
It’s not all about me though, it’s all about we.
As Barry’s Boldest Blogger, I want to offer my opinion and share my stories on all the things I am lucky enough to be able to do – the fabulous places I go, the brilliant people I meet and the stunning stuff I see.
I may hit the keyboard with my, mostly, perfectly manicured fingernails, but it’s the people I share my space with who make it so worthy, wonderful, and occasionally wild.
My site is packed full of views, news and reviews, and is my take on the communities we work, rest and play in.
My site showcases:
Passing Comment: my opinion column for the Vale’s most read digital and print newspaper, The Glamorgan Star.
My Corona Virus Diary: my view on this pandemic palaver – the long lingering Lockdown, our queer quarantine, the isolation nation, and how our town took to these crazy Covid-19 times.
Sue’s Views: the reboot of my much-loved infamous B&D opinion column from back in the day – focusing on the hot topics we are all talking about in beautiful Barry, and beyond – the good, the bad, the ugly.
Gig Girl Reviews: showing that the world is wider than just our town by writing about the gigs, the films, the theatre, the exhibitions, and all things arty – all through the eyes of a local girl done good.
Queer News: waxing lyrical about the volunteer work I do in my LGBT life – the places I go, the difference I make, and the issues I face. This also showcases all my work with LGBTQymru, including our history-making magazine. Subscribe to Wales’ first, free, fully-billingual, quarterly queer magazine here
Trade Talks: where I share my thirty years of skills and experience to help promote campaigns, charities and companies serving our community – especially those giving something back to the towns and territories they trade so well in.
This includes Campaign, and Community pieces that shine the editorial spotlight on those friends, fighters, and kick ass campaigners who have the faith that we can really make that crucial difference in this world.
Finally Guest Blogs: highlighting the many other talented writers, journos and bloggers we have in our town, and around – so please support this space too.
So basically this is the place where I can make my creative contribution to helping showcase all our terrific town, and around, has to offer.
Where I can publish my thoughts, views and lived-in experiences to entertain, educate, inform. And to help those who help others.
I also love sharing my skills to help individuals, charities, community groups, and businesses, to promote their cause, campaign, product or project.
I am steering well clear of my profession, my private life, politics with a capital P, and playing the polemic game just to be provocative.
But I will tell my tales, speak my truth, and own everything I write.
Any views are my own, and not the views, thoughts or ideas of anyone else.
So please feel free to check out my site on a regular basis – like, share, and maybe even get involved.
And please do get in touch if you have any news, views, campaign, controversies, businesses or ventures you’d like me to take a look at.
Find out more about me, my blog, my business, and how to hit me up, here.
Big thanks to my loyal readers for letting me indulge my prolific passion for writing, and to those trailblazers who have given me the chance to tell their tales.
I’m well happy – alive, grateful, blessed and all that.
Speak soon.
Mrs SVJ
The Voice Of Our Community
Sue Vincent-Jones, writing as Mrs SVJ, is a Barry born journalist, editor, and communications specialist. She blogs about Barry – and her life in the wider world, through the eyes of a, quirky and queer, local girl done good.
One of Wales Arts Review 100 Women Writers of Wales, the influential columnist, and voice of the community will keep you “informed, entertained and inspired.”
Mrs SVJ, Barry’s Boldest Blogger, can be contacted here.