At David Spear Commercials, we’re proud to stand alongside individuals and organisations making a real difference in our communities.
One such partnership is with Signposted Cymru — a fast-growing mental health charity founded by former Armed Forces serviceman Darren Thomas, whose mission is grounded in lived experience, honesty, and a relentless drive to help others.
Darren’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, courage, and the importance of community support. After serving in multiple conflict zones, he faced his own mental health struggles upon returning to civilian life — including PTSD and suicidal thoughts.
In 2020, Darren approached us with a bold vision: to create a charity that delivers real-time, no-barrier support for those facing mental health challenges. His motivation? Personal experience.
During lockdown, Darren sought help but hit wall after wall. When one national charity told him to “get back in touch in a few months,” he responded: “I might not be here in a few months.”
That honest moment became the spark behind Signposted Cymru — and we’re proud to support Darren and his team as they continue to offer vital, immediate help to those who need it most.
We asked Darren what he needed to get his idea off the ground. His answer was simple: transport and a small donation. We were happy to provide a van and financial support to help launch the charity. Since then, we’ve continued our partnership — supplying vehicles over the last five years and helping raise funds for the cause.
Today, the charity has grown into a meaningful operation, with full-time and part-time staff, volunteers, and a growing reach. Its approach is built around physical activity, community, and open dialogue — whether it’s mountain hikes, challenges, or simply getting people talking. Darren leads by example, using his own experiences to give others permission to share theirs.
“Signposted Cymru is doing honest, grassroots work with people who need help now. Darren’s courage and openness continues to inspire us, and the work his team does goes well beyond expectations,” said David Spear.
In a recent episode of the David Spear Podcast, we sat down with Darren and filmmaker Andrew ‘Shinko’ Jenkins for an open conversation about mental health, suicide awareness, and the power of storytelling. Andrew, a short film producer based in Abergavenny and a long-time friend of the Spear family, recently created a hard-hitting mental health awareness video targeting suicide. Having personally lost over 40 friends and acquaintances to suicide, his work carries deep emotional weight.
“Andrew doesn’t need to make these films, but he chooses to. He uses his skills to create work that matters, and that’s something we fully support,” added Elliott Spear.
Darren Thomas added: “It was an absolute pleasure to speak with Elliott about Signposted Cymru and my own experiences with mental health. Hopefully, more people will come forward and ask for help and support.”
🎧 Listen to the podcast:
Spotlight on Mental Health: Darren Thomas & Andrew ‘Shinko’ Jenkins on the David Spear Podcast For more information visit Signposted Cymru
At David Spear Commercials, we believe in giving back — not just through sponsorship, but through meaningful partnerships that shine a light on difficult issues and support those driving change where it matters most.