Social Care News

St David's Day Award honour for Care Forum chairman Mario Kreft

Care Forum Wales' chair, Mario Kreft (pictured below), has been honoured by the First Minister with a St David's Day Award.

The awards honour the exceptional achievements of people in Wales and acknowledge people who are making a real difference, at home and abroad. They were first introduced in 2014.

Mr Kreft received the award for his contribution to social care, including in setting up the Wales Care Awards, at a glittering ceremony at the Senedd on March 12. Award winners each received a specially commissioned trophy, designed and made by the leading Welsh sculptor Gideon Petersen.

Mr Kreft was one of the winners in nine awards categories who also included the actor Michael Sheen (international award) and cyclist Geraint Thomas (sport).

As well as establishing the Wales Care Awards, Mr Kreft owns the Pendine Park Care Organisation founded in 1985. Pendine Park employs more than 600 people in seven care homes in Wrexham. Its centre of excellence for people with dementia is dedicated to Mr Kreft's grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in later life.

Mr Kreft said: "I was delighted to be nominated in the first place so to actually receive the award is a fantastic honour. This is the perfect 30th anniversary present for Pendine Park.

"None of this would have been possible without the huge contribution of my wife Gill whose expertise, energy and creativity have provided foundation for everything we have achieved."

He added: "The award is also a recognition of the huge contribution of social care in communities right across Wales, including the teams at Care Forum Wales and Pendine Park.

Congratulating him on his award, Wrexham AM and former social services minister Lesley Griffiths said: " I am delighted Mario has been been honoured in this way. This recognition for all his pioneering work and dedication for 30 years is richly deserved. Mario leads by example and is an eloquent and effective champion for the social care sector in Wales," she added.

• You can watch a video of Mr Kreft talking about his nomination for the award here.
• Find out more about the awards, the Welsh version of the Queen's New Year's Honours list, on the Welsh Government website.

St David's Day award winners 2015

Bravery Derek Pusey, Leonard Walters and Clive Williams, Cardigan RNLI

Citizenship Rhian Burke

Culture Siân Phillips CBE

Enterprise Mario Kreft MBE

Innovation and Technology Peter Brewin and William Crawford, Concrete Canvas

International Michael Sheen OBE

Sport Geraint Thomas MBE

Young Person Richard Davies

First Minister’s Special Award NATO Newport 2014