Social Care News

Wales Care Awards organiser rubs shoulders with the Queen

Wales Care Awards organiser Sue Thomas, from Wrexham, has been honoured for her work at a garden party with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The garden party invitation was a reward for Sue's hard work on the prestigious annual awards which honour the skill and dedication of people who work in social care.

Sue (pictured below, at Buckingham Palace) began work at the Pendine Park care organisation as an administrative clerk more than a decade ago and five years ago was promoted to personal assistant to proprietor Mario Kreft (Care Forum Wales' chair). As part of her duties Sue took on the role of chief administrator for Care Forum Wales.

She was nominated for the honour by Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths. Sue said: “It was a lovely day and a great day out. It’s one of those things you will never forget. It’s definitely something to tell the grandkids about.

"I got quite close to The Queen. I was about a foot away from her and I could hear her chatting to people. She made people feel welcome.

"I went with my husband Darren. He had a great day, and he feels very proud. We both really enjoyed it. We were there for about three hours, but the time just flew.

"I have to thank Wrexham AM (who is the Welsh Government's Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty) Lesley Griffiths, for nominating me. It’s a real honour and I represented everyone connected with Care Forum Wales as well as Pendine Park."

Sue added: "It’s really humbling that Lesley Griffiths took the time to nominate me. She has always been a huge supporter of Care Forum Wales and Pendine Park."

Organising the Wales Care Awards is a 'year-round job'

The annual Wales Care Awards take a great deal of organising and Sue says it’s a rolling programme – she starts work on the next ceremony as soon as the last one finishes.

"My job is to co-ordinate and organise the event and raise sponsorship where I can. The awards seek to reward good practice and celebrate good care among the more than 90,000 employees of our Care Forum Wales members."

Sue explained: "It’s a year-round job collating the information and collecting nominations. We normally receive around 300 nominations for the 22 awards. An independent panel then goes through the nominations and an initial shortlist of six nominees (per category) is prepared. This is then reduced to three nominees who attend the awards ceremony which is usually held in October in Cardiff City Hall – this year it's on November 6 (book a place by contacting janet@careforumwales.co.uk).

"The nominees all receive either a gold, silver or bronze award. It’s a wonderful occasion which, quite rightly, celebrates the excellent work that often goes un-noticed by the general public.

"We are really very lucky because we have some wonderful sponsors and I am eternally grateful to them because the Wales Care Awards simply wouldn't happen without their generosity."

Praise from Welsh Government Minister for Sue Thomas' Care Forum Wales work

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths said: "Sue is a shining example of the exceptional people who care for the most vulnerable in our society.

"In addition to her work at Pendine Park, Sue is also a chief administrator of Care Forum Wales. Representing hundreds of care homes and social care providers across the country, Sue’s work aims to promote partnership and improve and advance the social care sector across Wales."

Mario Kreft, who is the Chair of Care Forum Wales and the founder of the Wales Care Awards, said he was "absolutely thrilled" for Sue.

He said: "The invitation to the garden party with the Queen is richly deserved as recognition of the fantastic work Sue has done – and continues to do – to make the Wales Care Awards such a great success."