A Carmarthenshire project to help residents live and age well, a Blaenau Gwent-based family support service and a Barry childminder are among the winners of the 2025 Accolades.
The Accolades are our annual awards that recognise, celebrate and share excellent social care and childcare, play and early years work in Wales.
Six winners were presented with their awards at this year’s ceremony, which was held at the Cardiff Holland House Hotel on Thursday, 1 May.
The awards, which were sponsored by Llais, BASW Cymru, Hugh James, Life Sciences Hub Wales and Practice Solutions, were hosted by well-known broadcaster Garry Owen and Social Care Wales’s Chief Executive Sarah McCarty.
More than 125 projects and care workers from across Wales entered or were nominated for this year’s awards. They were then whittled down to a final shortlist of 11 projects and seven workers by a panel of expert judges.
The judges included members of Social Care Wales’s Board, representatives from organisations across social care and childcare, play and early years, and people with experience of using care and support.
Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden said: “The Accolades show the excellence across our social care and early years sectors in Wales. Their dedication and compassion make a real difference to people's lives every day.
“As we mark 20 years of these awards, I'm incredibly proud to celebrate these outstanding individuals and projects that exemplify the very best of care and support in Wales. Congratulations to all the deserving winners and all those nominated.”
Mick Giannasi CBE, Social Care Wales’s Chair, said: “The people and organisations who provide social care and childcare, play and early years in Wales are truly invaluable. We know that despite the significant challenges they face, they continue to provide excellent care and support to some of our most vulnerable citizens.
“The people and projects we’ve recognised today give us a glimpse into the breadth of the work of the care sector in Wales, and the huge difference care and support makes to people’s lives.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Accolades and in that time, we’ve celebrated hundreds of remarkable projects and individuals. Events like these are so important if we’re to continue our work of raising the public profile of the essential care and support services provided to children, adults and families day in, day out across Wales.”
Sarah McCarty added: “This year, we were delighted to receive the second highest number of entries and nominations in the awards’ 20-year history!
“We’re grateful to everyone who entered or nominated teams or workers because it means we can continue this hugely important job of recognising, celebrating and sharing excellence in care. “Congratulations to all our deserving winners. It’s so important we take this time to recognise, celebrate and share your achievements, and crucially – to say thank you for all that you do. So diolch yn fawr!
“There are some exceptional individuals and services in the awards, and we will be publishing the videos on our website to support the sharing of this practice across Wales.”