2026 Caring in Welsh award

The Caring in Welsh Award is an annual award that recognises, celebrates and shares the work of those who’ve made a real difference to people’s lives by providing care and support through the medium of Welsh.

The award recognises the work of people working in social care, social work and childcare, play and early years from across the public, private, voluntary and co-operative sectors in Wales. 

The winner will be announced at an event at the National Eisteddfod in y Garreg Las, Pembrokeshire at midday on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. 

Jodie Evans, Managing Director at St Aubin Nurseries & Out of School Clubs 

Jodie was nominated by Megan Morris, who’s worked with Jodie through her role at Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids' Clubs. 

As Managing Director of nine nurseries and out of school childcare clubs across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Jodie has created a fully bilingual environment where the Welsh language is valued and visible. 

Jodie uses every opportunity to use Welsh with the children, including talking, reading, singing, storytelling, playing games, celebrations such as St David’s Day and all the little moments of the daily routine. 

Themed activities, local events and strong community partnerships take Jodie’s support of the Welsh language beyond the settings and into the community. The organisation sponsors local Eisteddfodau. Jodie understands the importance of encouraging the Welsh language in the community and at home, as well as in the settings. 

Megan says: "Jodie goes above and beyond by supporting families who are new to Welsh, providing opportunities for them to learn and engage with the language alongside their children."   

Under Jodie’s guidance, the nurseries and childcare clubs have become an inclusive environment for children and families from Welsh speaking and non-Welsh speaking homes. 

Jodie also makes sure staff have access to training so they can use their Welsh confidently with the children. Using Welsh is integrated into everyday life in the settings. It’s recognised as an important part of each child’s development. 

For Megan, "Jodie’s passion, leadership, and commitment to making Welsh accessible to everyone make her a role model for bilingual childcare". 

Owain Simpson, Operational Manager at Enfys Care Ltd 

Owain was nominated by Lorna Ward, the Operational Support Officer at Enfys Care Ltd.  

Owain is the Operational Manager at Enfys Care Ltd., a children’s residential care organisation, where he's a passionate advocate for Welsh language care, making sure it's embedded into everyday practice so young people never have to ask for their language needs to be recognised.  

Owain understands that Welsh language care is about far more than communication and under his leadership, he's helped create homes where Welsh is part of daily life, supporting staff to grow in confidence and removing barriers to language use. By turning the active offer into meaningful action, Owain promotes belonging, strengthens cultural identity and helps young people feel seen, respected and proud of their Welsh heritage. 

Through his leadership, Welsh is valued as an essential part of person-centred care rather than an additional consideration. He encourages staff to identify Welsh language preferences from the earliest stages of referral and admission, considering connections with family, school, community and professionals. 

Within the home, Owain promotes the use of Welsh with daily greetings, phrases, signs, routines and activities. A simple "bore da" during morning phone calls shows his commitment to making Welsh visible, respected and natural in everyday interactions. He leads by example, encouraging both staff and young people to use Welsh wherever appropriate and creating an environment where the language is welcomed and celebrated. 

Owain also makes sure care planning reflects each young person’s language needs, including opportunities to access Welsh-medium education, maintain family relationships and stay part of their local community.  

Lorna says that Owain’s approach "helps young people feel understood, valued and connected to who they are". 

Sian Francis, ICAN Connector at KIM Inspire in Flintshire 

Nominated by Nia Anwen Donovan, the CEO of KIM Inspire 

Sian provides community mental health support through the medium of Welsh in rural south Denbighshire, where she supports around 250 people each year.  

In her role, Sian holds one-to-one emotional support sessions and a Welsh language drop-in session ‘KIM Cymraeg’. Since 2016, she’s been running a 10-week Welsh language and culture course she designed herself. Sian’s activities have brought isolated people together, providing them with peer support and opportunities to share learning, while also improving Welsh language service provision in the community.  

Sian’s inspired the people she supports to want to learn Welsh and take part in Welsh-based activities, from receiving mental health support in Welsh to learning the language through songs, videos and visits, and learning about Welsh history. She’s also built a network of prominent Welsh figures, including the singer Dafydd Iwan, who support her work and visit the groups to give inspirational talks. 

She’s supported more than 100 people with poor mental health to gain an open College Network accreditation through her course, while also helping them improve their mental health and increase their self-belief.  

Nia says: “Sian makes an extraordinary effort to weave the Welsh language throughout her mental health support role. She makes herself available to anyone who wants to speak in their native tongue no matter where they’re based.” 

Nia describes Sian’s success rate as “phenomenal” with many people saying they’d tried to learn Welsh through classes before but failed.  

One of the people Sian’s supported said: “[The] groups have helped me progress in learning the Welsh language in a friendly welcoming setting and given me a sense of accomplishment, which has greatly improved how I feel in myself.” 

While another said: “I learnt about the Eisteddfod and so I actually went to visit, something I never thought I would have the confidence to do.” 

We’ll award a trophy to the winner and a certificate to all the finalists. There’ll be no cash awards or equivalent.

All the finalists and their nominators will be invited to attend the Caring in Welsh award ceremony at the National Eisteddfod in y Garreg Las, Pembrokeshire at midday on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. If a finalist can’t attend the ceremony, they’ll need to let us know beforehand and tell us who’ll accept the award or certificate on their behalf.

If we find out a finalist or their nominator has broken the rules – before or after the award is presented – the judges may disqualify the worker. If this happens, the trophy and/or certificate must be sent back to us right away.