Social Care Pioneer Receives Award

Mario Kreft and his wife, Gill, with First Minister Carwyn Jones and Health Minister Lesley Griffiths, after receiving the Recognising Achievement award.

Mario Kreft received a special Recognising Achievement Award from First Minister Carwyn Jones during a ceremony at Ruthin Castle.

He was one of 20 recipients who were recognised for their innovative work in health and social care.

Mario is the Chair and a founder member of the independent care providers’ representative body, Care Forum Wales, and proprietor of the award-winning care organisation Pendine Park.

Last year he was awarded an MBE as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of his services to social care.

One of his proudest achievements was founding the Wales Care Awards which celebrates the skill and dedication of the unsung heroes and heroines of social care. The event will be celebrating its 10th anniversary next year.

Mario’s MBE coincided with the 25th anniversary of Pendine Park and the opening of a new centre of excellence, called Bodlondeb to look after people with dementia at their main site in Wrexham.

Now, there are also plans in the pipeline for a similar, £5 million centre in Caernarfon which will create more than 100 new jobs if it’s given the green light by planners.

Among the first to congratulate Mario on his award was Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths.

She said: “I am delighted Mario’s hard work, determination and commitment has been recognised in this way.

“I know he will say this honour is a team award but every team needs a leader and he always leads from the front and is very deserving of this accolade.”

Mario said: “The achievement award is recognition of the huge contribution of social care in communities right across Wales, including the teams at Care Forum Wales and Pendine Park.

“It’s a huge team approach and it’s a reward for all the work that we’ve been doing together over the years to raise standards in social care and to promote the profession of social care.

“The ceremony at Ruthin Castle was a wonderful occasion. As everybody knows, these things are never really just an individual thing, Gill has been a pillar of support throughout.

“I am also eternally grateful for the support I receive from the staff at Pendine Park and Care Forum Wales.”