A bubbly care worker who says entertaining elderly dementia sufferers has provided her with a positive outlet for her ADHD has been shortlisted for a top award.<\/p>\n
Natasha Williams has lived with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms since childhood but said it was not until she was appointed as the activities and fundraising manager for the Meddyg Care Group, which has two specialist dementia care homes in Criccieth and Porthmadog, that she found a way to apply her boundless energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.<\/p>\n
ADHD is a condition that affects people\u2019s behaviour, often making sufferers feel restless, impatient and preventing them from concentrating.<\/p>\n
Mum-of-two Natasha, who was born and raised in Criccieth, says her role as an activities and fundraising manager has given her an excuse to unleash her excitement and enthusiasm for a good purpose.<\/p>\n
From arranging close encounters with snakes and spiders through to booking performances by ballerinas and local performing artists, Natasha will do anything to engage her residents.<\/p>\n
She even convinced company bosses to turn a lounge into a pub and hunted down authentic memorabilia including a brass bell, beer pumps and chairs to bring her vision to life.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old, who married her childhood sweetheart James earlier this summer, has now made the final of the Wales Care Awards in the Promoting Fulfilled Lives category, sponsored by Boots Care Services.<\/p>\n
The ceremony is organised annually by social care champion Care Forum Wales which supports more than 450 care homes, nursing homes and other independent health and social care providers across Wales.<\/p>\n
Natasha will now attend a glittering ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday, October 21, hosted by popular tenor, Wynne Evans, best known as Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV ads.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so overwhelmed!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love my job and I\u2019m constantly looking for ideas to do more. One of the reasons why I love it so much is I\u2019ve never been told no!<\/p>\n
\u201cI feed off other people. I\u2019m such an enthusiastic person and I always think to myself \u2018imagine having a boss that says no!\u2019 Of course, I\u2019ve had to wind it in a bit at times, but they have never burst my bubble. It\u2019s this that gives me the oomph to continue and if it wasn\u2019t for my employers, I don\u2019t think I would be as enthusiastic and always wanting to make change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis last week I\u2019ve been on my hands and knees painting a yellow brick road in the garden! Everything I\u2019ve asked for I\u2019ve been given.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m extremely proud to have made the shortlist. I\u2019m a very dramatic person as you can imagine and so this is absolutely amazing for me!\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha, who attended Ysgol Treferthyr in Criccieth, studied for a degree in dance at the London School of Dance. After university, she took on retail jobs and shifts in restaurants, pubs and clubs until the birth of her son six years ago when she needed a more flexible job.<\/p>\n
She secured a role as a carer at Meddyg Care\u2019s Criccieth home and was promoted to team leader within two years before further promotion as a senior carer and then as activities and fundraising manager across both homes \u2013 a role she says could not have been more suitable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was so hyperactive as a child,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn swimming lessons, they\u2019d try and teach me things but I was busy being a shark, in ballet I\u2019d see how many spins I could do while the rest of the class were learning something else and in karate I\u2019d spend my time sliding from room to room on the floor in my socks \u2013 I was always known as the destructive one! Everyone knew I had ADHD but my mum didn\u2019t want people to put a label on me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough it has got easier, I still have the traits. I can\u2019t sit still – I find it very hard \u2013 and that\u2019s where the activities role came my way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI now look after residents with dementia who struggle to remember their family members, but they call me a beautiful headache!\u201d<\/p>\n
Natasha was nominated for the award by Kevin Edwards, Managing Director of Meddyg Care.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cNatasha is the epitome of an employee that goes above and beyond for our residents, their families and her colleagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cNatasha\u2019s bright smile, cheery demeanour and outgoing personality brings warmth to our homes and her familiarity with all our residents is testament to her dedication as our Activities Manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeddyg Care are incredibly proud of Natasha and having been shortlisted for the Promoting Fulfilled Lives Award only further highlights that she is a true `superstar\u2019 and has a bright future ahead of her.\u00a0 We wish Natasha every success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of\u00a0Care\u00a0Forum\u00a0Wales, said the aim of the Wales Care Awards was to recognise the unstinting and remarkable dedication of unsung heroes and heroines across\u00a0Wales.<\/p>\n
He said \u201cThe social\u00a0care\u00a0sector is full of wonderful people because it\u2019s not just a job, it\u2019s a vocation\u00a0\u2013 these are people who go the extra mile for others.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the Covid crisis, this fantastic workforce rose magnificently to the challenge, putting their own lives on the line to do everything they possibly could to safeguard the people for whom they provide\u00a0care.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, it has taken a global pandemic for many other people to realise how important and how significant our social\u00a0care\u00a0workforce is.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir incredible contribution was summed up best in the powerful and emotive words of the song, Heroes of our Heart, written by the acclaimed poet Mererid Hopwood and sung by Sir Bryn Terfel, which was set to the famous tune of Men of Harlech. The message that the diolch should last forever is one that we should never forget.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards people need and never recognise the value of people who need\u00a0care\u00a0in society.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the nominees deserve to be lauded and applauded and it\u2019s a real pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists.<\/p>\n
\u201cI congratulate all the individuals who have shown outstanding dedication and professionalism. Every one of them should be proud of their achievement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are\u00a0Wales\u2019s finest.\u201d<\/p>\n