A North Wales harpist who has spent more than two decades bringing the gift of music to the heart of the community is in the running for a top award.<\/p>\n
Meinir Llwyd Roberts, director of the Caernarfon-based Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (CGWM) music charity, has been shortlisted for a Wales Care Award \u2013 and it\u2019s not the first time the organisation\u2019s impact has caught the judges\u2019 attention.<\/p>\n
The mum-of-two, who lives near St Asaph, is in the running for the Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation Award for Promoting the Arts in Social Care, which celebrates the transformative power of creativity in care settings across Wales.<\/p>\n
The annual awards are, organised by Care Forum Wales to recognise front line social care heroes.<\/p>\n
The glittering ceremony, sponsored by Meddyg Care will be\u00a0 held in October at Cardiff\u2019s Holland House Hotel on Friday,\u00a0 October 17.<\/p>\n
Meinir, who first joined Caernarfon-based CGWM as an administrator in 2001 before becoming director in 2011, said she was \u201chumbled\u201d by the nomination \u2013 and credited the entire CGWM team for their passion and dedication.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis nomination isn\u2019t just for me \u2013 it\u2019s for all of us. Everyone involved in CGWM is passionate about the power of music to change lives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Through her leadership, CGWM has become a driving force in making music education and performance accessible to everyone \u2013 especially people with additional needs, dementia, or those living in isolated communities.<\/p>\n
One of her proudest achievements is the charity\u2019s flagship initiative, Doniau Cudd \/ Hidden Talents, launched in 2003 by CGWM and music tutor Arfon Wyn to support adults who have learning disabilities. The project was so impactful it won the very same award in 2013 \u2013 and this year\u2019s nomination could mark a historic double win for the charity.<\/p>\n
\u201cMusic is incredibly therapeutic. It reaches people in a way that words often can\u2019t \u2013 we\u2019ve seen it lift moods, unlock memories, and build bridges where none seemed possible,\u201d Meinir explained.<\/p>\n
Meinir, who lives on a farm with husband Arwyn and their sons Gronw, 11, and Cradog, eight, says she always dreamed of combining her passion for music with work that improves wellbeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember doing a music in the community module as a student at Bangor University and I thought \u2013 this is what I want to do with my life. I feel very lucky that I\u2019ve been able to follow that path,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
From humble beginnings, CGWM has grown to include a team of\u00a0 more than 45 freelance tutors, offering lessons and workshops to hundreds of learners from its base at Galeri, Caernarfon, and satellite sites in Denbighshire.<\/p>\n
The charity also organises major music events including an international harp and piano festival \u2013 with this year\u2019s piano event set to take place in Caernarfon from October 16 to 20.<\/p>\n
CGWM\u2019s outreach includes working with social service teams,, community centres, health services and care homes, with trained musicians and therapists delivering tailored music sessions across North Wales<\/p>\n
Meinir said much of the charity\u2019s growth would not have been possible without support from long-term funders and partners such as the Arts Council of Wales, Gwynedd Council and Denbighshire Leisure\u2019s Arts team<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to the backing of our funders and partners we\u2019ve been able to expand what we offer and reach more people than ever before,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: \u201cCare Forum Wales has been working tirelessly for more than 30 years to promote the social care sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe established the Wales Care Awards to show our appreciation to the workforce and the wider sector for the remarkable and vitally important contribution everybody makes, day in day out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe event\u00a0 underlines the importance of the social care sector. It is the glue that binds our communities together, both socially and economically.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur mission is to be the voice of social care in Wales to advocate on the sector\u2019s behalf, holding truth to power in order to secure a fair deal to recognise the dedication of our front line heroes and heroines across our nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t value the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery single one of our finalists is a winner and will be presented with a gold, silver or bronze award.”<\/p>\n
For Meinir there have been so many special moments.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s a child discovering their voice or an older person reconnecting with a long-lost memory through music \u2013 those are the moments which highlight the power and importance of music in health and wellbeing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n