An artist who uses his expert skills to help people with dementia rediscover their creative talents has been honoured with a prestigious award.<\/p>\n
Jason Bennion, a creative arts consultant at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham, won a silver prize in this year\u2019s Wales Care Awards.<\/p>\n
Held at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff, the awards ceremony paid tribute to the frontline heroes of social care.<\/p>\n
Jason was a finalist in The Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation Wales Care Award for Promoting the Arts in Social Care category.<\/p>\n
He was shortlisted for an award after impressed colleagues said his artistic flair and expertise was helping people with in Pendine Park\u2019s care homes unlock their long-forgotten creative skills.<\/p>\n
Cindy Clutton, manager at Pendine\u2019s Hillbury Care Home in Wrexham, said Jason\u2019s art classes were hugely popular with residents – and the difference he had made to enriching their lives was \u201camazing\u201d.<\/p>\n
Jason, an award-winning international illustrator, formally joined Pendine Park\u2019s enrichment activities team last year after initially volunteering to give his partner, the care company\u2019s Artist in Residence Sarah Edwards, an extra pair of hands to deliver arts and crafts projects.<\/p>\n
According to Jason,\u00a0 it was a privilege to have the role with the organisation and to help reignite people\u2019s passion for the arts.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe beauty of creativity is that once you break down those barriers, and once they realise there\u2019s no pressure and they can just enjoy it, it does something magical.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s magic to me, it’s absolutely magical.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd some of the work the residents create is incredible, the standards and levels of their work have improved massively.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what is great is about how much the residents enjoy it, how it is giving them such purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very privileged to be able to do this and what really gives me joy is when a resident says to me they\u2019re proud of the artwork they\u2019ve created, that\u2019s such a rewarding thing to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cindy said: \u201cJason\u2019s sessions are always so calming, it makes the residents relax and enjoy being creative.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you look at their paintings for example when Jason started 18 months ago to the work they create now, you can really see the progression in their artwork.<\/p>\n
\u201cJason is helping our residents bring back the creative skills they may have had many years ago that they have since forgotten or have been unable to enjoy.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs care staff, you don\u2019t always know the residents had those skills in the past, so it\u2019s lovely to see those skills coming through again, especially this late in life.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s great when the families get involved as well with the art sessions, not just the residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sometimes hard for the families to know what to talk about with some of the residents, so the workshops engage everybody and it\u2019s something for them to talk about.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Wales Care Awards is organised by Care Forum Wales, with the support of this year\u2019s overall sponsor Meddyg Care.<\/p>\n
Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards once again shone a light on the \u201cunsung heroes and heroines\u201d who make a vital difference to the lives of vulnerable people across the nation.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cFor more than 30 years, Care Forum Wales has worked tirelessly to champion the social care sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Wales Care Awards underlines the importance of the sector \u2013 it\u2019s the glue that binds our communities together, both socially and economically.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur mission has always been to be the voice of social care in Wales to stand up for the workforce and ensure their dedication is properly recognised.\u201d<\/p>\n
A special moment in the evening was when Mair Elis Thomas, widow of the late Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, took to the stage to present one of the awards.<\/p>\n
According to Mr Kreft it was a touching gesture that reflected Lord Elis Thomas\u2019s long standing support for the Wales Care Award and for social care more broadly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDafydd was a passionate believer in the power of the arts to enrich lives and support wellbeing and mental health,\u201d said Mr Kreft.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is greatly missed, but his legacy lives on \u2013 not only through his contribution to public life as a Presiding Officer, but also through the positive impact he had on so many communities.\u201d<\/p>\n