The founder of a pioneering music cooperative operating across Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham has struck gold at the social care Oscars.<\/p>\n
Heather Powell won The Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation Wales Care Award for Promoting the Arts in Social Care at this year\u2019s Wales Care Awards.<\/p>\n
She was presented with the gold award in recognition of her inspirational work in ensuring every child \u2013 regardless of background or ability \u2013 can access the joy of music.<\/p>\n
Heather and her colleagues launched the cooperative in 2015 after funding cuts ended peripatetic music teaching in Denbighshire.<\/p>\n
Determined not to let music disappear from classroom, they built a community-led service that has grown to teach more than 7,000 youngsters a week, including 1,600 on free school meals.<\/p>\n
The organisation expanded into Wrexham in 2017 and this year began offering lessons in Conwy, marking a decade of remarkable growth and inclusion for children in three counties.<\/p>\n
Heather, who hails originally from Buckley and who is now the head of service at the North Wales Music Cooperative, said: \u201cI was shocked, but really proud, to win the award.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, I have said it before and will say it again, it\u2019s all about the team here – the cooperative is all about its members.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a brilliant team who are behind me all the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just keep fighting to provide music for these kids, and we will continue to do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe award is recognition of all the effort that goes in by everyone who is involved here, week in, week out.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I would give a big thanks to the management team in the office and the tutors on the ground who have made this all possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heather said the awards evening in Cardiff was a great way to shine a light on the work carried out by the dedicated workers involved in the care sector in Wales.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt was very humbling to listen to everyone and to hear about the work that goes on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a fantastic event and it was a really proud moment both for me and for the service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heather said members of her family were able to enjoy the moment with her by watching a livestream of the awards evening on YouTube.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt was lovely to know my dad Tony was sat in his care home in Ruthin, he lives in an independent home in Ruthin, and was watching with all of his friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was really special and it was a really proud evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy kids were watching as well, that was really lovely to know that the boys, Mason, Lloyd and Jacob, were watching to see how their mam got on.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd my partner David was with me at the awards, he had a lovely evening as well and he was mega proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heather said the gold award win was a pleasing way to mark a decade of success for the cooperative.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt has been a heck of a journey for all of us.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think any of us thought it would be what it is today and become a cherished organisation in North Wales which means so much to so many – our members, our kids and our schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are really proud to do what we do in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work that we do in the community is really important to us, and long may it continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to access music lessons is important to everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWales is the Land of Song and we don\u2019t want music to be elitist, we want everyone to be able to enjoy music.<\/p>\n
\u201cMusic is such a big part of everyday life, sometimes in ways you don\u2019t even consider.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get in the car, you put the radio on. You\u2019re in the office and there\u2019s often a radio on in the background.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is music everywhere, all around us, so I think for our children to access music irrespective of their financial background is something which will always be very important to all of us and is the essence of what the cooperative tries to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cooperative chair Councillor Mark Young, a member of Denbighshire County Council, said the recognition for Heather was well deserved.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cHeather has never given up, despite all the challenges<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cooperative has delivered over half a million lessons to young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo when you look at the impact of just one music lesson on one young person, and you times that by over half a million, the impact is unmeasurable.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Wales Care Awards, organised by Care Forum Wales with the support of overall sponsor Meddyg Care, celebrate the dedication of frontline social care professionals.<\/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.”<\/p>\n