It was a huge privilege to attend the Social Care Wales Accolades event for 2025 to see childminder members shortlisted for the WeCare Wales award and to be recognised for their amazing achievements. It supports a great build up to Childminding Week taking part from the 10th-16th May where we will come together to celebrate together.
You can watch the recording of the live stream of the event here (for the relevant section go to 2 hour 35 minutes).
Congratulations to Sarah Sharpe who was the winner of the WeCare Wales Award and to Terri Steele who was highly commended.
About the shortlisted nominees
Sarah Sharpe, a childminder from the Vale of Glamorgan was nominated by Lee Walker-Metzelaar also a childminder.
Sarah’s passion and dedication shines through in her work as a childminder. Lee says Sarah has “all the time in the world” for the children she cares for.
At her allotment in Barry, Sarah teaches children to plant, grow and harvest their own fruit and vegetables. Sarah has helped parents access vital support for their children.
She’s referred families to Flying Start to access parenting classes, extra health visits and play sessions at home. Sarah also works with the local authority to support new childminders and promote training courses, and provides free mentoring evenings for childminders.
Terri Steele, a childminder from Ceredigion was nominated by Coram PACEY Cymru.
Terri is passionate about learning. She has a Forest School qualification and teaches the children about gardening, the environment and Welsh culture. They also learn sign language.
Terri is also engaged in the early years and childcare sector. She attends childminder forums, where she helps identify the challenges facing the sector. She’s also worked with the Ceredigion Childcare Unit to promote childminding as a career and was nominated for an award for this work.
Terri was nominated for the Accolades in part by a family she supported following the loss of their son, who say: “Terri has provided my daughter with security, compassion and a place where her little brother will always be remembered and loved.”
Roedd yn fraint enfawr mynychu digwyddiad Gwobrau Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru ar gyfer 2025 a gweld aelodau gwarchodwyr plant ar y rhestr fer ar gyfer gwobr Gofalwn Cymru a chael eu cydnabod am eu cyflawniadau anhygoel. Mae'n cefnogi paratoad gwych ar gyfer Wythnos Gwarchod Plant sy'n cymryd rhan o'r 10fed-16eg o Fai lle byddwn yn dod ynghyd i ddathlu gyda'n gilydd.
Gallwch wylio recordiad o'r ffrydio byw o'r digwyddiad yma (am yr adran berthnasol ewch i 2 awr 35 munud).
Llongyfarchiadau i Sarah Sharpe a enillodd Wobr Gofalwn Cymru ac i Terri Steele a gafodd ganmoliaeth uchel.
Ynglŷn â'r enwebeion
Sarah Sharpe, gofalwr plant ym Mro Morgannwg. Enwebwyd gan Lee Walker-Metzelaar, hefyd yn ofalwr plant.
Mae angerdd ac ymroddiad Sarah yn disgleirio yn ei gwaith fel gofalwr plant. Dywed Lee fod gan Sarah “amynedd di-ben-draw” dros y plant mae hi’n gofalu amdanynt.
Ar ei rhandir yn y Barri, mae Sarah yn addysgu’r plant i blannu, tyfu a chynaeafu eu ffrwythau a’u llysiau eu hunain. Mae Sarah wedi helpu rhieni i fanteisio ar gymorth hanfodol ar gyfer eu plant. Mae hi wedi cyfeirio teuluoedd at Ddechrau’n Deg i gael dosbarthiadau magu plant, ymweliadau iechyd ychwanegol a sesiynau chwarae gartref.
Hefyd, mae Sarah yn gweithio gyda’r awdurdod lleol i gefnogi gofalwyr plant newydd a hyrwyddo cyrsiau hyfforddiant, ac mae’n cynnig nosweithiau mentora am ddim i ofalwyr plant.
Terri Steele, gofalwr plant o Geredigion. Enwebwyd gan Coram PACEY Cymru
Mae Terri yn angerddol am ddysgu. Mae ganddi gymhwyster Ysgol Goedwig ac mae’n addysgu’r plant am arddio, yr amgylchedd a diwylliant Cymru. Maen nhw’n dysgu iaith arwyddion, hefyd.
Mae Terri hefyd yn ymwneud â’r sector blynyddoedd cynnar a gofal plant. Mae hi’n cymryd rhan mewn fforymau gofalwyr plant, lle mae’n helpu i amlygu’r heriau sy’n wynebu’r sector.Hefyd, mae hi wedi gweithio gydag Uned Gofal Plant Ceredigion i hyrwyddo gofal plant fel gyrfa ac fe’i henwebwyd am wobr ar gyfer y gwaith hwn.
Enwebwyd Terri ar gyfer y Gwobrau yn rhannol gan deulu a gefnogodd yn dilyn marwolaeth eu mab, a ddywedodd: “Mae Terri wedi rhoi sicrwydd, tosturi a lle i’m merch lle bydd ei brawd bach bob amser yn cael ei gofio a’i garu.”
