Success at the double for arts-loving care provider

A care home group based in North Wales is celebrating winning two prestigious awards for its commitment to enriching people’s lives through the arts.

Pendine Park, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, was named Business of the Year at the Arts and Business Cymru Awards. The award was presented by acclaimed Welsh actress Sian Phillips during a glittering ceremony at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

The company’s belief in the power of the arts to support and enrich people lives was described as inspirational by the independent judges, who praised it as a “model of excellence”.

Pendine Park’s proprietor, Mario Kreft, also picked up the Arts, Business and Health award in recognition of the firm’s partnerships with the arts to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of its clients and staff.

Accompanying Mr Kreft was his wife, Gill, who has been a key figure behind Pendine Park’s success, and Sarah Edwards, who became the first artist-in-residence in a Welsh care home when she was appointed around 20 years ago.

Mr Kreft said: “We are delighted that Pendine Park has been honoured by Arts and Business Cymru.

“The awards are the ideal 30th anniversary present for Pendine Park. None of what we have achieved would have been possible without the fantastic contribution of my wife Gill whose expertise, energy and creativity have provided foundation for everything we have done.

“We are passionate about enhancing the quality of life for our residents and our domiciliary care clients through our enrichment programme which wholeheartedly embraces the arts as means of reaching out to people.”

The company has developed partnerships with the renowned Hallé orchestra, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and North Wales International Music Festival, all of which have demonstrated the company’s commitment to investing in the creative arts and helping more people access the arts across North Wales.

Collaborating with the Hallé, Pendine Park provides music activity for its care home residents while training staff to facilitate arts sessions as therapeutic activity.

Its partnership with the orchestra has also resulted in music workshops, involving residents of the care homes and pupils from local schools, that culminated in a performance at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s Children’s Day.

Pendine Park has doubled its sponsorship of the North Wales International Music Festival and now provides almost 2,000 people, including those in care homes, hospices and deprived communities, the opportunity to experience high quality, live music.

Rachel Jones, chief executive of Arts & Business Cymru, said: “Pendine Park is a fantastic company, which has a clear focus and a genuine commitment to the arts.

“The company continually demonstrates the positive impact that the arts can have on business and I hope its partnerships inspire many more companies to embrace the creative sector.”

Pendine Park runs seven specialist care homes in Wrexham, dedicating individual homes to conditions that include dementia, brain injury and nursing care.

This was the third time that Pendine Park has been honoured by Arts & Business Cymru.