Care To Tell Us A Story

BUDDING LOCAL AUTHORS SCOOP SHORT STORY AWARDS

Angie Smith of Llangeitho, Ceredigion has won the first prize in the Mid Wales "Care to tell us a Story?" competition, sponsored by the Care Council for Wales for her short story – Caring to Touch.

Angie received her winner's cheque at a sparkling Gala Dinner to mark the 2008 National Care Awards, hosted by Care Forum Wales, at City Hall in Cardiff. Mr. Parry Davies, Chair of the Mid Wales Social Care Partnership and Director of Ceredigion Social Services, subsequently presented Angie with her "Oscar" at Social Services HQ in Aberaeron.

The competition asked entrants to write or tell a short story to show the positive impact of social care on peoples' lives from both the perspective of the service user and those working in the caring sector. One of the judging panel, Mutale Merrill, OBE, Chair of the Care Council for Wales commented:

"Angie's work stood out in a fine competition because of both its sincerity and serenity. She was obviously drawing on first-hand experience in showing how fulfilling caring can be.

Each of the competitors had valuable insights to give into the hard work done by both paid and unpaid carers but also into the positive influence on their own lives and those of the service users.

We hope that many people will read these stories and appreciate the invaluable contribution of carers and care assistants, and perhaps, be inspired to do voluntary work themselves or to take up a career in care."

Angie, who herself has been an unpaid carer for family members and who currently works with people with learning disabilities, is keen to develop her writing talents further and become a fully fledged authoress in the future.

Congratulations are also due the other prize winners:

In second place:

Heather Jones from Llanfair Caereinion for "Mirror in my room"

And third:

Mary Rendell from Aberystwyth for "A life time."

And a special award for:

Debbie Sandford from Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth

The winning entries and exerts from other stories submitted will be published shortly by The Mid Wales Social Care Partnership.