CHILDCARE providers have been recognised at the 2021 Mudiad Meithrin Annual Awards, with Cylch Meithrin Pwllheli picking up the overall winner throughout Wales award.

They had already been crowned North West Wales winner, with Cylch Meithrin Dolgellau and Cylch Meithrin Sarnau a Llandderfel, Gwynedd coming in second and third, before going on to pick up the evening’s top prize.

Best Volunteer went to Eifiona Wood of Cylch Meithrin Abersoch. Unfortunately, Eifiona could not attend the ceremony.

Brithdir’s Meithrinfa Seren Fach came second in the Day Nursery category.

The North East Wales award went to Cylch Meithrin Glantwymyn, and staff member Sioned Wyn Jones Roberts came third in the Leader category. The awards were announced at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Saturday, 2 October.

Mudiad Meithrin received nominations for staff and volunteers at Cylchoedd Meithrin (Welsh-medium playgroups) or Day Nurseries.

Cylch Meithrin Talybont received third place in the Cylch Meithrin South West Wales category. While Cylch Meithrin Penparc, in Ceredigion, won first place in the Dewin and Doti category as well as first place in the Inclusion, Equality and Diversity category.

Camau Bach, in Aberystwyth, also won the Meithrinfeydd Cymru Cyf category.

Welsh TV presenter Mari Lövgreen presented the awards.

Leanne Marsh, Mudiad Meithrin’s head of services development said: “Our awards ceremony is a wonderful way to raise the profile of the workforce and early years settings.

“The heroic way in which staff have managed to maintain the service to the children of key workers during the pandemic has shown how important this service is to the local community and to the economy as a whole.

“It’s a lovely way for the staff and volunteers to be recognised by being nominated by the parents of the children in their care.”

Mudiad Meithrin’s chief executive Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies added: “The awards ceremony gives Mudiad Meithrin an opportunity to recognise and thank the staff and volunteers at grassroots level and build on the campaign we held this September highlighting our committees’ work.

“It was wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate the good practice that is happening across Wales and being able to come together this year to do it whilst also broadcasting online too.”