Mirus Stars Awards 2024

On Thursday, 28th November, the stunning Brangwyn Hall in Swansea was filled with excitement as we hosted our annual Mirus Stars Awards ceremony. This special event brought together the people we support, our staff, and other people connected with Mirus for a day of celebration, connection, and recognition.

This year, we received an incredible 191 nominations, which led to 57 semi-finalists and 21 finalists. From this exceptional group of people, our Board of Trustees had the difficult task of selecting ten winners—one person we support and one staff member for each of our five values: Together, Respectful, Responsible, Empowering, and Courageous.

The awards were presented by our fantastic Mirus Ambassadors, Alex and Adam, with special guests joining them on stage to announce the winners. Each winner received a gold trophy, a certificate, and a winner’s gift voucher. The audience cheered as eight of the ten winners joined us to collect their well-deserved awards.

One of the winners, Jamie, who we support in Brecon, won for the value Courageous. Jamie was nominated for his ambition and determination to improve his independence, including starting college on his own. Jamie said:

“I am so happy to win.”

Peter Davies, Assistant Head of Service for Cardiff and the Vale, added:

“I’ve known Jamie for a while now, and seeing how much he has grown has been fantastic—he thoroughly deserves this award.”

Alex dancing to the 80s entertainment act

Hayley Bates, a Support Worker in Neath Port Talbot, won for the value Empowering. Hayley was recognised for creating a positive, inclusive environment and going above and beyond to support her team and the people she works with. About her win, Hayley said:

“It felt amazing to win! Two of the people I support are here too, so it’s nice celebrating with them.”

The ceremony was packed with highlights. Our Mirus Ambassadors warmed up the crowd with jokes, an 80s tribute duo had everyone dancing and singing along, and Ross, who we support in Swansea, even sang an a cappella duet of One Love by Bob Marley. It was a truly special day.

Adam with his mother, after presenting the awards

After the ceremony, our Ambassadors reflected on the experience. Adam, one of our Mirus Ambassadors, said:

“I loved hosting the event! My mum was in the audience, and my grandmother—it was the first time my grandmother had seen me present anything.”

Alex, another Mirus Ambassador, shared:

“I enjoyed being on the stage and having everyone look at me—it was great to make Mirus proud.”

We were also honoured to share a special video message from Sarah Murphy MS, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, who highlighted the importance of recognising achievements, and expressed her appreciation for the 40 years Mirus has been a non-profit organisation in Wales. Sarah said:

“The Mirus Stars Awards are such a wonderful idea because they are celebrating everything that everybody does. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone there today, to all the nominees and winners—you are all so important.”

You can view all of our event photos on our Facebook page at this link. 

Our 2024 Mirus Stars Award winners:

• Laurence J (Swansea) for Together, for his growing confidence in joining community events.

• Claire Dunkerton (Central Staff) for Together, for her efforts in bringing people together during Autism Acceptance Week.

• Rhys L (Gwent) for Respectful, for raising awareness about autism through a powerful video.

• Gareth Harvard (Swansea) for Respectful, for the strong, respectful relationship he has built over years of support.

• Alexander P (Gwent) for Responsible, for his dedication to reducing restrictions and increasing his independence.

• Erica Foley (Ystradgynlais) for Responsible, for supporting someone to enjoy a fuller, more independent life.

• Sarah W (Neath Port Talbot) for Empowering, for using her personal experiences to encourage open conversations and lead change.

• Hayley Bates (Neath Port Talbot) for Empowering, for creating an inclusive and positive environment for all.

• Jamie G (Brecon) for Courageous, for embracing new challenges like starting college independently.

• Kelly Scott (Brecon) for Courageous, for leading by example and building confidence in her team.

Read more about the winners at this link.

Special thanks to all of our event and award sponsors, to Tim Wreford at Bear Lens Video for capturing the day on video and to our amazing Mirus Ambassadors, Alex and Adam, for hosting the event with such energy and enthusiasm.