April Mirus Moments Winners

A Mirus Moment is when someone has done something special.  

People supported by Mirus, and Mirus staff can nominate each other to be in with a chance of winning a £20 Love2Shop voucher.

You can nominate online at this link: bit.ly/mirusmoments

This month we received so many nominations that we’ve included a list of everyone nominated at the bottom of the page. It was very hard for our Mirus Ambassadors to choose the winners, because every one of the 36 nominations we received were so deserving of celebration.

Ceri D, supported by Mirus in Cardiff

Courageous

Ceri initially struggled with hydrotherapy at Llandough hospital, feeling too nervous to leave her seat and enter the water. After 4 weeks of sessions, Ceri has made remarkable progress. She is now fully participating in pool activities, including submerging underwater. Her confidence has soared, and she’s excelling in her exercises.

Rhys L, supported by Mirus in Gwent

Courageous 

Rhys volunteered to make a video talking about his experiences as an autistic person. He allowed the video to be shared as part of Autism Acceptance Week, so that he could help Mirus to promote the campaign. In his video, he helped to show that autism shouldn’t be looked upon as a disability, but rather as another way of thinking. He told people about the positive impacts being autistic has on his life, which is a great perspective that people often don’t consider. His video was very insightful, and received lots of likes and comments on Facebook.

Michael W, supported by Mirus in Neath Port Talbot

Responsible

Michael has made remarkable progress in improving his mental health. He has also successfully regained his driving license and is now planning to buy a car soon. Michael has taken on a volunteering role in Jersey Park, which is a significant step towards improving his confidence. He has also become more independent with medication, now able to collect and administer it independently with minimal supervision, and even manages his own medication stock count with staff.

Jason D, supported by Mirus in Swansea

Responsible

Jason joined Mirus nearly 3 years ago, feeling nervous and shy. At first, he kept to himself and found it hard to make friends or talk to staff.

In the past year, Jason has opened up more to his support staff and formed great friendships with his housemate. They go out for meals, drinks, walks, and shopping together. Jason has become more positive, cutting negativity from his life. He now chats to his support workers and housemate daily and attends Mirus events to meet new people.

Jason is kind, considerate, and funny, always offering coffee and asking about others’ days. His mental health has greatly improved, and he now enjoys life more with his new friends. It’s inspiring to see Jason’s progress and happiness.

Sarah Maddox, Mirus staff member in Cardiff

Respectful

Sarah is a valued member of the team and goes above and beyond her role as a support worker. She not only provides exceptional support to people, but also acts as the handywoman of the house. Sarah recently assisted someone we support to purchase and assemble new bedroom furniture. She has also made multiple trips to collect and assemble furniture for others, and has transformed the living room by sanding and painting furniture. Sarah’s dedication and enthusiasm in enhancing the living environment for everyone are greatly appreciated by the team.

Sue Hardwicke, Mirus staff member in Gwent

Together

Sue stepped in to help at a Brecon house during a staff shortage, commuting a long distance each day. She brought valuable knowledge, trained new staff, and made positive changes, staying much longer than initially planned. Sue is known for her warm and supportive approach, always putting the needs of those she supports first. Despite her busy schedule across multiple regions, she maintains heartfelt relationships with everyone. Sue is a true gem, and we greatly value her dedication and kindness.

Claire Dunkerton, Mirus staff member in Central Services

Together

Claire dedicated much of her annual leave to attend Mirus Autism Acceptance Week events, even involving her children in the celebrations.

We always appreciate Claire’s advice, support, and expertise. She has a special way of empowering others with her passion and drive, positively influencing our practice. Clare leads our Positive Behaviour work and provides crucial training on Restrictive Practice and Human Rights, delivering it in an empowering way that impacts our entire organisation. Clare’s dedication is making a huge difference for everyone at Mirus.

Gareth Harvard, Mirus staff member in Swansea

Responsible

Gareth has been my support worker for many years, and we have a great relationship filled with laughter and jokes. He takes me to all my appointments, ensures I get what I need, and we enjoy outings for lunch and walks. When Gareth was temporarily redeployed, I really missed him. Now that he’s back, my mood has improved significantly, and I’m much happier with his support. Gareth is funny, and I enjoy teasing him. I’m thrilled with the support he provides and consider him my favourite support worker.

Who was nominated?

People We Support

Ceri D, Cardiff. Nominated by Olivia Stickland.

Mark J, Gwent. Nominated by Carolyn Jones.

Rhys L, Gwent. Nominated by Annika Lea.

Toprak, Gwent. Nominated by Amy Foley.

Natalie D, NPT. Nominated by Sarah Lewis.

Frederick P, NPT. Nominated by Melissa Murray.

Michael W, NPT. Nominated by Melissa Murray.

Jason D, Swansea. Nominated by Kelsey Flay.

Laurence J, Swansea. Nominated by Abi Phillips.

Seren A, Ystradgynlais. Nominated by Laura Jenkins.

Mirus Staff

Debra Staley, Brecon. Nominated by Debra Hornsby.

Geoff Walby, Brecon. Nominated by Claire Lloyd.

Sarah Maddox, Cardiff. Nominated by Jacky Blackmore.

Susan Ash, Cardiff. Nominated by Stephen Wood.

Mark Griffiths, Cardiff. Nominated by Jade Flynn.

Sally Harris, Cardiff. Nominated by Harriet Vedmore.

Sue Hardwicke, Gwent. Nominated by Debra Hornsby and Sally Bathurst

Bethan James, Gwent. Nominated by Annika Lea.

Newport CCX Team, Gwent. Nominated by Amy Foley.

Claire Dunkerton, Central. Nominated by Sara Davies and Sally Bathurst.

Sally Bathurst, Central. Nominated by Vickie Woodland.

Aimee Price, Central. Nominated by Sophie Ducroq.

Vickie Woodland, Gwent/Powys. Nominated by Claire Lloyd.

Letitia Deeble, NPT. Nominated by Liz Thomas.

Cherie Hendy, Swansea. Nominated by Hilary Whittaker.

Gareth Harvard, Swansea. Nominated by James Wall.

Sarah Warlow, Swansea. Nominated by Danielle Lewis.

Kelly Bent, Swansea. Nominated by Abi Phillips.

Chris Hoppe, Swansea. Nominated by Sarah Pierce.

Ebonie Davies, Ystradgynlais. Nominated by Samantha Howells.

Amy Crockett, Ystradgynlais. Nominated by Helen Williams.

Julie James, Ystradgynlais. Nominated by Laura Jenkins & Helen Williams.

Megan Davies, Ystradgynlais. Nominated by Laura Jenkins.

Gabriel Smarandache, Ystradgynlais. Nominated by Laura Jenkins.

Mary Jones, Ystradgynlais. Nominated by Laura Jenkins.

Kelly-Ann Grieveson. Nominated by Amy Lynn Crockett.

A Mirus Moment is when someone has done something extra special.  

We love to celebrate when someone has done something great, that shows they really believe in our values; Together, Respectful, Responsible, Empowering and Courageous.

Winners are chosen by our Mirus Reps, who are supported by Mirus and advocate for others.

Our Mirus Moment winners receive a £20 Love2Shop voucher, and we share their name, the area they live or work in, and the reason they were nominated online.

You can nominate Mirus staff or people supported by Mirus online at this link: bit.ly/mirusmoments

Watch our video to find out more about Mirus Moments: