Young adults with learning difficulties have come out of their shells and are living enriched lives – thanks to a turtle from Treforest.

Behind the transformation is the agency Crwban (the Welsh word for turtle) Care and Support, which was established only three years ago.

The company is owned by Sian Perez and sister-in-law, Jazmin Dicker, and what they have achieved in such a short time has led to Sian being shortlisted by her sister for a prestigious award.

She has been nominated for one of this year’s Wales Care Awards, organized by Care Forum Wales to recognize excellence in the care sector.

The awards ceremony will be held on October 17 at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel, and Sian has been shortlisted in the category for Leadership and Management in a Small Group or Community Living, sponsored by Cartref Ni. The evening’s main sponsors are Meddyg Care.

Sian, 32, who lives in Church Village, is Crwban’s registered manager and director, and was nominated by Jazz, who described her as “a true leader, advocate and changemaker”.

Her work in the care sector began at the age of 16 when she had work experience with a local provider, who quickly spotted her potential.

While still in her teens she gained further experience across the sector, and her work with autistic people (ASD) shaped her future career.

After studying law and working for a while for Welsh Water she realized that her sense of purpose and fulfilment lay in caring for others.

In 2022 she and Jazz, who was a registered mental health nurse, decided to form their own company as they felt their combined experience meant they were able to meet the needs of individuals with ASD and learning difficulties and mental health illness through supported living.

Crwban currently has 10 homes on its books, and according to Jazz Sian’s approach is “deeply rooted in compassion, professionalism and empowerment”, ensuring that service users and staff thrive.

An example of the person-centred work which led to Sian being shortlisted was the case of a young man who had a deep passion for emergency services and vehicles.

She arranged emergency service stickers for his room, organized a private tour of the local fire station and visited service stations. He has been found voluntary work in a local garage.

Knowing how much the man loved riding his scooter, she bought a new scooter for the house and had him fitted for a helmet. Sian and other members of staff join him on scooter outings at least twice a week.

Crwban’s latest development is to open a café close to the office in Treforest which not only provides job opportunities for service-users but has become a hub for the local community.

The café, called “Pinc” – in what is believed to be the oldest sweetshop in South Wales, opened in June and is proving a great success.

“It is giving the volunteers a real motivation,” said Sian.

Speaking of her sister, Jazz said: “She embodies everything that exceptional leadership in supported living should be. She is not only a manager and a director, she is a mentor, a champion for independence, and a driving force behind life-changing transformations.”

Sian, a mother of two young children, relishes the work and being able to alter people’s lives for the better.

“It sounds flippant, but it is so rewarding being able to change people’s lives,” she said.

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “Care Forum Wales has been working tirelessly for more than 30 years to promote the social care sector.

“We established the Wales Care Awards to show our appreciation to the workforce and the wider sector for the remarkable and vitally important contribution everybody makes, day in day out.

“The event underlines the importance of the social care sector. It is the glue that binds our communities together, both socially and economically.

“Our mission is to be the voice of social care in Wales to advocate on the sector’s behalf, holding truth to power in order to secure a fair deal to recognise the dedication of our front line heroes and heroines across our nation.

“If you don’t value the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.

“Every single one of our finalists is a winner and will be presented with a gold, silver or bronze award.”