FINALISTS in the South Wales Argus Health and Care Awards have been expressing their delight at being nominated.

The awards aim to recognise staff working in all areas of the health and care sector through 15 categories which reflect the range of work done within these sectors and organisations that provide essential services.

One of the 15 categories that will be awarded at our special awards presentation event at Chepstow Racecourse on October 19 is the the Together We Achieve category, which is sponsored by the Monmouthshire Freemasons.

They are one of the world’s oldest secular and fraternal organisations and Provincial grandmaster of Monmouthshire Freemasons, Richard Davies said they want to “celebrate high standards” in the care and health sectors.

The award recognises teams that are working together to deliver improved patient care and public health.

They can be from any sector but must demonstrate impact, very strong team working, strong communication, and the ability to work across organisational boundaries.

Mr Davies added: “We are honoured to be sponsoring Together We Achieve as part of the Argus Health and Care Awards.

“The ethos of ‘together we achieve’ is well known to us and we now proudly support and promote it in the health and care arena.”

There are three finalists in the running for the award.

Ffrind i mi / Friend of Mine is a partnership approach to combatting loneliness and social isolation across communities.

The partnership is a collaboration between organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors and is funded by the Health Technology Wales Scheme and Public Health Wales. Partners have created a movement where community assets are working together to help reconnect vulnerable lonely people with their communities.

Statutory, voluntary and independent sectors have joined forces to break down barriers and demonstrate that together great things can be achieved to support the most vulnerable in our society.

The partnership is a first for Wales, and it has developed a social movement that can be adapted locally and nationally.

Also in the running is the Newport division of St John Cymru Wales.

The team provides first aid training to the local community and offer opportunities for the youth of Newport as well a safe place for them to meet other children an develop their personal development skills.

They work at public events with first aid support such as local athletics and as well as school events. They strive to be inclusive and members come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and are of different abilities.

They have celebrated success in the past as their cadet team won at regional first aid competitions, have completed leadership and training courses and two badgers, for children aged seven to ten, won their super badger award this year which is the highest achievement a badger can reach once they complete 15 subjects

The third finalist is Newport’s Voice Hub which was established in 2014 with the vision that following drug and alcohol treatment people need assistance with life skills and coping mechanisms to stop them re-entering drug treatment services.

Until recently, recovery drop in centres did not exist in Gwent and The Voice Hub was pioneering in establishing a volunteer run, peer led service focused on what service users see as problematic in their lives.

The three finalists will found out who has won the award when they attend the special presentation event at the racecourse.

Provincial grandmaster of Monmouthshire Freemasons, Richard Davies said their work has a charitable focus.

Mr Davies said: “A lot of our focus in freemasonry is about recognising people’s talents and doing charitable acts.

“Charity comes in various concepts such as being kind and courteous.

“Freemasonry helps to develop charitable instinct to help people.

Hussain Bayoomi Managing Director of the South Wales Argus, said: “We are looking forward to recognising individuals and teams from the across the whole health spectrum.

“I look forward to celebrating the success of our finalists at the awards presentation evening.”

To find out more about the awards and discover more of the finalists visit southwalesargus.co.uk/healthandcareawards/news.