September 24, 2026 - 204 views
A Senedd member was moved to tears after joining residents at a North Wales dementia care home for a sing-song.
Gwynedd Maldwyn MS Siân Gwenllian became emotional during a visit to Bryn Seiont Newydd, Pendine Park’s specialist dementia care facility on the outskirts of Caernarfon.
She joined residents in the home’s music room for a singing session led by musician-in-residence Nia Davies Williams.
The emotional moment came when David Edwards, a former police officer and member of Brythoniaid Male Voice Choir, sang the traditional Welsh folk song Ar Lan y Môr.
Ms Gwenllian wiped away a tear as residents joined in with the performance.
She said music and singing had a powerful ability to bring people together.
“It was an emotional experience to be part of their singing session,” she said.
“David was just as moved singing in his wonderful tenor voice and was clearly enjoying the participation, with the people around him joining in too.
“It is clear that singing and music connect people, and that is vitally important.”
Pendine Park founder Mario Kreft MBE accompanied Ms Gwenllian during her visit and said the session demonstrated the role the arts can play in dementia care.
He said Bryn Seiont Newydd was home to 107 residents, including 34 people living in apartments, and employed 254 staff.
The visit also highlighted opportunities for staff to develop their careers within the care sector.
Ms Gwenllian met Amy Rowlands, Andrew Roberts and Chris Jones, who all began their careers at Bryn Seiont Newydd before progressing through further training.
They were among eight Pendine care workers who have recently qualified as nurses through the organisation’s “grow your own” scheme.
All eight completed four-year Bachelor of Science nursing degrees through the Open University while continuing to work in Pendine’s care homes.
Ms Gwenllian said the opportunities offered to staff were an important part of the facility’s role in the local community.
“Bryn Seiont Newydd is a significant employer that opens doors for people to develop their careers,” she said.
“I heard about individuals who started here as care assistants, undertook further training, and progressed to become clinical leaders.”
She also spoke about the importance of specialist dementia care being available within local communities, including care delivered through the Welsh language.
“Dementia touches every family at some point; it has touched my own family, and we have been so grateful to receive specialist care outside of a hospital setting,” she said.
“Receiving that care in Welsh was also very important.”
Ms Gwenllian has represented the area in the Senedd since 2016 and is now Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning.
She said specialist facilities such as Bryn Seiont Newydd would become increasingly important as the population ages.
Bryn Seiont Newydd deputy manager Amy Rowlands said music was a regular part of life at the home.
“The arts are such an important part of life here,” she said.
“Music in particular is a golden thread that runs through daily life at Bryn Seiont Newydd, bringing people together, creating memories and giving everyone the opportunity to participate.”
She said staff regularly saw the effect music could have on residents, from sparking memories to creating moments of connection and enjoyment.
