A local Parenting Officer who helped a mother overcome her worries at being a parent for the first time has been awarded a prestigious accolade launched to recognise the scores of early year’s workers in Wales that go above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of local families.

New to the area, and with a new-born baby girl, Diana May felt completely alone in Llanarth until she met Doris Crossman, who helped her settle into the community as part of a service provided by the Welsh Government’s Flying Start programme.

Now Doris, 50, from Cenarth, has been named the regional winner for Mid Wales in the first ever ‘Stars In Their Lives’ award. The award aims to highlight the amazing contribution made to children in their crucial early years by Flying Start professionals across Wales including health visitors, midwives, parenting, early language specialists, and other childcare and development workers.

Doris scooped the top spot for her region alongside three other outstanding Flying Start workers from Swansea and West Wales, Cardiff and East Wales and North Wales who were also nominated for their outstanding dedication to giving children a flying start in life.

Doris said: “This is a fantastic surprise but really Flying Start is a team effort, and we are a very close team in Ceredigion.

“I love my job and getting to know the parents individually - I have been part of Flying Start since the initiative first launched seven years ago and it has been amazing to see it grow.”

Shortlisted nominees were put forward by local families from across Wales that are feeling the benefits of the fantastic work Flying Start teams are doing countrywide.

Diana, 30 and mum to three-year old Olivia, said: “Growing up I never had a mother figure throughout my life, and particularly when I gave birth I was missing that person to ask all these questions to, but Doris has been like a mother figure to me in the area and I am really grateful for that.

“Doris creates such a lovely atmosphere at the local parenting groups she is involved in, and has even inspired me to potentially become a Flying Start volunteer in the future.”

The Stars In Their Lives award was introduced earlier this year as part of the Welsh Government’s Flying Start programme, which aims to make a decisive difference to the lives of children under four in some of the most disadvantaged communities by offering free quality childcare for 2-3 year olds, parenting support, an enhanced health visitor service and help for early language development.

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, said: “Congratulations to Doris for her well-deserved award. I am delighted our hard working Flying Start staff are being recognised for the invaluable help and support they provide to people right across Wales.

“Flying Start changes people’s lives and is one of my key priorities. I am committed to ensuring families living in some of our most disadvantaged communities are given support to ensure children have the best possible start in life.”

Doris is one of more than 2,000 Flying Start workers that work collaboratively to deliver these services across Wales, and will now go head-to-head with the three other regional winners from across Wales to be named the national ‘Stars in their Lives’ award winner at the Flying Start National Learning Event to be held in January 2015.

Children in Wales Policy Director Lynne Hill judged the Stars in Their Lives Award alongside Ann-Marie Gealy, Joint Acting Head of the School of Early Childhood at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Andrew Carter of the Welsh Government’s Children, Young People & Families Division.

Lynne said: “Scores of nominations were received - every one of which serves to showcase the fantastic work that is taking place all over Wales right at this very moment – that as a judging panel made for some very difficult decisions indeed.”

“The Stars in their Lives competition has highlighted just how much Flying Start workers go above and beyond to help young children in Mid Wales and it’s really important that we take this opportunity to recognise all those unsung heroes that work behind the scenes at Flying Start to deliver the services”.

Over the past year alone, over 31,000 children have benefitted from the flagship programme, which assists families with practical support to develop their children’s behaviour, social skills, learning and play.