CARING Kate Waters is a cool customer according to residents and colleagues at the care home where she works.

Kate’s winning smile and bubbly personality have made her a popular figure at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon where she works as a care practitioner.

She’s now been named as one of the winners of Pendine’s annual Smile Awards after treating residents and staff to ice cream during the summer heatwave.

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The award was announced on World Smile Day, a day dedicated to smiling and spreading random acts of kindness.

The idea of the day is to do a simple act of kindness for someone to make them smile.

Kate is one of 14 Smile award winners across Pendine Park – which has seven care homes in Caernarfon and Wrexham  - and shares the accolade with her Bryn Seiont Newydd colleagues Terri Lewis and Bethan Jones.

Bryn Seiont Newydd manager Sandra Evans said: "Kate always has a positive attitude and a smile on her face and makes the residents laugh.

"During the hot weather she brought in ice cream for the staff and residents which was lovely."

According to Kate, her nomination and winning the award came as a big surprise to her.

She said: "I knew nothing about it. All I did was bring in some ice cream during a few days of really hot weather and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

"When I found out I had been nominated for an award and had won it I was in total shock. It's the first time something like this has happened to me.

"I'm really happy to have won and I haven't stopped smiling.”

Kate, who lives in the Nantlle Valley, has been working at Bryn Seiont Newydd for five years after a varied career in retail outlets and at a school.

She added: "I love working here. I'm a carer and work in the lounges with the residents attending to their needs, making sure they are happy and I hope I always do that with a smile on my face.

"This award shows that effort is being recognised."

Terri Lewis is another dedicated member of the team at Bryn Seiont Newydd to be recognised in the Smile Awards this year.

She has been a care support worker at Bryn Seiont Newydd for the past 15 months and enjoys meeting the residents as she goes about her work.

"I meet a lot of the residents during my shifts and I always try to chat with them. I believe a smile face keeps the residents here at Bryn Seiont Newydd happy and content," she said.

It's the first time Terri, who lives in Caernarfon, has won an award and couldn't be more pleased.

"I couldn't believe I had been nominated nor that I had won," she said.

Her dedication even extends to the time when she isn't at work - during a spell of annual leave a few weeks ago, she missed the residents so much she popped in to see them.

"I like to sit down with and have a chat. They all have a story to tell," she said.

But the mum of twin boys admitted she might have more work on her hands in the coming months as she is due to become a gran for the first time next spring.

"I'm really looking forward to it," added Terri.

Mum-of-two Bethan Jones, from Penygroes, who works in the kitchens at Bryn Seiont Newydd, was on holiday on the Spanish island of Majorca when she found out she was a Smile Award winner.

Bethan said: "It was a text from a friend while I was on the beach at Magalluf. It was lovely to find out that my work brings a smile to the residents at Bryn Seiont Newydd.

"We hand over the meals to the carers who then take them to the residents but when they have a birthday we bake a special cake and will often meet them and their families when it is presented and that is always a happy, smiley occasion.

"It's a really happy workplace.”