THE YOUTH WORK EXCELLENCE AWARDS is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding youth work projects, youth workers and those involved in youth work across Wales including volunteers, managers and community partners.

Youth work provides and facilitates an environment within which young people can relax, have fun, and feel secure, supported and valued. Through non-formal and informal educational opportunities and experiences, youth work approaches challenge young people to enhance their life chances.

In 2019, Ceredigion Youth Service were successful in having two projects and one volunteer shortlisted with two winning their respective categories. This year, Youth Worker Rebecca Williams has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Youth Worker category.

Team Manager for Community Youth Work and Prevention, Gwen Evans said: “We decided as a service to nominate Rebecca because we recognised the outstanding efforts and commitment that she has shown throughout the pandemic and continues to have an exceptional impact on the lives of young people. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, Rebecca has adapted her work to be both digital and in-person focussed depending on the needs of young people, ensuring that young people do not feel isolated and are included in online activities, phone calls and door step visits which have recently increased to wellbeing walks and structured activity groups.”

In addition to this, Ceredigion Young Farmers Club have also been shortlisted for the award ‘Demonstrating excellence at a local level in Partnership Planning and delivery’ for the collaborative approach that they’ve shown throughout the pandemic.

Councillor Catrin Miles is the Cabinet member responsible for Schools, Lifelong Learning & Skills, Support and Intervention. She said: “Young Farmers Clubs across Ceredigion have been supporting their local rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. From delivering essential groceries and collecting prescriptions to walking dogs and checking in on the most vulnerable, YFC members, young people, have stepped up and rallied around their communities. We feel that the response of Ceredigion YFC during the pandemic is an excellent example of how the firm foundations of good quality Youth Work has made a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable people and communities during an incredibly challenging year.”

Elen James, Corporate Lead Officer for Porth Cymorth Cynnar said: “It is fantastic for the service to have these recognitions for the hard work and resilience that has been shown throughout this period. It’s a testament to them as individuals and the teamwork that has been shown for the benefit of young people and their communities. We have also recently been awarded with additional Youth Support Grant funding to develop Welsh language activities as well as developing the work around early emotional and mental health support for young people. This will enable us to continue to work closely and effectively with a wide range of voluntary and third sector partners to develop opportunities for children, young people and their families.”

All nominations will be assessed by a panel of judges made up of young people and representatives from the youth work sector in Wales. The Award Ceremony will take place virtually on 9 December where all finalists will be announced.

For more information about the work of Porth Cymorth Cynnar and the Support and Prevention Service, visit their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram page at @GICeredigionYS. You can also visit their website at www.giceredigionys.co.uk or email porthcymorthcynnar@ceredigion.gov.uk.

CEREDIGION Youth Council elected Poppy Evans as the County’s new Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) in July, and she will represent Ceredigion in the UK Youth Parliament in 2021-2022.

Poppy Evans, a Year 13 pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron, was elected by members of Ceredigion Youth Council to take over from the current MYP, Huw Jones, also a former pupil of Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron and an active member of the YFC in Ceredigion, whose term in office as MYP has come to an end.

Huw Jones who represented Ceredigion’s young people during his last term as MYP has recently handed over the reins to Poppy. During Huw’s time in office, he worked tirelessly to campaign and champion the voices of Ceredigion’s young people, both locally and in the House of Commons in November 2019.

Poppy has already started her new role as MYP, and will participate in various activities both nationally, alongside Children in Wales, and locally as part of the Ceredigion Youth Council. Due to the pandemic, the programme of work for the UK’s MYPs remains a little different, and many of the activities will be held virtually once again this year.

Councillor Catrin Miles, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Support and Intervention, said: “It’s vitally important that young people are given a platform to express their voices and have an opportunity to take part in the political process. The UK Youth Parliament is an opportunity for Westminster to hear young people raising the issues they care about most. We are very proud of Poppy as Ceredigion’s new MYP, and we wish her the best of luck for the forthcoming year.”

To follow the youth service’s latest developments in Ceredigion, visit their website: https://www.giceredigionys.co.uk/ or follow Ceredigion Youth Service on social media.

This year’s T Llew Jones Day will see the launch of a new production that will bring the popular author’s books to life for school children throughout Wales.

The show which was scripted by Anni Llŷn was commissioned by the theatre company Mewn Cymeriad (In Character) , in partnership with the Welsh Books Council and Ceredigion County Council.

The show is in the form of a monologue with a young actress from the Cardigan area playing the role of Cati Wyllt, an imaginary character created from the actress’ obsession with the author T. Llew Jones. Nia James has just graduated with an MA in Theatre from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Cardiff and is a former member of the CICA performing youth company in Cardigan.

Mewn Cymeriad is a theatre company that stages productions on Welsh historical characters and stories.

Eleri Twynog, Director of Mewn Cymeriad, said: “As a Cardi, and one who loved T Llew’s novels, it’s such a pleasure to be able to present a new show based on the life and work of T Llew Jones. The show is exciting and adventurous, just like the novels, with opportunities for children to use their imagination and be brave pirates or heroes.”

Helen Jones, Head of the Children’s Books and Reading Promotion Department at the Welsh Books Council, said: “Celebrating T Llew Jones Day is one of the most important events in our calendar. T Llew is still a hero to Welsh readers, and the work of the author and teacher still influences generations of poets and writers. It is a great pleasure to see the wonderful adventure stories and unforgettable characters rise from the pages and reach new audiences in a creative and energetic way. We look forward to seeing a new generation of enthusiastic readers of T Llew Jones’ work. ”

Councillor Catherine Hughes, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, said: “We are looking forward to seeing the Mewn Cymeriad show come to life which will inspire young people in Ceredigion and the whole of Wales. We are proud to support this project which launces on T Llew Jones Day.”

Non Davies, Corporate Manager for Culture, Ceredigion County Council, said: “The County Council’s Culture Department is delighted to be able to support this exciting project which celebrates the work of one of Ceredigion and indeed the nation’s most well known and well loved authors. Mewn Cymeriad’s unique and creative approach to presenting the author’s work will undoubtedly inspire our young people to discover the literary treasures of T Llew Jones. What better way to celebrate T Llew Jones Day than by launching a production that will no doubt inspire a new generation of writers.”

The show will form an important part of the resources available to schools in Ceredigion to celebrate T Llew Jones Day. A dedicated website created by the county’s Schools Service staff includes a wide range of learning activities and resources based on the life and work of T Llew Jones. These together with the Mewn Cymeriad production will ensure that T Llew Jones and his books live on in the imagination of our pupils for generations to come.

 This touring production will be available to tour schools in Wales from 11 October onwards.

For further details contact Eleri Twynog, Mewn Cymeriad: eleri8@icloud.com