Energy in Yr Egin

Canolfan S4C Yr Egin in Carmarthen has recently launched a new project called ‘Egni’ (energy) which collaborates with South West Wales schools.

The ‘Egni’ project has been funded by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol as part of the widening access grant, where creative practitioners will get the opportunity to work with some of South West Wales’s primary and secondary school pupils. The aim of the project is to provide Welsh medium digital creative experiences so that pupils can see the Welsh language at work in virtual sessions. These sessions will be led by professional artists, who will try to show pupils that the professional use of Welsh is something which is considered a natural process in contemporary Wales. The project will also underline the advantages and opportunities to be found in the world of work for those who are bilingual in Welsh and English.

The creative practitioners who have been appointed for this project are Elidir Glyn, Huw Aaron, Sioned Roberts, Llinos Mair, Marc Griffiths and Osian Evans. These practitioners are already part of the Egin creative community, and are all looking forward to the challenge.

Radio presenter and ‘Stiwdiobox’ company owner Marc Griffiths said: “I am very much looking forward to collaborating with Yr Egin and a variety of primary and secondary schools. During these sessions, Stiwdiobox will be showing digital methods of recording and voicing, raising the confidence of students when using voice. These sessions will be of great benefit to children and young people, and expand their skills for the future.”

The project will work with the following primary schools: Y Ddwylan, Brynaman, Parcyrhun, Aberporth, Y Felin, Bro Banw, Dewi Sant, Trimsaran and Ffwrnes, which will receive a day of online creative activities including digital creations, a short radio programme and an animated character.

Osian Evans from the Moilin company is also looking forward to working on the project: “This is a special opportunity as a tenant in Yr Egin to collaborate with other tenants such as Stiwdiobox to create a digital project which will develop the skills of Carmarthenshire pupils. We are extremely excited to be part of this project and hope that the pupils will enjoy it, and learn.”

In addition, the secondary schools at Y Strade, Aberteifi and Dyffryn Aman will take part, where they will participate in 9 sessions overall. The high point of the journey for the secondary students will be creating an animated film, various radio programmes, podcasts and resources for social media platforms.

According to one of the creative practitioners, Elidir Glyn: “Writing is an extremely powerful thing – and writing is fantasy, which gives you the opportunity to create entire worlds which are even more powerful. This month, three new worlds will be born, in Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi, Ysgol Uwchradd Dyffryn Aman, and Ysgol y Strade. And with them, hopefully, dozens of new authors.”

The Atebol company said: “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Yr Egin on this special project. Nurturing creative skills and promoting their ability to create is central to the development of every child.”

Llinos Jones, Project Liaison Officer for Canolfan S4C Yr Egin noted: “After a long wait, we are extremely excited to be able to collaborate with local primary and secondary schools to offer them bustling, creative, digital opportunities. Our hope is that the pupils and teachers will enjoy developing new skills and learn the value of the Welsh language in a digital world.  We hope that the ‘EGNI’ project will plant an introductory seed for further collaboration with local schools and the creative practitioners in the near future, and when rules allow it, we are looking forward to welcoming the pupils through the doors of Yr Egin once again.”

Rhian Jones, Academic Manager with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, added: “The Coleg Cymraeg is very proud to support the “Egni” scheme from our Widening Access Fund. The objective of the fund is to support innovative and creative ventures which widen the access of individuals to Welsh medium provision in universities. The “Egni” scheme is very timely and relevant, as there is an emphasis on developing digital and technical skills. The scheme also pays due attention to developing the pupils’ literacy skills and gives them access to professional artists, who strengthen the place and status of Welsh in contemporary Wales. We look forward to celebrating the pupils’ achievements and to using this scheme as an example of good practice in the future”.

Further Information

Lowri Thomas, Principal Communications and PR Officer 

07449 998476 / lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk