As part of our Literature for Health and Wellbeing project funded by Gwynedd Council, we organised a series of six workshops with author Anni Llŷn in Ysgol Hafod Lon, Penrhyndeudraeth. Nine young people and three staff members benefited from this exciting project which ran through November and December 2016.

The pupils worked with Anni, the current Bardd Plant Cymru (Children’s Poet Laureate) to write poetry all about ‘Me, myself and I’ which enabled them to explore their feelings and emotions, creating a series of very personal and honest poems.

Morfudd Hughes, Actor and Movement Practitioner, joined Anni for the project, both working on developing the young people’s skills through different art forms:

The experience of working with Anni, the pupils and the teaching assistants at Hafod Lon School in Penrhyndeudraeth was special. We explored ‘me myself and I’ as a theme. The young people who took part in the sessions were so enthusiastic in their attitude towards the workshops and very eager to take part in all activities.

I felt very honoured to be able to witness their humble responses, and their upmost care and respect for each other is something I’ll treasure fondly.

It was very valuable to receive feedback from the teacher, Carys Bird, at the end of the sessions. She mentioned how important these types of workshops were to the school as they brought out the best in all pupils.

– Morfudd Hughes, Actor and Movement Practitioner

To note the end of this writing project, we decided to throw a party at Tŷ Newydd to celebrate the young people’s achievements. After a walk towards the river, everyone was hungry and ready for the tea party. After munching on Tony’s delicious party food, we all went up to the library to wait for our special guest… Dewi Pws! The afternoon was filled with laughter as we listened to Dewi tell jokes, read poetry and play some songs on the banjo. We even joined in with the singing and had a go at playing some instruments. Before Dewi left, the pupils had a chance to read some of their poems and rhyming work out loud.

Here are some pictures of the project and from our party at Tŷ Newydd: