Ceredigion Youth Service launches new strategy
Ceredigion Youth Service invites young people, partners, and communities to help shape the future of youth work across the county.
As part of the Welsh Government’s statutory requirement for local authorities to produce a five-year youth work strategy (2027–2032), the Service is launching an engagement and consultation plan to ensure that young people’s voices are at the heart of the process.
Gethin Jones, Corporate Manager for Ceredigion Youth Service, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of youth services in Ceredigion. We want young people and partners to tell us what matters to them so that our strategy reflects real needs and aspirations.”
The new strategy will set out the county’s vision and priorities for youth work, ensuring inclusive, bilingual, and accessible provision, and working with partners to support young people’s personal, social, and educational development.
Councillor Alun Williams, Deputy Leader and Ceredigion Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing, added: “Youth work plays a vital role in supporting young people’s wellbeing, education, and life opportunities. By working together with communities and partners, we can ensure that Ceredigion’s youth services remain strong and focused on helping every young person reach their potential.”
How to get involved
Engagement will begin in January 2026 with activities across Ceredigion, including:
- Online survey for young people (aged 11–25)
- Partner engagement on the Youth Service
- Focus groups in schools and youth clubs
You can find full details regarding the Engagement here: Youth Services Strategy 2027-2032 – Ceredigion County Council
Your feedback will help understand what matters to young people, barriers to access, opportunities to co-design priorities and develop ideas for new activities and support.
The engagement process will run until March 2026. A draft strategy will be submitted to Welsh Government in September 2026, with the final plan launched during Youth Work Week in June 2026.
Take part in the survey: Ceredigion Youth Service | Ceredigion County Council
Email: ieuenctid@ceredigion.gov.uk
Follow the Youth Service on Instagram and Facebook. @ceredigionifanc
Ceredigion Youth Council chat with Elin Jones MS
On 15 December 2025, members of Ceredigion Youth Council visited Senedd Cymru in Cardiff, and met with Elin Jones MS to discuss key issues that are important to young people.
As part of Ceredigion Youth Council’s annual work programme, young people received an educational tour of the Senedd, and a chance to sit down with the Llywydd to present a series of questions focusing on a variety of local matters including transport, education, and politics.
Ceredigion Youth Council aims to build and maintain links between young people and both the Senedd and UK Parliament, via Ceredigion’s MS and MP, to ensure that the voice of Ceredigion’s young people is represented on matters that impact them.
Elin Jones MS said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Ceredigion Youth Council to the Senedd for a tour and discussion once again this year. It’s always great to meet young people who have an interest in politics and the world around them. The discussion was broad and mature – ranging from transport, to education, to the Welsh language and budgets.”
Follow the Youth Service on Instagram and Facebook. @ceredigionifanc
Ceredigion Youth Service Distributes Wellbeing Packs
Ceredigion Youth Service has prepared 108 Wellbeing Packs to bring comfort and joy to children and young people currently accessing support in the county.
Ceredigion Youth Service has prepared 108 Wellbeing Packs to bring comfort and joy to children and young people currently accessing support in the county.
This Christmas, young people across Ceredigion will receive a range of resources aimed at supporting positive mental health, wellbeing, and neurodiverse needs during the festive season. The initiative recognises that while Christmas can be a time of joy, it can also bring challenges for many young people. These thoughtfully curated packs provide practical tools, sensory items, and uplifting resources to help young people feel supported, included, and cared for.
What’s Inside the Wellbeing Packs?
- Mindfulness activities to encourage calm and focus
- Sensory-friendly items tailored for neurodiverse young people
- Positive affirmations to promote self-expression
By combining fun, relaxation, and emotional support, the packs aim to empower young people to manage stress, celebrate their individuality, and embrace the holiday season with confidence. The Youth Service is made up of multi-disciplined teams, with the overall aim of providing child and youth-led approaches to enable children and young people to be empowered, to achieve, to develop personally, emotionally, socially and be the best that they can be.
Gwenllian Morris, Team Manager for Community Youth Work and Preventions who has been part of organising the packs explained: “We want ensure that every young person in Ceredigion feels supported, valued, and empowered during the Christmas season. We have listened carefully to young people that access our support in schools and communities in recent weeks to learn more about their needs and understand the challenges that they may be facing. These Wellbeing Packs are a resource to support their mental health and remind them that they are not alone and that there is other support available should they need it”.
To learn more about the youth service, go to Ceredigion Youth Service – Ceredigion County Council
Or email: youth@ceredigion.gov.uk
Follow the Youth Service on Instagram and Facebook. @ceredigionifanc
Youth Work Grants provide funding boost for young people’s priorities
Ceredigion Youth Service has announced the allocation of £50,000 in Youth Work Grants to voluntary youth organisations across the county, supporting projects that reflect the priorities identified by young people themselves.
The Ceredigion Youth Work Grants 2025 Framework, delivered with young people, empowers young people by funding services that address issues they care about most – ranging from mental health and wellbeing to Welsh language promotion and safe spaces.
Gethin Jones, Corporate Manager for Ceredigion Youth Service, said: “This funding is about listening to young people and acting on what matters to them. Through the Rhoi Dy Farn vote and youth forums, they’ve told us their priorities, and through working in collaboration, we are able to utilise grants to help voluntary organisations deliver projects that make a real difference in their communities.”
Leon Johnson, a member of the Inspire Group who was part or the process of considering applications as part of a consultation workshop, said: “I enjoyed hearing about all the different opportunities that organisations were offering and to be included in the process of deciding what provisions would be chosen to benefit young people and communities.”
The grants will support six organisations, including Area 43 (Depot), which will extend opening hours of its youth-led hub in Cardigan to provide weekend wellbeing and creative sessions, and Urdd Gobaith Cymru, which will expand inclusive Welsh-language youth provision. Other funded projects include rural youth clubs through CFfI Ceredigion Young Farmers, creative arts sessions by Celf Aeron Arts, outreach on healthy relationships by West Wales Domestic Abuse Service, and inclusive youth activities led by the Parish of Aberystwyth.
Councillor Alun Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing, said: “It’s inspiring to see young people shaping the future of youth work in Ceredigion. These initiatives reflect their voices and priorities, ensuring that services are inclusive, accessible, and impactful. This is a great example of partnership working to strengthen opportunities for all young people living in Ceredigion.”
The funded projects will address key themes identified by young people, including:
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Safe spaces and violence prevention
- Welsh language and cultural inclusion
- Cost-of-living support and life skills
- Digital safety and online resilience
The full list of allocations and project details is available on the Youth Service’s website: www.www.giceredigionys.co.uk/hafan/
Follow the Youth Service on Instagram and Facebook. @ceredigionifanc
Life Online Report Highlights Young People’s Digital Lives Across Dyfed-Powys
A new report commissioned by Ceredigion County Council has revealed how online life is shaping the experiences, wellbeing, and behaviours of young people across Dyfed-Powys.
The Life Online – Young People’s Voices report, delivered by ProMo Cymru and the Youth Work Leadership Lab captures the views of hundreds of young people and youth professionals. It explores how digital platforms like TikTok are influencing identity, relationships, and mental health.
Arielle Tye, Head of Digital for ProMo Cymru, said: “It’s great to see Ceredigion Youth Service deepening its understanding of young people’s online lives and using their voices to shape future services. If we want youth work to stay relevant and effective, we need to be active in digital spaces and design support where young people are”.
The findings show that while many young people enjoy positive experiences online, including learning new skills and connecting with others, a significant number also face challenges such as bullying, exposure to harmful content, and unwanted messages.
Councillor Alun Williams, Deputy Leader and Ceredigion Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing, said: “It is encouraging to see so many young people describing their time online as creative, fun, and beneficial. This report reminds us that the internet is where they can connect, learn, and grow. These positives are what we must build on. At the same time, we can’t ignore the very real harms some experience. This report gives us a balanced understanding, and a clear mandate to design services that amplify the good and address the risks.”
Professionals working with young people expressed concern about the impact of online life on behaviour and wellbeing and highlighted a need for better understanding of digital platforms and trends. The project was commissioned as part of the Dyfed-Powys Serious Violence and Organised Crime Partnership, under the Serious Violence Duty. It will inform future service design and early intervention work led by Ceredigion Youth Service.
Gethin Jones, Corporate Manager for Ceredigion Youth Service, said: “The Life Online report gives us a good picture of how young people experience the digital world in our region, both the positives and the challenges. We are very grateful to the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner for funding this important work and we are now building on it through a holistic, youth work–led approach to prevention. We are eager to continue this work to embed media literacy, to provide mentoring for practitioners on safe social media use and establish a youth-led advisory group to help shape future digital wellbeing initiatives.”
The full report is available at: Life Online – Young People’s Voices – ProMo Cymru
To learn more about Ceredigion Youth Service, please visit: Ceredigion Youth Service
Follow the Youth Service on Instagram and Facebook. @ceredigionifanc
Ceredigion Youth Bursary 2025 awarded
A young person from Ceredigion has benefitted from a cash bursary generously provided once again this year by West Wales Holiday Cottages. Ffion Marston, aged 20, was awarded the bursary to support her to reach a personal goal of developing a new mobile beauty business.
The Ceredigion Youth Bursary is in its eighth year, with local business West Wales Holiday Cottages offering £1,500 for young people aged between 11 and 25 to help them with their future aspirations. Since its inception, 19 young people have been supported by the Ceredigion Youth Bursary. This year, a total of 36 applications were received, ranging from social enterprises to project ideas, community events and training requests.
The successful applicant was chosen by Ceredigion Youth Forum (Panel Dewis) who carefully discussed and decided on the winner over the summer holidays. By utilising a scoring matrix, they decided to award the bursary to one successful candidate, for their innovative idea and the potential impact on their life and communities in Ceredigion.
Gwion Bowen, Senior Children and Young People’s Participation Officer said, “We are very grateful to West Wales Holiday Cottages for allowing us this opportunity once again this year. Like ourselves, West Wales Holiday Cottages recognise the value of investing in our young people, so that they can be supported to reach their potential. It is a great opportunity to work collaboratively with a local business. It was brilliant to see the quality and quantity of the applications received. This opportunity is also a good experience for our Youth Forum members who did very well in making some difficult decisions.”
The successful applicant was invited to a presentation meeting at West Wales Holiday Cottages office, Aberporth on 16 September 2025 and was presented with their cheque and an opportunity for their achievements to be celebrated.
Lisa Stopher, Managing Director at West Wales Holiday Cottages said, “West Wales Holiday Cottages is privileged to sponsor the Ceredigion Youth Bursary. We are very proud to celebrate the talent, dedication, and hard work of the young people in our community and provide them with the support they need to achieve their dreams. The winners of the Bursary represent the very best of Ceredigion’s future, and their passion, resilience, and commitment is truly inspiring.”
Councillor Wyn Thomas, Ceredigion Cabinet Member for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills, added: “Congratulations to all the young people who submitted strong applications for this bursary. It was a pleasure to see the exciting aspirations and innovation of our young people and I’m glad they can be recognised with this fantastic bursary. Good luck to Ffion in the future.”
More information about next year’s bursary will be available in 2026.
Follow the Youth Service on Instagram and Facebook. @ceredigionifanc
Young People partner up with Arad Goch
Young People partner up with Arad Goch to launch powerful short film raising awareness of grief & bereavement
This year, National Grief Awareness Day was observed on the 30 August 2025, and as a fitting acknowledgement of grief and bereavement, and to those experiencing loss, a short film created by young people was officially launched on 29 August 2025 in Arad Goch, Aberystwyth.
It is estimated that 127 children and young people are bereaved of a parent every single day in the UK, with 78% of 11-16 year olds saying they have been bereaved of a close relative or friend, according to one survey held by Winston’s Wish Bereavement Charity.
The idea to create the short film, which has been in production for 12 months, came from young people at the Aberystwyth Community Ambassadors Group, who decided they wanted to co-produce a creative piece, that would raise awareness and develop understanding of what it means to face grief and bereavement as a young person, and to highlight the support that is available locally.
Members of Aberystwyth Community Ambassadors initially applied for a Youth Led Grant, that was generously awarded to fund the project by Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations (CAVO). With a history of excellent partnership work, Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch was approached and took on the challenge of leading the youth-led production. Contribution by the bereavement charity, Sandy Bear was integral to the project, with Sandy Bear Youth Ambassadors kindly sharing their stories and experiences, shaping some of the storylines. Also featuring in the film is the real-life experiences of a young person, Molly Grainger who established a successful online blog to support others following her own journey of grief and loss. Taking a leading role as young actors in the film, were pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig’s drama department, with the launch evening also hosted by two lead actors, Nel Dafis and Megan Griffiths.
Young people worked with Arad Goch, under the guidance of film director, Carwyn Blayney, to create a storyline and script, and filmed scenes in and around Aberystwyth, before editing the footage and preparing voice over, to create a short film, titled ‘Growing with Grief’.
Tiffany Davies, Ceredigion Youth Support Worker said: “The young people worked incredibly hard to produce a powerful short film, from start to finish. Their creation illustrated real-life experiences of young people who have faced losing a loved one. The film aims to show that everyone experiences grief differently, and that there is support available out there. Partner organisation, Sandy Bear being one local organisation that supports children and young people through difficult times of loss. The project has been an excellent example of co-production and partnership work, and the young people involved especially, should be very proud of their achievement. We’d like to express our thanks to all who made it possible; Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch, Sandy Bear, Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig, CAVO and the young people.”
Ffion Wyn Bowen, Artistic Director at Arad Goch added: “Working together with the County Council on a project that put young people at the heart of the work was a tremendous privilege for us as a company. Young people sharing their experiences and ideas, discussing, growing in confidence and developing their skills to create ‘Growing with Grief’, a short film that will offer help and support to young people when facing loss, grief, and bereavement. Special thanks also go to the Sandy Bear charity for their invaluable expert contribution to the scheme, and specifically to their young ambassadors for their comments and courage.”
Molly Grainger, Project Volunteer said: “I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have been part of the ‘Growing with Grief’ short film. The whole process with so insightful, and the final piece is deeply impactful. I’m proud to know it will be a meaningful resource for young people in Ceredigion and beyond.”
The short film is available to watch on Vimeo and is intended to be used as an educational resources in schools and other settings, to help others facing grief and bereavement.
To learn more about the support available to bereaved children and young people in Ceredigion through Sandy Bear’s Bereavement Charity, visit Sandy Bear.
Follow the Youth Service on Instagram and Facebook. @ceredigionifanc
For more information about the work of Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch, visit their website: Arad Goch