Bardd Plant Cymru enlists Friends to reach schools across Wales

Published Mon 17 Mar 2025 - By Literature Wales

We’re pleased to announce a brand new scheme called Ffrindiau Bardd Plant Cymru (Friends of Bardd Plant Cymru). In March In March 2025, Nia Morais, the current Bardd Plant Cymru, will be joined by five popular writers to run creative writing workshops across the country.

Along with Nia herself, Mari Lovgreen, Gwennan Evans, Natalie Jones, Sioned Erin Hughes and Rebecca Wilson will run workshops filled with the joy of words in 10 counties across Wales, boosting children’s literacy skills through creativity. Each author has chosen one of their local bookshops to collaborate with on this project, and the authors will leave a donation of a pack of their books to each of the schools so they can continue the reading and creativity.

There have been constant stories in the news recently about the crisis in children’s literacy standards following the Covid-19 pandemic. Children’s reading standards through the medium of Welsh are particularly concerning, and a clear link between children receiving free school meals and low reading standards, compared to their peers. Literature Wales is grateful to the Welsh Government’s Education, Culture and Welsh Language Group for the additional sponsorship of the Bardd Plant Cymru project to undertake this important project which addresses this challenge.

Leusa Llewelyn, Artistic Director of Literature Wales said, “Literature Wales is looking forward to seeing how the six writers get on with their travells around Wales. A writer can take a sprinkling of the magic of their books with them into a classroom, and over the month around 900 pupils will benefit from this magic! It is our hope that the workshops will demolish the wall between the author and their readers, encouraging children to foster a love of writing and reading. We are very grateful to the Government for the additional sponsorship to make this project a reality, thus allowing us to promote literacy through creativity.”

Bardd Plant Cymru is a national role which aims to inspire and ignite the imagination of children across Wales through workshops and various poetry projects. This is the first time since its inception in 2000 that the Children’s Poet has brought together a group of friends to spread the joy and magic of the project.

Schools benefitting from the additional workshops include Ysgol Dyffryn Cledlyn, Ysgol Carreg Hirfaen, Ysgol Bro Pedr, Ysgol y Dderi, Ysgol Penygroes, Ysgol Pen y Pîl, Ysgol Nefyn, Ysgol Llanbedrog, Ysgol Pentreuchaf, Ysgol Abererch, Ysgol Llanllyfni, Ysgol Garndolbenmaen, Ysgol Llandygai, Ysgol Rhiwlas, Ysgol Maesincla, Ysol Bro Lleu, Ysgol Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Ysgol Esceifiog, Ysgol Cwm Banwy, Ysgol Pontrobert, Ysgol Glantwymyn, Ysgol Gynradd Carno, Ysgol Pennant, Ysgol Ffridd y Llyn, Ysgol Santes Tudful, Ysgol Rhyd y Grug, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Awel Taf, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Ynyswen, Ysgol Calon y Cymoedd, Ysgol y Ferch o’r Sgêr, Ysgol Maenclochog, Ysgol Gymunedol Brynconin, Ysgol Griffith Jones, Ysgol Bancyfelin, Ysgol Pontiets and Ysgol Cefneithin.