A youth centre has won an award for an animated film created to mark the centenary anniversary of the Senghenydd mining disaster.
Members of Senghenydd Youth Drop in Centre (SYDIC) collected first prize in the Outstanding Contribution to Promoting Culture within Wales category of the Youth Excellence Wales awards in Llandudno on February 20.
Shadows of Senghenydd tells the story of a 14-year-old boy who started work at the village’s Universal Colliery on October 14 1913 – the day of the disaster that took the lives of 440 men and boys.
The four-minute film features poetry, music and animation created across six months during the school holidays last year.
More than 15 members of SYDIC, aged between 11 and 17, worked on the film and production was completed with the help of animators Gritty Realism Productions, based in Tredomen.
Matthew Thorne, Senior Youth and Family Officer at SYDIC, said: “We did everything in-house to use the talent of everyone who attends the centre and to win the award is a huge result.
“It’s great to have recognition and the young people couldn’t stop staring at the award afterwards.
“I think the young people recognised that many who lost their lives in the disaster were of a similar age to them – which added to their enthusiasm.”
Mr Thorne thanked Arriva Trains Wales for providing free transport to the awards ceremony.
Video: Shadows of Senghenydd