Y Gweithdy Cerdd
SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS
£10 per person - 1 Hour Session (Ages 11+)
Groups of 2 - 5 students
Sessions will be held at Penarth Methodist Church
The workshop is booking only, please contact via email or Whatsapp to book in
Monday
5-6pm (Fully booked)
6-7pm
Wednesday
5-6pm (Fully booked)
6-7pm
Where it Started
As a Learning Support Assistant at Ysgol Gymraeg Pen y Garth, I wanted to be able to use my strengths and offer something that no other school in the country, to my knowledge offer. Having worked as a songwriter and producer for many years before starting in education I was positive that I could turn my idea of a songwriting workshop into a reality and something fun and creative for the students.
That idea became the Gweithdy Cerdd — a songwriting workshop that started as a small Friday afternoon session and quickly grew into something much bigger and more meaningful. Driven by a love for music and a passion for sharing it with these amazing pupils, the workshops kept growing and became an activity the year 5 and 6 students came to year-round.
Music has always been my outlet—a way to express myself, escape, and get through some of the hardest moments in my life. Being able to pass that idea on to the next generation wasn’t just exciting but a privilege.
Over the last two years, I’ve worked with 24 different groups and around 130 students. What started as a trial session turned into an annual celebration for the children, their families, and school community.
Now, I want to expand these workshops beyond the classroom and offer more!
What's Next
I’d love to take these workshops to the next level and turn them into something even bigger and more personal for my students. Each session is hands-on and collaborative. The students build songs from scratch, choosing every sound, beat, and melody themselves, while being guided through themes, structure, and lyrics. More importantly, the Gweithdy Cerdd offers a safe, supportive space where they can be creative, explore ideas and express themselves freely.
How the Workshops Work
Workshops are best suited to small groups of 2 to 5 friends, creating a relaxed, supportive space that isn’t too overwhelming. Smaller groups allow for easier collaboration, more sharing of ideas, and a great environment for building confidence.
Session length can vary depending on your needs—longer sessions mean more time for creativity, trying out different activities, developing ideas, and of course, recording some epic tracks!
I’m also working on a plan for one-to-one sessions—perfect for those who aren’t quite ready to join a group just yet but want to start building their confidence and work towards it at their own pace.
A Space For Everyone
One of the biggest things I’ve learned over the past two years of running these workshops is that you don’t have to be “music mad” to enjoy them. These sessions are just as much about emotional expression, personal wellbeing, and building friendships!
It’s a unique experience—one I genuinely believe isn’t available anywhere else in the UK. My vision is to grow this into something truly unique and special, one step at a time!
Where and When?
To get started, the workshops will be held at Penarth’s Methodist Church, providing a welcoming and creative space for students. The Gweithdy Cerdd will run on Saturdays, offering a fun, creative activity outside of school—a great way for kids to unwind after a busy week and start the weekend on a high. There will also be sessions during the school holidays.
As the project grows, I plan to introduce weekday after-school sessions too, giving families more flexibility and creating more opportunities for young people to get involved.
If you’re interested in taking part—or just want to find out more—I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to send me a WhatsApp message to chat about how it all works.
It’s still early days, so thank you for your patience and support as things get up and running.