“I’ve been thinking a lot about what a defining experience Gwallgofiaid was for me. I was pretty unhappy in secondary school and didn’t feel like Blaenau had anything to offer. I felt like I was just counting the days until I could leave. Gwallgofiaid was an escape from that.”

So says Kiki Rees-Stavros, who was a teenager when she had her first experience of Gwallgofiaid.

The non-profit youth organisation was originally set up to provide music workshops and rehearsal spaces for young people, but has since evolved to offer a much larger range of activities including street art and web design classes.

“It was a chance to hang out with like-minded people, and it seemed to open a little window into the outside world. I’m just really excited to have the opportunity to be a part of that experience for the next generation.”

Gwallgofiaid this year celebrates a decade since moving into Cellb in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The roots of the project go back to 2003 when it was launched in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

And Gwallgofiaid has come a long way since its early days operating out of an old school hall in the village.

It moved to the creative hub, Cellb in 2009 and now, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the move, some of those who were part of the early years of the group have come back to share their experience with the next generation.

Kiki is one of those to return.

Speaking to the Cambrian News about how it feels to pass on her experience to the next generation, she said: “The project gives people the chance to share and learn.

“Collectively we’ve got a pretty impressive list of achievements.

“Most of the old crew are working in the arts.

“We’ve got artists, actors, bloggers, DJs, directors, editors, events organisers, journalists, lecturers, musicians, producers, production managers, stage managers, tattooists and writers. Not bad for a bunch of kids from Blaenau!”

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow