It’s been a busy 12 months for the youngsters of Bedlinog & Trelewis.  Bedlinog Leisure Association received funding from The Communities First Music Trust Fund to hold a Stars In Their Eyes style fun competition, during March 2008, which opened the door for other projects.

Stars In Their Eyes has been running for 5 years and every year the performances get better and the crowds get bigger. 180 People packed the Workman’s Hall, with grandparents, parents, aunties and uncles - all there to see talented youngsters from all over the County Borough, with the youngest being just 6 years old.

The bumper crowd were treated to some fantastic performances including singing, dancing and even a bit of rock with a duet singing and playing an electric guitar.

There were no losers on the night because, unknown to the youngsters everyone who entered was given a special prize…. a ticket to go and watch Girls Aloud in Cardiff International Area in June. The children and young people who sang were also presented with an opportunity to go to a recording studio to record a CD, all of which accepted.

After Stars In Their Eyes, everyone was going Girls Aloud mad and the concert did not disappoint. This was the bands second show in Cardiff due to the high demand for tickets and again was a complete sell out.  As the band performed their hits, looking around it was great seeing the youngsters clapping, screaming and dancing.

During the Summer holidays the children and young people attended  “music for films” workshops once a week for 6 weeks.. They produced some high quality songs all written and performed by themselves which were recorded to CD.

In November, the group spent to full 2 days in the recording studio. While some of the children were recording, others practiced in another room that was fully equipt. .  Everybody worked together, offering to do backing vocals for one another and supporting each other in practice. The studio technicians were really helpful and they even let us play drums, which was a bit noisy but great fun! We also made a short video showing  one of group songs which everybody had a copy of to take home and show their families and friends.

When we were at the recording studio we were told of a choir for young people which had started in Merthyr by the 3G’s Development Trust, and its thanks to their  fantastic support that children and young people from Bedlinog and Trelewis  have now joined the choir practicing once a week in Bedlinog Resource Centre, and travelling to Merthyr once a month to practice with the main choir.  It doesn’t stop there either, the group have also been asked to perform in The Magic Kingdom at Disneyland in Paris, as part of Disney’s Welsh Festival, celebrating St David’s Day!  In order to take up this fantastic opportunity the children and young people have worked hard in raising funds for the Trip that will run this March.  They have organised raffles, sang and bag packed at local supermarkets and also went Christmas Carolling around the village of Bedlinog just a few nights before Christmas!  A big thanks must also go out to many other sponsors including the Biffa fund, Communities First Partnership Board and to Bedlinog Community Council who were the main sponsor of this trip.

Out of the 11 in the Choir from Bedlinog & Trelewis 9 performed in Stars In Their Eyes which was just a bit of fun and although the ‘fun factor’ is still the main ingredient, what an incredible year they’ve had. Writing and producing songs onto CD, performing in a music DVD and singing in The Magic Kingdom.
…..I wonder what they’ll be doing this time next year?

For more information on how children and young people from Bedlinog and Trelewis can become involved in such projects, please contact Paddy McNally at Communities First, Bedlinog and Trelewis Resource Centre on 01443 710821 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it