Pontypridd students have won a top film award for a documentary based on Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s £10.5million regeneration package for the town centre.

A group of students at Pontypridd High School are creating a documentary over the next two years to capture the major changes that will take place to the town centre.

This week they scooped the top prize in the Regeneration Category of the Media4Schools Award Ceremony in Cineworld, Cardiff.

The Roving Reporters Team, including Kyra Taylor,  Shannon Thomas,  Zoe Brooks, Hannah Davies and Lowri Wilkshire have been working closely with their Council and their contractors, Costain, to complete the three-part documentary film based on the major transformation of Pontypridd’s shopping thoroughfare.

The Team was established as part of the Council’s pioneering Building the Future Together project, which is part financed by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government and aims improve the life chances and career opportunities of many thousands of young people in the County Borough.

In recognition of their achievements so far, the Pontypridd students were presented with £100 worth of vouchers for Jessop camera store to buy further equipment for their project.

The pupils have worked with Media4Schools, an education-based organisation that offers people of all ages and from all backgrounds the opportunity to learn about digital media. They were chosen to take part in the scheme due to their involvement in Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s pioneering Building the Future Together.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Safer Communities Cllr Paul Cannon said: “The outstanding efforts of Pontypridd High School’s Roving Reporters has been exemplary and they are fully deserving of this award in recognition of the first phase of the documentary that will capture the major changes taking place in the town centre.

“Pontypridd’s Regeneration Scheme allows so many varied opportunity to individuals in developing their skills and career potential. The documentary film-making by Media4Schools is typical of this as it encourages young people to improve their opportunities for better career choices in the future.

“Having worked closely with Media4Schools on the recent Church Village Bypass project, we know the standard of the work will be excellent and will become a lasting-reminder of the positive impact we’re about to make on the future of Pontypridd town centre.”

The first episode of the documentary is available for all to view on the regeneration projects website www.loveponty.com

The £10.5M Pontypridd Town Centre Regeneration project is taking place following the Council securing financial support from the Welsh Government through the European Regional Development Fund and Targeted Match Funding, alongside Council and private sector contributions.