BBC Children in Need has awarded £8,000 in funding to a local Cardigan project as part of Curiosity – a brand new partnership with Wellcome that is providing opportunities for disadvantaged children to do science that is meaningful and fun.

Jig-So Children's Centre in the town will fund science activity sessions for children living in areas of deprivation in Ceredigion, which will strengthen key skills while enabling children to develop their confidence.

The funding will help provide the Little Discovery Club, which will introduce children up to four years old to topics such as bees, wildlife, plants and stars, helping to grown their understanding of the world around them. The club will be held twice a month during term time in Llechryd. The project will run initially for nine months.

In addition, the new grant will help provide the Curiosity Holiday Club for four-12-year-olds during school holidays. The club will help the children and young people understand what science offers outside the school environment with opportunities to get involved with hands on experiments.

Joyce Watson AM, who sits on the Welsh Assembly's cross-party committee on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) visited Jig-So to see the programme in action.

She said: “It was fascinating watching children of all ages learning through active play. They were clearly engrossed with the tasks and supported to learn. I think it’s a wonderful, stress free way for children to learn STEM.

“The lead staff member, Naima, alongside other Jig-So staff, really know how to inspire children to learn and participate.”

The grant will also enable Jig-So to pilot the 'Life of a Can', a community recycling project, delivered in North Pembrokeshire, which will engage children and young people with fun sessions which help their understanding about the importance of recycling.

Charlotte Jones, healthy families, resilient communities co-ordinator at Jig-So said: “Thanks to the new funding from BBC Children in Need, Jig-So Children's Centre will be able to provide local children and young people with engaging science-based activities which vary from workshops on the importance of recycling to providing pre-school clubs and school holiday clubs.

“They will introduce the children and young people to science-based activities whilst growing their skill sets and broaden their knowledge of the world around them.”

Simon Antrobus, chief executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “We’re really excited that we are able to award these new grants in partnership with Wellcome, which will encourage disadvantaged young people around the UK to embrace an exciting and creative approach to science.”