Hundreds of young people from an area facing social and economic challenges are to embark on a journey of scientific discovery into the past.
The Curiosity Club, a new initiative from the Caerau And Ely Rediscovering (CAER) Heritage Project, has been made possible thanks to £120,000 funding from Children in Need. More than 300 youngsters aged 10 to 18 will be given the chance to participate in weekly science-based activities that will shine a light on the place where they live.
The CAER Project is a collaborative project between community development organisation ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely, Cardiff University, and local schools and residents. The project is based around one of Cardiff's most important, but little-known, archaeological sites, Caerau Iron Age hillfort.
Starting from January, Curiosity Club will hold two regular extra-curricular activities a week at Cardiff West Community High School. Later in the year, sessions will move to the Hidden Hillfort Heritage Centre, which is currently being built. Saturday sessions will be offered, as well as day-long events during the school holidays.
Two dedicated youth workers will deliver the project, which takes place over three years.
CAER Heritage Project Co-director Dr Oliver Davis, based in Cardiff University's School of History, Archaeology and Religion, said: "We are hugely excited about the Curiosity Project, which will allow young people to explore what is meant by scientific research and give them real-life examples of the impact it can have."
