A community music project in South Wales is engaging residents in rediscovering and celebrating local heritage through songwriting. The initiative, called Cân y Cymoedd (When Valleys Sing), aims to connect people with the rich storytelling and folk music traditions of the region, particularly in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Neath Port Talbot.

The project, led by Wales’s national folk arts organisation Trac Cymru, involves workshops where musicians, historians, and volunteers collaborate with community members and schoolchildren to explore local history. Participants research stories at heritage sites and museums, then translate these narratives into original songs reflecting life in the area.

One story featured in the project is that of Isabel Thomas, a 14-year-old girl from the 1940s who left school early and lied about her age to work in a tin plate factory to support her family. This narrative resonated strongly with Liz Puleston-Jones, a Swansea resident involved in the initiative, who said the experience helped her form a personal connection with folk music’s communal storytelling role. She added that songwriting has become a positive creative outlet for her, replacing more passive activities such as "doomscrolling" and television.

The workshops have also fostered a renewed sense of cultural pride among participants. Jenny Pope, who took part in sessions in Port Talbot, described the area as “a real beacon of folk music,” highlighting the value of creating work that can be passed on to future generations.

At Llwyncelyn primary school in Porth, a Year 6 class has been learning “Ein Cân Fach Ni” (Our Little Song), composed the previous year with assistance from fiddler Aneirin Jones. The song references local landmarks—the mountains, mines, and chapels—as well as everyday sites like the recycling centre and playground. The children recently recorded a music video for the song at Rhondda Heritage Park, a former colliery, marking a practical integration of heritage and contemporary community life.

Trac Cymru plans to professionally record the original compositions created across the project, aiming to produce an album that will serve as an accessible resource and encourage ongoing engagement with cultural traditions. Project manager Antwn Owen-Hicks emphasized that the initiative seeks to keep folk traditions evolving by inviting people from all backgrounds, regardless of musical skill or language, to contribute their stories through songwriting. He noted that the “magic happens” when participants begin to see their origins "in a different light."

Overall, Cân y Cymoedd illustrates how cultural heritage projects can inspire community participation, education, and creativity, reinforcing the connection between place, history, and music in the Welsh valleys.