09 May 2013

S4C's children's programme Dwylo'r Enfys has been nominated for a prestigious Rockie Award at the 2013 Banff World Media Festival.

Dwylo'r Enfys (Rainbow Hands) has been nominated in the Children Programmes (2+) Non-fiction category.

The Banff World Media Awards – affectionately known as the Rockies – is an internationally-recognized awards program celebrating the very best in international television and digital media production.

Each week on Dwylo'r Enfys which started in December 2012, presenters Heulwen and Cawod visit young children with special needs across Wales. The presenters meet the children in familiar surroundings, such as the local park or swimming pool.

As well as getting to know the children, the presenters also teach them and the young audience at home to sign using Makaton. Makaton is a language programme which uses speech, signs and symbol to encourage communication and it is a system which is used by over 100,000 children and adults world-wide.

The second series of Dwylo'r Enfys is currently being filmed and there are plans in place to create apps for children with special needs to coincide with the series. The Welsh Government's education department will also be funding learning materials which will enable teachers to teach Makaton through the medium of Welsh.

In the nominated programme Heulwen and Cawod travel from their colourful home at the end of the rainbow to visit Guto. Guto lives on the Llŷn Peninsula and loves to help his Grandfather on the farm.

Sioned Wyn Roberts, Commissioner for Children's Programmes on S4C said:

"It's fantastic news that the popular series, Dwylo'r Enfys has been nominated in the Banff World Festival. Many congratulations to the producer, Nia Ceidiog, the production crew and especially to all the children who have starred in the series.

"It's been such a delight to see the series develop from the idea sent to S4C by Ruth Thomas from Bontnewydd, near Caernarfon about a year ago. Ruth brought to our attention the fact that there wasn't a system in place which allowed her to sign with her daughter, Enfys, through the medium of Welsh. As the format for Dwylo'r Enfys developed so did the Welsh-medium Makaton.

"Programme like this are a great contribution to education by S4C, but more than that it's been a pleasure to see so many families and children enjoying Dwylo'r Enfys and learning a new way of communicating."

Children can watch the first series of Dwylo’r Enfys again on S4C’s children’s service website, Cyw – cyw.s4c.co.uk. The second series of Dwylo’r Enfys will start on S4C this summer.

The category winners will be awarded at a special presentation at the 2013 Banff World Media Festival on Sunday 9 June which will also be live-streamed on banffmediafestival.com.