CHILDREN and teenagers from Pen Llyn now have a safe area to interact and socialise after school with computers, thanks to a Menter Llyn project based in Nefyn.

Siop Siarad, located within a redesigned shop that’s now an info­rmation centre called Crwydro, is situated on the high street.

The youth project was given a cash boost from Menter Llyn, which is looking to upgrade some of Llyn’s coastal paths between Nefyn and Morfa Nefyn and reopen­ a historical sailors’ path between Abersoch, Llanbedrog and Nefyn.

Cllr Gruffydd Williams is one of the people behind the project.

He said: “This is all about the young people of Nefyn. Offering them the opportunity to gather in a safe and secure environment aft­er school, interact with each other whilst using IT equipment available at Siop Siarad for them to play or carry out their homework.

“In this day and age, technology has become a part of our daily lives, but the reality is, that some disadvantaged families do not have the means to buy or pay for the services needed to access broadband and WiFi.

“Siop Siarad is already proving its worth, with the children popping in after school for a few hours and benefitting from this new community venture.”

Siop Siarad is situated in Crwydro’s information centre offering walkers a central information point for accessing routes and coastal paths at Pen Llyn.

Eleven-year-old Steffan Jones, who goes to Ysgol Gynradd Nefyn­, is one of Siop Siarad’s regular visitors regularly visits.

His father, Mark, said: “The children are really enjoying being given some free time together after school.

“Living in a rural area, we have to travel to access many leisure activities in towns such as Pwllheli.

“Having Siop Siarad here in the heart of the village is fabulous for the kids.”

Menter Llyn project manager Seimon Jones added: “Even in the very first few months since we opened, we already see that there is a need to invest further in more IT equipment for the youngsters.

“The project is about offering youngsters the opportunity of social­ising and accessing IT equipment within a local community environment.”

Further plans are in place to intro­duce a Jobs Club at Crwydro for local people looking for support and assistance in seeking employ­ment.