A NEWPORT primary school has been crowned the nation's first Digital Heroes Champions.

St Julian’s Primary School recently clinched the award which recognises and celebrates the volunteering achievements of young people in Wales.

Digital Communities Wales is a Welsh Government-funded project which brings young and old people together to learn digital skills through the Digital Heroes initiative.

Schools up and down the country were invited to produce a two-minute video to demonstrate how they have put their newly acquired digital skills into practice.

And following a public vote, St Julian’s Primary School received 31 per cent and won the award.

Dan Frost, a teacher at St Julian’s Primary School, said: “We are so proud to have won the Digital Heroes competition. Our Digital Heroes love to teach the residents of Glyn Anwen new digital skills and it’s fantastic that they have been recognised for their hard work.

"We would like to thank everyone who voted for us and would encourage all schools to get involved with the Digital Heroes initiative."

Matthew Bevan, the digital inclusion advisor at the Wales Co-operative Centre, said: “I would like to congratulate our winners St Julian’s Primary School and all the schools that have taken part in this year’s competition. Young people tend to get a lot of negative press, so it’s nice to be in a position to celebrate the positive and incredible work they have been doing within their communities through digital volunteering. By harnessing their digital skills to help older people get online, they are helping to change the lives of individuals in their community.

"As a nation we should be incredibly proud of their achievements and long may it continue.”

And Julie James, minister for housing and local government for the Welsh Government, added: “Our Digital Heroes initiative has helped to tackle loneliness and isolation through young people volunteering to spend time with older people and showing them the benefits of being online.

"This enables young people to engage with older people in their communities, helping to develop their interpersonal skills which improves future employment prospects and creates opportunities to become more active in their local communities."