Strengthening the Welsh language in our communities

The role of Welsh language promotion strategies needs to be strengthened as a way of planning and co-ordinating local efforts to increase the use of the Welsh language and ensure that it thrives in communities across Wales. That will be one of the main messages at a conference in Cardiff today (Thursday, 24 September).

The conference is to be held jointly between the Welsh Language Commissioner and Mentrau Iaith Cymru with the aim of looking at the impact of the strategies to date, and how they can be strengthened in the future. The Welsh Government has already set out its commitment to review the promotion standards. Under those standards, local authorities and national parks are required to draw up and implement 5-year strategies for promoting the Welsh language.

The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Anna Brychan MS will address the conference and outline the next steps in that process.

According to Welsh Language Commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones, it is timely to discuss this matter,

“The promotion strategies offer a unique opportunity for key organisations to look beyond the provision of bilingual services and consider their wider role in making the Welsh language a living language in all aspects of community life. 

“In my most recent five-year report, I noted an opportunity to strengthen the framework underpinning these strategies. That reflects my view that the potential of the strategies as a community language planning tool has not yet been fully realised.

“But I strongly believe that these strategies offer an important opportunity to create practical change. There is no single simple solution to increasing the use of Welsh, but these strategies provide a basis for local organisations, communities and partners to work together to create further opportunities for people to use Welsh in their everyday lives.”

“Our aspiration for this conference is that together we can identify new ways to strengthen this work, use resources more effectively for the wellbeing and growth of communities, and create more opportunities for people to see, hear and use the Welsh language in our communities.”

Around 150 representatives of Welsh organisations will be present at the conference all of whom are working to improve Welsh language provision in their respective areas.

Myfanwy Jones, Director of Mentrau Iaith Cymru, believes it is an opportunity to share ideas and to develop further collaboration,

“The promotion strategies play a core role in our work as grassroots initiatives and offer a bespoke framework for community language planning. It is pleasing to note that practical collaboration is already in place between ourselves and local authorities across Wales in order to realise the potential of this work and I am keen for that to develop further.

“But it is timely for us to review the work that has been done and to identify a future pathway that will make the greatest difference for the benefit of the Welsh language. It is great to be able to work in partnership with the Welsh Language Commissioner to stage this conference and bring together so many organisations that share the same goal.”

The conference will also discuss the relationship between the language promotion strategies and the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans, emphasising the need to ensure that children and young people have meaningful opportunities to use the Welsh language outside the classroom.

One of those taking part in the conference will be Annwen Morgan, Independent Chair of Fforwm Iaith Ynys Môn (Anglesey Language Forum). Among the examples of what they have developed to promote the Welsh language is the creation and promotion of the Ogi Ogi app, which provides information and advice for new parents.More recently one of the Forum’s sub groups held an event with partners to promote the Welsh language to children and their families.

Annwen believes that the conference offers an important opportunity to share experiences,

“For us in Anglesey the strategy has been helpful in setting a clear direction for our work in promoting the language on the island. We are working closely with the local Menter Iaith to ensure that resources are used appropriately and make the biggest difference.

“This conference is a chance to identify what has succeeded, share our ideas and learn from others as we consider developing our plans for the future.”

The conference will take place today, Thursday, 24 September at Cardiff City Stadium.