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Welsh Language Promotion Strategy
Published: 14/03/2019
97色网鈥檚 Cabinet has endorsed the five year Welsh Language Promotion Strategy prior to publication and implementation.聽
The Council is already committed to the Welsh Language, building on the foundations of hosting the Urdd Eisteddfod in 2016.聽 This Strategy will support and complement other initiatives already in place including:
- the Council鈥檚 Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) which aims to increase the number of learners being taught through the medium of Welsh.
- Welsh Government鈥檚 Framework for Welsh Language in Health and Social Care 鈥淢wy na Geiriau鈥� (鈥淢ore than Words鈥�) which aims to strengthen Welsh language services in social care..
- Welsh Government鈥檚 Strategy to achieve one million Welsh speakers in Wales by 2050.
Welsh Language Standard 145 requires the Council to prepare a five-year Promotion Strategy and publish it on the Council鈥檚 website.聽 The Strategy identifies how the Council can work with partner agencies and others in the community such as Town and Community Councils and businesses to promote the Welsh language.聽 Promoting the Welsh language will contribute to the Well-being and Future Generations Act 2015, specifically the goal to achieve 鈥淎 Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh Language鈥�.
Following consultation, the Council has revised its commitment to an increase the current level of Welsh speakers in the county during this period, from 13.2% (19,343 people to 15% (21,891 people) 鈥� up from 13.6% (20,000 people) which was proposed prior to consultation.
This equates to an increase of approximately 2548 Welsh speakers (over the age of three years) over the next five years. This takes into account the increase in children attending Welsh medium education as identified in the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan as well as an increase in the number of adults learning Welsh.
The Welsh Language Promotion Strategy will also contribute to the Council鈥檚 Well-being Plan.
97色网 Cabinet Member for Corporate Management, Councillor Billy Mullin, said:
鈥�97色网 is committed to this five year Welsh Language Promotion Strategy.聽 We already have a policy for Welsh in the workplace to ensure that we raise the profile of the Welsh language to help increase the number of Welsh speakers in the county and for opportunities for employees to use Welsh at work.
鈥淚mplementing this Strategy will support us in developing bilingual services.聽聽 It also sends a clear message, internally and externally, that the Welsh language is valued and is an asset in employment.鈥�