A new pressure group was established today to campaign for the Welsh language. “Dyfodol i’r Iaith” (A Future for the Language) will be an independent, non-political organisation ensuring that the Welsh language is at the heart of civic and community life in Wales.

Dyfodol will use constitutional means to influence the substance and content of public policy and legislation in order to promote and nurture the success of the Wesh language. The organisation is committed to campaign solely by constitutional means and will not espouse any law breaking activities.

Dyfodol will lobby for the future of the Welsh language on the Assembly’s doorstep. It will conduct a dialogue with the Welsh Government, The Welsh Language Commissioner, political parties, public bodies, third sector organisations and private companies to ensure that the Welsh language is at the core of their policies and procedures.

“We must respond to the challenge of the new Wales where the Assembly has primary legislative powers. We need an organisation like Dyfodol to take advantage of the new opportunities available to legislate for the Welsh language, ” said Heini Gruffudd, from Swansea, a member of the organisation’s steering committee.

Dyfodol will focus on several areas of work including education, communities, economy, the media and language planning. Dyfodol will work with voluntary organisations, academic institutions and others to share ideas and develop exciting new policies in these fields.

Membership of Dyfodol is open to all who love the Welsh language and the intention is to employ professional staff to support the organisation’s work programme.

Those who have already committed their support to Dyfodol include the following:
Nick Bennett
Dr Simon Brooks
Angharad Dafis
Cynog Dafis
Beti George
Heini Gruffudd
Robat Gruffudd
Dr Bleddyn Huws
Ron Jones
Emyr Lewis
Gwion Lewis
Dr Huw Lewis
Angharad Mair
Dr Barry Morgan
Adam Price
Dr Elin Royles
Hywel Williams (historian)
Elin Wyn
Prof. Richard Wyn Jones

A public meeting to launch the organisation will be held in the National Eisteddfod at Llandow on Wednesday August 8th at 4pm in the Societies Pavilion.

Dyfodol will also have a stall on the Eisteddfod field.