Grants for the Welsh language in the community

Welsh language group Dyfodol yr Iaith welcomes the fact that the Welsh Government has continued its committment to provide grants for organisations that promote the Welsh language in the community. We also welcome the very small increase in the funding at a time of financial austerity.

Dyfodol would also like to see the Government implementing another of the action points outlined in its Welsh Language Strategy, “A living language: A language for living” namely action point 6: “Mainstream the Welsh language across all of the Welsh Government’s activities”.(page 24) There is very little evidence that this is happening at present. One example is the Welsh Government’s Strategy for Older People. There is not a single reference to the Welsh language in the document. The consultation period on the Strategy for Older People came to an end today and Dyfodol has presented a comprehensive response drawing attention to this basic weakness.

We look forward to an opportunity to have a discussion with the government on how to acheive the aims of “A living language: A language for living”.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith and Bangor Univeristy will be holding a conference on Sustainability and the Welsh Language on February 22nd in Neuadd Reichel, Bangor University between 10am and 4pm

Chair: Dr Einir Young

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Open letter to Elan Closs Stephens, Wales Trustee of the BBC from Bethan Jones Parry, President of Dyfodol i’r Iaith

BBC ACCUSED OF BREAKING ITS CHARTER BY LANGUAGE GROUP DYFODOL I’R IAITH

The BBC is breaking the terms of its Royal Charter by not giving a fair fee to Welsh performers, according to language group Dyfodol i’r Iaith .In a letter to Elan Closs Stephens, Wales Trustee for the BBC, Bethan Jones Parry, President of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, says the BBC is breaking some terms in its Charter by failing to give sufficient payment for playing Welsh records.

Bethan Jones Parry said, “There is an evident decline in the service on Radio Cymru since the beginning of the year and there are signs that listeners are turning to other services. Radio Cymru is no longer providing a service for Wales and it is not promoting creativity, as demanded by the Charter.” Continue reading →