Category Archives: Dyfodol

DYFODOL CALLS FOR A SCORING SYSTEM FOR WELSH LANGUAGE SERVICES

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According to Dyfodol i’r Iaith, cafes, shops, pubs and centres need to demonstrate clearly that people are welcome to use the Welsh language over the counter. This would give Welsh speakers confidence to use their language.

The organisation wants the Welsh Government to introduce attractive window signage for businesses who welcome the use of Welsh.

If the Welsh Government is to create a million Welsh speakers by the middle of the century, more people must be encouraged to speak it, and in as many different informal situations as possible. This lies at the Centre of Dyfodol i’r Iaith’s vision, and the organisation is convinced that private businesses and services have a key role to play in this.

This is the principle behind Dyfodol’s call for a voluntary system which would outline businesses’ ability and willingness to provide a Welsh language service for its customers. Such a system could be based upon arrangements that are already widely familiar to all; food hygiene standard scores, for example, or CAMRA’s good beer guide. Ceredigion has already introduced certificates to organisations who promote the Welsh language.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“Cafes, shops, pubs and a host of other private sector services provide excellent opportunities to use the Welsh language in a community setting. Such a scoring system would provide businesses with an opportunity to display the fact that the Welsh language is part of their customer service ethos. It would also provide an incentive to raise the profile of the Welsh language within the workplace, and to appreciate and encourage staff language skills.

Over time, and backed up by a far-reaching campaign by the Welsh Government to raise language awareness, we would foresee that this system would provide an easily recognisable quality mark, and one that would be attractive to the businesses themselves, as well as their customers.

Welsh Education in Powys: Dyfodol’s Response

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Following Sian James’s comments on Golwg 360, here are Dyfodol’s Chair, Heini Gruffudd’s comments on Welsh education within Powys:

Powys has a bad record when it comes to developing Welsh secondary education. The County has consistently refused to face the need for educational continuation in relation to Welsh primary schools. In south Powys, a number of children go to other counties, to Ystalyfera and Rhydywaun to get Welsh medium education, as Brecon has failed to provide sufficient provision.

In north Powys, on the other hand, Ysgol Llanfaircaereinion has developed a successful Welsh stream. The County needs to acknowledge this and accept that full Welsh education is available in Llanfaircaereinion. In the south of the County, Builth Wells and Brecon schools need to cooperate to provide Welsh education, but Welsh streams within English schools are a second-rate choice.

It must be said that the County’s dispersed population can be problematic, but it’s about time the County acknowledges the strengths of some of its secondary schools and develops further on this basis.

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR – THE WORK CONTINUES!

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The Board and staff of Dyfodol i’r Iaith would like to wish a Happy New Year to all our members and supporters.

During 2016, as in previous years, we have been busy working for the Welsh language, pressing the Welsh Government and Local Authorities  to give it due support, while promoting the priorities outlined in our manifesto, Creating a Future For The Welsh Language.

Following the publication of the Welsh Language Strategy, we met with politicians and civil servants to emphasise the importance of careful planning and firm commitment in order to reach the long-term target of creating a million Welsh speakers by 2050. We also used this opportunity to highlight one of our main priorities; the establishment of a Welsh Language Agency, which would promote the language comprehensively, while making the most of, and developing the expertise, experience and creativity which exists in language planning within Wales and beyond. It was encouraging to hear that resources have now been earmarked for such a venture, and we will continue to ensure that the language benefits from this commitment.

We made the most of opportunities during the past year to meet and discuss our aims with our members and potential members. We had an enjoyable and successful Eisteddfod, and thank you to all who visited our stall. And a special thank you to those who volunteered, provided entertainment and contributed to our discussions during the week.

In addition to this, we held several Public Meetings throughout Wales: Y Bala, Abertawe, Crymych, Efail Isaf and Pwllheli.

The theme of our latest meetings was the need to continue to press on with our vision. In the midst of progress, it proved to be an uncertain year, and it is now essential that we face the new year determined to keep the Welsh language high on the agenda. The world faces a challenging and uncertain future, and we must keep on, remembering who we are; our values and priorities.

As an organisation, we cannot do this without your support, and so at the beginning of 2017, we take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your help and support.