OVER twenty language organizations have written to the head of Aberystwyth University stressing the value and importance of Welsh language halls of residences as powerhouses to strengthen the Welsh language in communities across Wales, following the recent threats to Pantycelyn hall.

In light of the recent campaign to safeguard Pantycelyn Hall, the organizations which are members of the umbrella group Dathlu’r Gymraeg, have declared their support for the campaign and also call upon Welsh universities to ensure that the language needs and well-being of students are taken into account when making accommodation and residence arrangements for them. Sociolinguistic research by leading language experts’ shows that communities where over 70% of the population speak the language is vitally important in order to maintain it as a normal community language. Welsh medium halls of residence such as Pantycelyn, therefore, are crucial in developing and supporting students’ language patterns.

In a letter to the Chancellor of the University, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, Penri Williams, Chairman of Dathlu’r Gymraeg said,

“We call on organizations such as Aberystwyth University for a clear commitment to the basic principle of providing adequate Welsh language accommodation for students and recognize the need for such locations to include suitable common spaces that allows Welsh-medium social life to thrive. Therefore, we beg you not to close Pantycelyn Hall.

“Pantycelyn hall has come to claim an iconic status in Welsh public life and therefore its important should be respected and the potential of such sites harnessed to ensure that students from all parts of Wales are able to live their lives through the medium of Welsh in future. In fact, we need more locations of this kind, if the Welsh language is to flourish in the coming decades.

“We think that Aberystwyth University should unequivocally declare their commitment to maintain this vital Welsh hall of residence and ensure that all decisions on these issues will consider the language needs of their students fully.

“In agreeing to commit to these principles, we feel as organizations that the university can ensure

Dathlu’r Gymraeg is organsing the Welsh Language Manifesto and Vision Conference 2016+ in the Urdd Centre, Cardiff Bay, on Tuesday, 16 June.

The aim of the Conference is to prepare a Maniffesto and Vision for the future of the Welsh language 2016+ which will include proposals to promote the language and secure its future in our communities.

To develop the strategies the conference will discuss

Poverty
Language Rights
Community
Education

The conference is open to everyone who is interested in contributing and proposing ideas for developing the Welsh language over the next five years.

For further information about the conference and for a registration form click here >

Cynhadledd 2015 Registration

Dear Minister

We write to state our support for your aspirations for Graham Donaldson’s review of the curriculum. We agree that it needs to be founded on Welsh values, values of fairness and equality for every child – from whatever background they come. As organisations and people who promote the Welsh language day to day, we look forward to seeing how the report intends to deliver on the First Minister’s ambition, as outlined by him in August last year, namely the need for “all learners in Wales – whether they attend Welsh-medium or English-medium schools … to speak Welsh confidently”.

We agree with Carwyn Jones that every child should be fluent in Welsh – it’s not fair to deprive a single child of the skill of being able to communicate in the language. We are extremely grateful that Professor Donaldson has already suggested that the Welsh language will be one of the founding principles in his recommendations for the new curriculum.

While believing that we should not deprive any child of Welsh-medium education, we are completely supportive of Professor Sioned Davies’ recommendations regarding how the language is taught in English-medium schools at the moment. We look forward to seeing how Graham Donaldson recommends implementing those proposals as soon as possible.

As Professor Davies stated in her report published in September 2013: “If we are serious about developing Welsh speakers, and about seeing the Welsh language thrive, a change of direction is urgently required before it is too late.”

We would like to draw your attention to two of Professor Davies’ recommendations we believe should be prioritised, namely:

“… use the National Literacy Framework for Welsh as a basis for a revised curriculum to include:one continuum of learning for Welsh with clear expectations for pupils learning Welsh in English-medium, bilingual and Welsh-medium settings … As a consequence the Welsh second language element of the Welsh programme of study would be removed along with the term Welsh second language.”

“… extend the use of Welsh as a medium of instruction in English medium primary schools; and set targets to increase the use of Welsh-medium learning across the curriculum, based on best practice, in English-medium schools.”

We hope there will be a chance, during the series of meetings the Government intends to hold after the publication of Professor Donaldson’s report, to discuss specifically with you and Professor Donaldson the implications of the recommendations. Certainly, we need to work together in order to plan for the growth in the number of Welsh speakers and the use of the language in our communities we all want to see over the years to come.

Yr eiddoch yn gywir,

Tegwen Morris, National Director, Merched y Wawr

Meirion Davies, Chair, Mentrau Iaith Cymru

CAER (The Education Society of the European Regions)

Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, Chief Executive, Mudiad Meithrin

Craig ab Iago, Chair, Cynghrair Cymunedau Cymraeg (Welsh Communities Alliance)

Dr Huw Thomas, Welsh-medium schools specialist

Gerald Latter, Chair, Cronfa Glyndŵr yr Ysgolion Cymraeg

Eleri Roberts, Chair, Cymdeithas Cerdd Dant Cymru

Miriam Williams, President, Undeb Myfryrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth (UMCA)

Elaine Edwards, General Secretary, teachers’ union UCAC

Jamie Bevan, Chair, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg

Lynne Davies, National Chair, RhAG (Parents for Welsh medium education)

Bethan Whittall ac Arwel George, CYDAG

Geraint Wyn Parry, Chief Executive, Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru

Penri Williams, Chair, Dathlu’r Gymraeg – Celebrating Our Language

Professor Christine James, Archdruid of Wales

Dathlu’r Gymraeg calls on the Welsh Assembly to strengthen the Planning Bill, published by the Welsh Government to ensure that adequate consideration is given to the impact of planning on the Welsh language in our communities.

The bill presented to the Assembly on 6 October 2014 does not change the status of the Welsh language within the planning system. There is only one note –  to ensure that the new “strategic planning panel” complies with the new Welsh language standards.

Dathlu’r Gymraeg calls on the Welsh Assembly to amend the Bill to include

● making Welsh a relevant planning consideration throughout Wales so that planning applications can be refused on the basis of their impact on the language;

● to make language impact assessments a statutory requirement for certain developments;

● establish a Planning Tribunal for Wales, to replace the existing Planning Inspectorate;

● set a path and framework to allow the Welsh language to become the main community language throughout the country; and

● establish that the purpose of the planning system is to meet local needs, instead of reaching national housing targets based on historical patterns and to manage land in an environmentally sustainable way, tackling poverty and promoting Welsh

The summary of the deliberations of the Conference Onn Welsh Language issued in July 2013 called for changes to the planning system and stated that population movement is the ‘greatest current challenge’ to the language.

The 2011 Census showed a decrease in the number of electoral divisions where over 70% of the population speak Welsh: with a reduction from 54 communities in 2001 to 39 in 2011. There was a fall in the number of people in Wales aged over 3 speaking Welsh, from 20.76% of the population in 2001 to 19% in 2011.

In August 2014 the Prime Minister announced a policy document “Bwrw Mlaen” where he promised to consider “all practical measures for strengthening the Welsh language within the planning system “.

The Welsh Language Commissioner sentwritten advice to the Government on the Bill stating that only half of the Welsh county councils have included Welsh language policies in their local development plans.

The national housing targets will create problems for the Welsh language and dissatisfaction in many communities such as in Bodelwyddan, Carmarthenshire and Gwynedd. Housing targets need to be removed and replaced by a system based on local needs only.

We call on the Government and the Assembly to include full consideration of the Welsh language in the Planning Bill.

Shwmae Su’mae 2014 (#DSS2014) was launched in the Eisteddfod in August and we are confident that more will join in the celebration this year on 15th October.

There was an overwhelming response to the first Diwrnod Shwmae Sumae Day in 2013. Up to a 150 activities took place from the Andes to Ysgol Brynmawr. Schools, businesses, Welsh learner groups and various societies took the day to heart, infusing the events with boundless energy.

There were rapping workshops in Ceredigion, flashmobs in Crymych and coffee mornings from Creigiau to Dyffryn Nantlle. Things are simmering away nicely for this year’s celebrations with an awards ceremony in Pembrokeshire to recognise the achievements of those who have contributed most to the Welsh language in the county. Whilst at Archbishop McGrath High School, Brackla the pupils are already brimming with ideas for October 15^th.

It is a grassroots campaign that operates without any sponsorship showing that the Welsh language belongs to everyone.

Catrin Dafydd, of Dathlu’r Gymraeg said: “Last year was an inspiration and has had a positive knock on effect. As a result of one coffee morning the parents in a school decided to hold Welsh classes to encourage each other to learn the language.

“Dathlu’r Gymraeg hopes that communities across Wales will take ownership of day once again. Some Welsh Adult Learning Centres are already busy organizing events for the day. Shwmae Sumae Day is a day when everyone is encouraged to have confidence in speaking Welsh.

“The Welsh language belongs to everyone who has chosen to make Wales their home, and we, the people of Wales have the power to keep the language alive. Everyone can be a part of the journey from the moment they say “Shwmae” or “Su’mae” at the beginning of a conversation, however fluent we are. ”

For more information, or if you would like to attend the launch, please contact: Gaynor Jones, 07775 847710/ 01554 833902

Special Learning Needs – but no consideration for the language needs

DATHLU’R GYMRAEG, an umbrella group of Welsh language organisations, has criticised a Welsh Government White Paper to reform the support for children and young people with Additional Learning Needs.

Penri Williams, Chairman of Dathlu’r Gymraeg stated “Although the proposals are generally sensible, the White Paper is totally lacking in relation to that of language needs. Except for one brief reference to the Government’s Welsh-medium Education Strategy, no other reference is made to the Welsh language in the document.

“Additional Learning Needs is an area where we know from experience that families have difficulties in accessing Welsh language provision. Reform of current legislation offers a golden opportunity to ensure better provision – and for the right to receive services in Welsh. But the Welsh Government has failed to take advantage of this opportunity, or even acknowledge the existing barriers and current demand.

“The complete lack of attention to the Welsh language needs of the children was a shock, and we, as joint organisations, urge the Government to ensure that appropriate references are made in the draft Bill when it is published in the autumn. “

A very sucesful conference was held in Merthyr to dicusss investing in the Welsh language on 21 May.

Leaders of three of the political parties in the Assembly – Kirsty Williams, Leanne Wood and Andrew RT Davies as well as Keith Davies from the Labour Party. Their speeches were very supportive of the Welsh language and we hope that the Assembly and the Government will act soon in response to the results of the Census.

Also there were interesting addresses by many speakers including Paul Bilbao from the Basque country.

Summaries of the addresses are available below.

Paul Bilbao –  Paul Bilbao Address