Caerphilly County Borough Council Welsh Language Standards Annual Report

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Welsh Language Standards Annual Report for 2015-16 has provided an overview of Welsh language provisions offered by Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Currently there are 511 Welsh speakers within Caerphilly County Borough Council, with a total of 1,497 staff and staff of partner organisations who have attended conversational Welsh classes since 2001. The courses available range from taster courses for absolute beginners up to and including ‘A’ level courses for more experienced Welsh speakers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A total of 40 Caerphilly County Borough Council staff participated in the 30 week Welsh language course during 2015-2016, while 21 staff members took part in the 2 day Welsh language taster that was offered. These figures compare favourably to other local authorities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 2 day Welsh course runs in collaboration with several other South East Wales authorities and organisations. They meet monthly as Grŵp Deddf and have been running the courses annually for several years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Barbara Jones, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services: “I am delighted that Caerphilly County Borough Council continues to offer Welsh language courses to council staff and staff of partner organisations, which helps to ensure that as many staff as possible are trained to speak using the Welsh language. As a Local Authority, we strive to ensure that the newly introduced Welsh Language Standards are maintained to the best of our ability, which ensures equality for Welsh speakers”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​