Neath Port Talbot Council launches Welsh Language Promotion Strategy to boost language use by 2028, following decline in speakers.

Neath Port Talbot Council has launched a new Welsh Language Promotion Strategy this month aimed at encouraging further use of the Welsh language in the county borough by 2028.
It came after a report which showed that according to the 2021 Census, only around 13.5% of people over the age of three in Neath Port Talbot could speak Welsh, a drop from the 2011 census where that figure was 15.3%.
It represents a drop of almost 2% over the 10 year period, though the new five-year strategy aims to improve the figure by making sure that “Welsh is much more audible and visible in local communities and used by more people in their daily lives.”
It also highlighted how areas such as the upper Swansea Valley and Amman Valley are the areas in the county borough which currently have the highest percentage of Welsh speakers.
A number of actions that will now be taken as part of the scheme include supporting and promoting the use of Welsh language in social settings and
workplaces, and working with partners to increase the visibility of Welsh across leisure, business and cultural locations.
They will also look at  providing language awareness and training courses for teaching and non-teaching staff across the county borough, as well as exploring the reasons for limited take up to Welsh language amongst specific communities.
The second version of the strategy which was adopted at the council’s monthly full council meeting in July, was also followed with a similar strategy to promote the use of a new Digital Data and Technology Strategy, designed to make sure services are delivered to residents using the latest digital technologies available.
The plan sets out a strategic vision demonstrating how the council will embrace new approaches to emerging technologies for residents to use on a range of services such as engaging with a GP, or booking a bulky waste collection. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​