Agreement Signed To Promote The Social Use Of Welsh In The Vale Of Glamorgan

The Vale of Glamorgan Council and Menter Bro Morgannwg have signed a new framework agreement to develop new services to strengthen the Welsh language within communities in the Vale. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Menter Bro Morgannwg was established in April 2013 with the aim of promoting and expanding the social use of the Welsh Language in the Vale of Glamorgan. Since then, they have been working closely with the Council to deliver a number of activities and events to create more opportunities for Vale residents to use the language outside of work and school. These include a Welsh language festival held on Barry Island, Gŵyl Fach y Fro, baby swimming lessons and other recreational activities for all ages. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since the establishment of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg in 2000 there has been a significant increase in the number of parents choosing Welsh medium education for their children. This, in turn, will result in an increase in the number of Welsh speakers in the Vale of Glamorgan. Menter Bro Morgannwg’s aim is to encourage those in Welsh medium education, and their parents, to use Welsh outside of the classroom in social situations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This framework agreement is a formal recognition of the partnership work that has already taken place between Menter Bro Morgannwg and the Council to provide these activities and a commitment to continue to working together to deliver these opportunities in the future. It also highlights the Council’s commitment to work with the Welsh Government to achieve the aims of their strategy, A living language, a language for living. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sian Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Menter Bro Morgannwg said, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘we are pleased that the Council has entered in to this agreement, which guarantees that we will be able to continue to build on the good work that has already been carried out here in the Vale. We have just had our second Gwyl Fach Y Fro festival, which was a huge success, and we hope to keep working closely with the Council to provide events like this and fulfil our aim as an organisation.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rob Thomas, Managing Director of the Vale of Glamorgan Council said, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘this agreement will strengthen the partnership between the Council and Menter Bro Morgannwg. As a public organisation in Wales the Council fully understandsits role in developing use of the language and its responsibility to provide residents with a variety of community activities through the medium of Welsh. I look forward to building on this partnership and progressing our aim as a Council to build strong communities with a bright future.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​