Menter Iaith Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Monmouthshire has launched its new website this week which aims to provide a valuable, central resource for information on events and activities through the medium of Welsh in the communities of South East Wales.
The website will provide information about Welsh medium education, local schools and relevant details for families when selecting local education for their children as well as the incorporation of a dynamic calendar to create an easily accessible source for all things Welsh. Everyone with an interest is encouraged to contribute or add events or activities with a Welsh language slant to the calendar by submitting information via the website which will then be viewed, moderated and added.
Mary Scourfield, Chief Officer of the Enterprise, said; “It is vitally important that we provide for the residents of South East Wales in pursuit of the government’s Strategaeth 2050 – ‘Miliwn o Siaradwyr’ (Cymraeg 2050: Welsh language strategy for a Million Welsh speakers).
“We are working with our partners such as Mudiad Meithrin, Cymraeg i Blant, the Centre for Teaching Welsh for Adults, and the Urdd Gwent to encourage our fluent Welsh speakers, adult learners, children and young people to use their Welsh outside the classroom environment so that the language becomes part of everyday life.
“By not only providing such opportunities ourselves, the website aims to bring together in one place, information relating to all the opportunities that exist in the Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Monmouthshire area where the Welsh language can thrive and be used irrespective of age and level of language ability.”
The Menter, together with 22 other initiatives are part funded by the Welsh Government to develop and promote opportunities for children, young people and adults to use the Welsh language outside the classroom and in the community. A team of four carries out this work across the three counties arranging activities such as after school clubs, fun mornings, trips, quiz evenings and coffee mornings for learners amongst other events.
According to Iwan Hywel, team leader of Mentrau Iaith Cymru, the national organisation that supports the work of these local initiatives;
“We are pleased to see Menter Iaith Blaenau Gwent Menter Iaith Torfaen and Monmouthshire at the forefront in leading the creation of this special resource which will be of use to people of all ages in their area in South East Wales. By working closely with partners and the local communities Mentrau Iaith Cymru seeks to strengthen and increase the use of the Welsh language in these areas and promoting the opportunities to do this is vital to achieving the goal.”
The creation of an appropriate and dynamic website was the next step in Menter Iaith Blaenau Gwent Torfaen and Monmouthshire’s ambition to be the focus of coordination of the Welsh language in the communities it serves. The Menter has just been awarded Charitable Incorporated Organisation status under the Charity Commission as a regulatory body with a new governance structure which underpins the important work that needs to be done to support ‘Cymraeg 2050.’
This development will contribute towards Menter BGTM’s endeavours to achieve the NCVO’s Trusted Charity standard (previously known as PQASSO Quality Assurance Mark) which ensures that organisations are well run, accountable and transparent and sets out what organisations need to have in place to ensure sound governance practices, proper financial and risk management systems, and a reliable system for measuring outcomes.
Menter Iaith BGTM would like to welcome volunteers from all three counties to support its challenging work.
For more information about Menter Iaith BGTM, local Welsh language activity and to contribute to the calendar or to find out about volunteering for the initiative, visit www.menterbgtm.cymru