The network of Welsh language enterprises (Mentrau Iaith) are looking forward to continue to work towards developing and increasing the use of Welsh in the community, following the publication of the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Strategy on July 11th, 2017.
The strategy’s vision is to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050 and to increase the use of the language. Owain Gruffydd, Chairman of Mentrau Iaith Cymru, a national organisation that supports the 22 local Mentrau Iaith:
“We see the role of the Mentrau Iaith as essential in order to reach this target, by encouraging people to learn and use Welsh in their daily lives. By promoting informal opportunities for people to socialise and enjoy on a daily basis through the medium of Welsh, and by supporting communities to take ownership of the language, we can increase and strengthen the use of Welsh across Wales. We welcome this ambitious new strategy which underlines the important role of communities to keep the Welsh language a living and thriving language.”
Meirion Davies, Chief Officer of Menter Iaith Conwy, adds:
“We welcome this innovative strategy to increase the number of Welsh speakers and the use of it. It’s good to see that it’s coordinated with increasing number of Welsh services and workplaces as well as referring to safeguarding Welsh-speaking communities through influential areas such as town and country planning, devolution of jobs to these areas and investment in entrepreneurship.”