Why are we doing this?

S'mae (hello)!

We’re seeking your views on what we should include in our Welsh Language Strategy for 2022-27.

The Welsh language is an important part of life for many people in Denbighshire. The Welsh language has legal status in Wales and our strategy is our way of ensuring we are doing what we can to make sure that the Welsh language can thrive and grow in Denbighshire.

For 2017-22, our key areas of focus were:

• How Denbighshire County Council works with key partners to deliver Welsh language services across the county

• Increasing the number of school pupils who become fluent in Welsh in their everyday lives as a result of Welsh or Welsh medium education

• Ensuring that the impact of local decision-making upon the Welsh language is considered, especially for local planning issues

• Working with partners to encourage young local people to stay in the area, safeguarding Welsh culture and the Welsh language in Denbighshire for future generations

• Looking at how the Council can encourage and promote use of the Welsh language internally and operate as a fully bilingual organisation

Why are we doing this?

The Welsh language is an important part of Welsh culture and Welsh heritage, both nationally and more locally within Denbighshire.

The Welsh language is one of the many unique things that makes living in Wales so special to so many people. Denbighshire County Council believes the Welsh language should be for everyone – whether it is your mamiaith (first language or ‘mother tongue'), a language you’ve learned at school, or whether you’re just discovering the Welsh language for the first time now because you’ve seen this consultation.

The Council supports the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 campaign – which aims to ensure that roughly one in every three residents in Wales can speak Welsh by 2050.

What do we want to know?

The Council would be grateful if you could complete the consultation questionnaire. It is split into three sections:

• About you – this will help us to understand which communities need the most support with the Welsh language and what challenges there are.

• About your experiences with the Welsh language – this will help us to understand what the Welsh language means to you.

• About our Welsh Language Strategy – this will help us to understand whether you think we are doing the right things to ensure that Welsh is a language that continues to be loved, supported and spoken in Denbighshire and whether we are doing the right things to improve awareness of the Welsh language and to increase the number of Welsh speakers locally

The survey should take 10-15 minutes to complete.

Location:

• Start date 12 November 2021
• End date 10 December 2021
• Methods Questionnaire - Postal, Questionnaire - Online
• Supplier Denbighshire County Council

What we found out

What difference has it made?