Issue - meetings

To provide a background to Committee Members about the existing word and priorities of the Menter Iaith.

To accept the report and note the observations received.

The report was presented by Menter Iaith Gwynedd's Principal Officer. Reference was made to the following main points:

The members were reminded that the initiative had now discarded the name 'Hunaniaith' by re-branding with the name 'Menter Iaith Gwynedd' and that the initiative was registered as a not-for-profit company with Companies House under the leadership of four voluntary directors. It was elaborated that the initiative's primary purpose was to increase opportunities for people to use the Welsh language in all aspects of their lives and in all communities in Gwynedd.

It was explained that one staff member of the Enterprise had left to work with another department within Cyngor Gwynedd. ⁠It was acknowledged that this vacant job had currently not been filled to facilitate the process of externalising from the Council. It was noted that Cyngor Gwynedd assisted to employ a new officer within the Meirionnydd area for 2024/25.

It was explained that the initiative would become independent from April 2025, with the three current initiative officers continuing to be employed by the initiative, as well as the new officer in the Meirionnydd area. It was acknowledged that there had been a delay in this outsourcing transition, but it was explained that this had been due to pension commitment complexities for officers. It was emphasised that the Project Board met regularly with the Head of Finance and the Head of Legal Services to resolve the difficulties that arose.

It was reported on the campaign that was being initiated in May that focused on people who had moved to the area and learned the Welsh language, by sharing case studies stories on how individuals had succeeded to nurture a feeling of belonging to Gwynedd communities. It was elaborated that there was a second plan in the pipeline with support from 'Gareth yr Orangutang' to explain the history of the Welsh language to young people and share ideas on how to use technology in Welsh, by emphasising that what was important was making use of the language, not worrying about any mistakes made.

An update was given that the initiative had been supporting immersion centres to support families. It was explained that officers provided digital presentations to all parents of the immersion centres' attendees every term. In response to the challenges that the educators had after being in immersion centres and returning to school, it was confirmed that the initiative had commissioned an author to create a production with the children's input before performing to the parents. It was emphasised that the initiative would own the production therefore there would be a way to recreate this scheme in other areas as required. An idea was shared that the initiative could use examples of families who had fostered the Welsh language following these schemes to inspire others in the future.

There was pride that the initiative had received very positive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7