Welsh Language Schemes

If your voluntary or community organisation is eager to produce its very first Welsh Language Scheme or is eager to adapt or revise an existing Language Scheme, please contact Estyn Llaw or the Welsh Language Board's voluntary sector unit.

We can guide you through the process, offering advice and support along the way.

Producing a Welsh Language Scheme will generally involve a number of specific steps, depending obviously on the needs of the organisation in question. Those steps will not necessarily be in the following order.

• Raising the Awareness of Staff, Volunteers and Trustees

   • challenging the presumptions of staff and volunteers about increasing Welsh language services
   • explaining the reasons for offering language choice
   • emphasising the importance of changing practices as well as attitudes
   • discussing staff concerns and doubts about implementing a Welsh Language Scheme
   • discussing the Welsh language in the equalities agenda and public policy
   • introducing good practice
   • emphasising the statutory aspects for voluntary organisations that are third party providers.

• Reviewing Current Policy and Practice

   • assessing the organisation's current practice
   • mapping out where the organisation should/would like to be within a specific timescale
   • reviewing the organisation's current capacity to operate bilingually / undertaking a language skills audit / producing a checklist of needs
   • identifying existing language skills within the organisation that are not fully exploited
   • identifying any training needs (language improvement, working practices, courses for beginners).

• Planning / Adapting a Welsh Language Scheme

   • the first draft of the Welsh Language Scheme will be based to a degree on the outcomes of the previous step
   • setting a realistic timescale
   • achieving internal agreement on the process of producing a Welsh Language Scheme, and securing a commitment in principle to funding the delivery of the Scheme
   • producing implementation guidelines for staff and volunteers
   • steering the Scheme through relevant internal committees and achieving agreement and securing commitment.

• Approving the Welsh Language Scheme

The Welsh Language Board will undertake this aspect, which involves guiding the organisation through the process of obtaining formal approval.

   • assisting with a public consultation exercise, if appropriate, on the content of the Welsh Language Scheme
   • following a public consultation, some aspects of the Scheme may need to be revamped before completing the approval process.

• Implementing the Welsh Language Scheme

   • ensuring that staff and volunteers are given the appropriate support, resources and training to implement the Welsh Language Scheme
   • ensuring that all staff and volunteers are aware of their responsibilities
   • launching the Welsh Language Scheme publicly
   • monitoring the efficiency of the Welsh Language Scheme and providing annual reports
   • offering support and assistance to deliver specific aspects of the Welsh Language Scheme
   • developing, strengthening and expanding the Welsh Language Scheme.

• Ongoing Support

   • Estyn Llaw, the Welsh Language Board and the Mentrau Iaith (Language Initiatives) are on hand to offer ongoing advice and support
   • the organisation is available to mentor and advise other organisations that are about to start or are in the process of planning or adapting a Welsh Language Scheme.

Wales Council for Voluntary Action has a publication entitled 'As good as our words' , funded by the Welsh Language Board, which offers guidance and good practice guidelines for developing the use of Welsh in the voluntary sector.

Please contact Estyn Llaw or the Welsh Language Board for further assistance.