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News
Opening Both Doors: An Introduction to Bilingual Youth Work
Estyn Llaw for north Wales!
Kids Fun Club Rhyl
Opening Both Doors: An Introduction to Bilingual Youth Work
A publication that offers an introduction to bilingual youth work is about to be launched in various locations throughout Wales. Opening Both Doors was originally published in 2000 as a good practise guidance document for individuals and organisations in all sectors, involved in youth work.
Thanks to the support received from the Assembly Government's Department for Children, Education Life Long Learning and Skills, as well as from the former Communities First Support Network (CFSN), we have been able to consult with a cross-section of youth organisations as part of the process of updating and rewriting the information.
Opening Both Doors 2010 is an important guide for enabling youth provision through the medium of both Welsh and English. The launch dates and venues will be announced in the near future.
Estyn Llaw for north Wales!
Since March this year, Estyn Llaw has reached north Wales to lend a 'helping hand', with the appointment of Mari Wiliam from Llansannan as field officer for the area. Mari's appointment will enable us to offer a truly nationwide service from our offices in Newcastle Emlyn and St Asaph.
Mari said she was enjoying the challenge of establishing Estyn Llaw in the north, and that she was delighted to be able to work with organisations and partners in the area. Amongst the partners Mari has been cooperating with already in the north are the Conwy, Denbigh and Flint-Maelor Mentrau Iaith (Language Initiatives), as well as the County Voluntary Councils in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Gwynedd.
As Emyr Williams, Senior Development Officer with Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, said: "There is a very dynamic and effective voluntary sector within Denbighshire...The Estyn Llaw Scheme will certainly strengthen the effect of Welsh on the sector in the county in future, and we urge local voluntary organisations to contact Mari for assistance with this work."
Kids Fun Club Rhyl
The Kids Fun Club in Rhyl is a social club for children and young people with special needs.
"The one factor that is missing is the ability to make use of the Welsh language," according to Kevin, the club's coordinator. Kevin had noticed that many of the children who attended the club enjoyed Welsh lessons in school, but that there weren't many opportunities for them to participate in social activities through the medium of Welsh.
After a meeting with Estyn Llaw, Kevin and Mari are now cooperating to introduce more Welsh elements to the club. The first step in the process was to hold training on bilingualism, with Mari going to Rhyl Rugby Club to chat with a number of volunteers. Articles for the local Welsh language press have also been written by Estyn Llaw to try to attract more Welsh speaking volunteers to the club.
"By working in partnership with the Denbighshire Menter Iaith, during August I hope to organise for members of local Merched y Wawr branches to hold bilingual activities in the Kids Fun Club holiday club," said Mari. Estyn Llaw will also begin the process of forming a language scheme for the organisation.
According to Kevin: "...by cooperating with Mari and Estyn Llaw we're looking forward to attracting more Welsh medium volunteers to enable our members to sing, play games and act bilingually."
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