A new Learn Welsh training programme is to be introduced at the Urdd, to support the youth organisation’s aim of attracting a diverse workforce and of engaging further with new audiences across the whole of Wales.
Tutor support will be included in the training package, which is being provided by the National Centre for Learning Welsh as part of a new partnership between both organisations.
The tutor will work with the Sport, Apprenticeships and Centres Department, to provide Welsh lessons to staff members who don’t speak much Welsh or who are less confident with their Welsh language skills.
Access to the Centre’s digital learning resources will be provided, along with opportunities to support staff across the organisation and in every part of Wales with training, dependant on demand.
The partnership follows the success of a pilot project started by the Urdd’s sport department in September 2022 to give daily Welsh lessons to Nooh Ibrahim, the organisation’s first Diverse and Inclusion Sports Development Officer.
Nooh, a former pupil of Ysgol Fitzalan, Cardiff, now holds bilingual sports and leadership training sessions in communities across south Cardiff, following the intensive Learn Welsh training.
Siân Lewis, the Urdd’s Chief Executive, says: “The Urdd belongs to everyone. Supporting our core audience is key, and we also wish to engage further with new audiences, in order to support the Welsh Government’s aim of reaching a million Welsh speakers.
“As we do this, it’s important we attract staff from different backgrounds and areas of Wales, who maybe aren’t confident in speaking Welsh yet.
“Following our successful pilot project, our partnership with the Centre will provide a clear framework and help individuals within our workforce to strengthen their Welsh language skills, and we’re looking forward to introducing the new programme.”
Dona Lewis, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, adds: “The Centre works closely with a range of organisations and companies in Wales, including the Football Association of Wales, to provide flexible training, which meets specific needs.
“We’ll work with the Urdd to identify staff language training needs, before providing a flexible programme, which will include on-location lessons and language confidence-building activities.”
