A group of 30 young people from schools and colleges in the Wrexham area will visit the National Eisteddfod – many for the first time – as part of a special Learn Welsh programme led by the National Centre for Learning Welsh.
The group includes pupils from Ysgol Morgan Llwyd and Ysgol Maelor, as well as students from Coleg Cambria. As part of the scheme, they’ve taken part in 10-hour Learn Welsh courses, tailored for their needs. The courses build on their GCSE Welsh skills – whether first or second language – offering opportunities to boost their confidence and use the language beyond the classroom.
A total of 86 young people followed the courses, which were offered at confidence-building and Entry/Mynediad (beginners) levels. They also enjoyed informal activities, including gigs and an 'Eisteddfod Fach' held at the Tŷ Pawb centre in Wrexham, giving them a taste of the Eisteddfod.
The scheme is part of the Centre's broader provision for young people, with more young people than ever completing the Centre's courses. In 2023–2024, 2,635 young people aged 16-24 completed the Centre's courses, an increase of 21% compared to the previous year, and an increase of 274% since the Centre’s first publication of age-related data in 2018–2019.
The Centre's services for young people include bespoke age-specific courses, programmes for students in Further and Higher Education, apprenticeships, and partnerships with organisations such as the Urdd and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Meinir Ebbsworth, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Strategy at the National Centre for Learning Welsh says: "This scheme aims to bridge the gap between the statutory education provision and the Learn Welsh provision for adults – showing young people the range of opportunities available to continue developing their Welsh language skills.
"The response in this year’s Eisteddfod catchment area has been fantastic, and it’s great to see young people taking advantage of opportunities to strengthen their Welsh language skills. We’re very proud to support them and offer them positive experiences through this scheme. We look forward to welcoming them to the Eisteddfod."
