Welsh language annual report 2023–2024

Executive summary

Croeso to our Welsh language annual report for 2023-2024. This report focuses on how we have implemented our Welsh language standards policy and the work we have done to improve our Welsh language services during this reporting period.

The Welsh language skills of our workforce continues to steadily increase, with 24% (580) being fluent Welsh speakers. The biggest increase this year is at Level 3 to 8% (204), where colleagues can discuss matters in Welsh, which means that 32% (784) of our colleagues are able to speak Welsh. This provides us with assurance in our ability to provide Welsh language services across the organisation.

We are pleased that the numbers who are being supported to develop their Welsh language skills have increased to 259 this year. Our learners are based across the whole of Wales with the majority based around Cardiff and Bangor.

Some of the highlights over the year have been: 

  • Creating our new interactive Brand Guidance with the Welsh language mainstreamed throughout, this will help colleagues engage with the language in their day-to-day work and help them apply it.
  • We are involved in 4 projects with other organisations in Wales, this includes 2 with the Welsh Language Commissioner. These projects provide us with opportunities in sharing resources, knowledge, experience, skills, discussing ideas, issues and solutions that benefit all organisations which will improve Welsh language services.
  • Our Digital and Translation Team contributed to a video explaining the benefits of “Trio writing” and sharing good practice as part of a roadshow of events arranged by The Welsh Language Commissioner and Centre for Digital Public Services.
  • A new page has been created on our ICT Portal – Hornbill which lists the Welsh language systems and support tools that are available for colleagues to use in Welsh.
  • On St David’s Day, a presentation given in Welsh by Dr Lana St Leger, on the findings of a research project called “Pan Fydd y Styd yn Siarad – When the Street Talks” researching the impact of climate change on the Welsh language, culture, and heritage.
  • In March 2024, we successfully diverted Welsh language calls from Floodline to our Incident Communication Centre. This now provides Welsh speakers calling Floodline with a seamless Welsh language service equal to that of the English language service.
  • Procurement of a bilingual Learning Management System and development of Welsh medium training courses for colleagues.
  • Initial discussions on developing our vision for the Welsh language and increasing opportunities to use Welsh internally.

We have received complaints over the year with one being investigated by the Welsh Language Commissioner which resulted in developing new Welsh Language Awareness and Standards training courses. This training will help colleagues in gaining a better understanding the important role the language has in our work in sharing important messages with our customers, partners, and stakeholders as we tackle climate and nature emergencies together. helping us to fulfil our purpose of nature and people thriving together.

Introduction

The Welsh language standards came into force for NRW on 25 January 2017, under the Welsh language (Wales) measure 2011 and regulated by the Welsh language commissioner under Welsh language standards (No. 2) regulations 2016.

Aim of the standards are:

  • Provide a better and more consistent Welsh language service to Welsh speakers.
  • Make it clear to Welsh speakers’ what services they can expect in Welsh.
  • Make it clear to public organisations what their duties are in relation to the Welsh language.
  • Ensure that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language.

This report demonstrates how we have implemented the standards and the work we have done to improve our Welsh language services during the reporting year 2023-24.

Welsh language standards

The standards we are required to comply with are in four categories:

  • Service Standards - the Welsh language services we provide to the public.
  • Policy Standards - ensuring that Welsh language forms part of the decision-making process by carrying out Equality Impact Assessments ensuring that the decision has no adverse effect, but positive or increased effects on the opportunities to use the Welsh language.
  • Operational Standards - promoting and facilitating the Welsh language in our internal administration processes.
  • Record Keeping Standards - keeping records for compliance with the requirements of the standards in areas such as staff Welsh language skills, training, complaints, and recruitment.

Governance and monitoring our standards

Monitoring compliance of Standards is carried out by Specialist Advisor Welsh Language Policy, any risks highlighted to our Executive Team for discussion with Managers and explained at Grŵp Pencampwyr meetings.

Head of People Development and Wellbeing has overall responsibility for the Welsh Language Standards policy, with the Senior Specialist Advisor Staff Engagement overseeing implementation of the policy across the organisation.

Grŵp Pencampwyr members will raise any issues of non-compliance with the Specialist Advisor Welsh Language Policy at each meeting.

How we promote, facilitate, and oversee compliance with our Standards is published on our website.

Grŵp Pencampwyr

Our Grŵp Pencampwyr (Champions) include representatives from each of our Directorates. The role of the Pencampwyr is to be a point of contact for each Directorate and look for opportunities to promote the use of Welsh in our day-to-day work within the organisation.

The Pencampwyr also bring any issues they wish to discuss and highlight areas which may need further work to ensure compliance to the meetings.

Over this reporting period the Pencampwyr have met 4 times and have raised awareness on the following: -

  • Welsh Language Training courses
  • Clwb Clonc – Mentoring Scheme
  • Recruitment Training for managers
  • St David’s Day event
  • ICT Portal – Hornbill listing systems and support tools available in Welsh
  • Managers Monthly publication

Working in partnership on projects

We are currently working with other organisations on 4 projects. These projects provide us with opportunities in sharing resources, knowledge, experience, skills, discussing ideas, issues and solutions that benefit all organisations as well as improving Welsh language services.

The projects we are involved with are as follows: -

  • We have been invited by the Welsh Language Commissioner to sit on a two-year project which started in September 2023 looking at ways of increasing the use of Welsh internally in public organisations. The project involves working collaboratively and sharing good practice and learning from other public sector organisations. This project will help us to develop an internal model to suit our vision in developing ourselves into a bilingual organisation and living our values.
  • Working with the Welsh Language Commissioner and Centre for Digital Public Services to improve the 'Design and promotion of Welsh language services' project. The aim of the project is to encourage organisations to improve how they design and promote Welsh language services to increase their use. This worked has involved our Digital and Translation Team contributing to a video explaining the benefits of “Trio writing” and sharing good practice as part of the project. As part of this project, we need to identify two services and actively promote our Welsh language services and measure the increase in use over time. The Welsh Language Commissioner will work with us in ensuring that these services are promoted widely using their own networks and social media.
  • North Wales Public Service Boards identified that planning a bilingual workforce for the future is a challenge and the requirement for language skills to provide services to the communities we serve is very important. Funding was secured from Welsh Government to support the project to support delivery of our wellbeing plans across communities and to build our strategic capacity across the region. This project will help us in understanding the key issues around recruiting Welsh speakers by:-

    Investigating the challenges and successes of designing and recruiting a bilingual workforce in public organisations who are members of the Public Service Boards across North Wales. The report compiled from the research will present an evidence base for a better understanding of the challenges and good practice in designing a bilingual workforce, and recommendations of practical steps to address the various aspects of the process.

  • Our Translation Team and Education and Health Team are working on a new project “Gwreiddiau Gwyllt” with Mentrau Iaith and other Welsh environment organisations. The aim of the project is to “Standardise Welsh terms on wildlife and promote their use”, which by contributing to this work will benefit our organisation and bring consistency in the use of Welsh nature terminology within the sector.

Developing a vision for the Welsh language in NRW

Whilst we have a bilingual corporate identity and provide services to the public in both languages, we have some way to go before we can provide the same opportunity to colleagues and provide opportunities to work and contribute in their language of choice within the organisation. Many teams and individuals do work naturally through the medium of Welsh, and we have increased the provision of information. The majority of the organisation can only work through English, which means this is the default language of administration in the organisation.

Hybrid working has brought challenges at times in relation to the Welsh language, with some colleagues not having the same awareness in hearing the language spoken or seeing it on signage in an office environment. Those informal chats and opportunities to use the language in the office between Welsh speakers and learners have been lost.

With the number of our Welsh speakers increasing, as well as those developing their language skills, it is important we provide more opportunities for staff to work through the medium of Welsh across the organisation and a timely commitment in our Corporate Plan. How we work internally reflects our work externally, and this will help in building those trusted relationships.

In September 2023 a discussion paper went to our People and Customer Committee (PCC) to seek initial views on our ambition and vision for the Welsh language in the organisation. The paper was well received and supported by PCC where it was agreed that a group be formed to take forward this work in developing that vision.

This work will be taken forward by a Task and Finish Group. The group will be tasked with developing NRW’s own ambition and vision for the language and its use internally, over and above discharging our statutory commitments in relation to the Welsh Language Standards. The group will look at best practice already established by other organisations to increase opportunities for Welsh speakers and learners to be able to use the language internally in their day-to-day work and provide colleagues with a choice of working through the medium of Welsh or English, mainstreaming the use of Welsh as a natural way of working in all our workplaces.

The vision when drafted will be presented to our Executive Team and PCC for discussion and endorsement.

Implementing our service delivery standards and improving our Welsh language services

Customer hub

The customer hub deals with all incoming calls for our organisation. During this reporting year the hub dealt with a total of 16438 calls, 6.1% (1002) of the calls were Welsh medium calls. The calls handled in Welsh has increased by 1.42% (+123 calls) compared with last year, even though our total number of calls has decreased by 12%. We see this increase in Welsh Language calls as positive, and an indication that customers know that choosing the Welsh Language option will not lead to a delay in responding to their enquiry. Our telephony messages provide the Welsh language as the first option for customers and our core call handlers are fluent Welsh speakers.

Despite a proactive language offer, a number of Welsh speakers still initially choose our English service, but the call will often change to a Welsh language call when it is understood that the call handler is a Welsh speaker. However, because the customer initially selected the English service these calls are registered as English medium calls on our system despite ultimately being dealt with in Welsh.

Translation team

Team members support our organisation with day-to-day Welsh language requirements allowing for collaboration on several projects helping to make the language an important part of NRW’s work.

The biggest development for the team this year was getting familiar with using our new translation software, Phrase Translate. When adopting such software, it is important to give time in implementing it fully, to realise it’s true potential benefits. With guidance from our Senior Translator, all the team have familiarised themselves well in using the software. The 1.5 million words already in the memory is proof of that.

An example of the team establishing itself and supporting others is their contribution to the process of naming trails and sites, and integral to the process in proofreading and approving site signage. Through discussion with customers and being a link to expert advice from the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Standardisation Place Name Panel, and by working on various digital platforms means that customers do not have to submit their work to be checked on each occasion. The team keep an eye and approve or check by default easily on the platform used by the team concerned.

The team takes advantage of each opportunity to work with different teams to create original Welsh text, rather than just translating at the end of the process. The team also advises colleagues on the possibilities and alternative choices for Welsh content as an integral part of projects. This has led to interesting radio interviews, podcases and videos for several projects, such as Illegal Fly Tipping campaign and various Welsh Coast Path material.

The team is keen to take advantage of opportunities for a translator to be part of the content creation process, and often contribute by writing as a pair or trio – especially when creating digital content. Fishing licence and work on flood warnings services have taken advantage on this collaborative approach. The team have been part of the Welsh Language Commissioner and Centre for Digital Public Services project roadshow as an example of an organisation working in this way.

The team has continued to provide services to external organisations this year when this will benefit us. For example, we have worked on specific projects with Coal Board, Environment Agency, and Defra.

The team received awards for their contribution to our organisation at the NRW Awards at the end of 2023, and colleagues were very generous with their credit for the quick work and flexible services provided. The team will continue to look for opportunities to work in innovative ways, and to work closely with colleagues across the organisation, ensuring that the Welsh language is at the heart of everything we do as an organisation.

Flood warning services

Floodline

Floodline is a UK wide service on 0345 988 1188 – a local rate call service where callers can listen to live flood information, listen to pre-recorded advice, and speak to a trained call agent to report flooding or register to the flood warning service.

In March 2024, we successfully implemented a project to improve the Welsh language service offering by diverting Welsh language calls through to our Incident Communication Centre from Floodline.

This service had been highlighted in previous Annual Reports as a risk of non-compliance. Prior to this implementation, Welsh speakers were often put through to English call handlers as the service could not guarantee a dedicated Welsh speaker to deal with Welsh medium calls. Welsh medium callers could also choose to terminate the call and receive a call back from a Welsh language agent when one became available.

The new Welsh language call routing means that Welsh speakers calling Floodline are provided with a seamless Welsh language service via our NRW ICC. This is equal to the service received in English, and we have control over the Welsh language service as well as being able to promote the service more widely here in Wales. The implementation of this new Welsh language Floodline service ensures our compliance with our Service Delivery standards 9 and 10.

Providing a Welsh language service on helplines is a requirement of Standards 9 and 10.

NRW website – Flood warnings, alerts and flood risk services

In October 2020, we refreshed our website design to make it easier and quicker to use, ensuring that the design was fully compatible with the Welsh language.

Visitors to our website are asked to choose their preferred language. Compared with the last financial year we have seen an increase in visitors to the Welsh language Welsh language Warnings and Alerts page (8,859 views). And a decrease in the visits to the page for 5-day flood risk.

Flood warning message content

A key element of our service is to provide real-time information to help people understand their immediate flood risk. This requires the ability to accurately translate information in Welsh. We are planning to explore options for developing this translation capability so that we can provide richer, more helpful information – noting there is little room for translation error in a potentially life-saving service. We plan to carry out activities to promote our Welsh language offering.

Whilst our Flood Warning services are provided in Welsh the numbers who use the service continue to be low. These services have been identified one of the services we are promoting as part of the 'Design and promotion of Welsh language services' project to raise awareness of their availability in Welsh with the aim of increasing their use.

More information on our Flood services and statistics can be found in Appendix 1 of this report.

Brand guidance

Over the last year, we have created our new Brand Guide. During the development process it was important that we understood the significance of treating Welsh and English languages equally, and we strived to go beyond more than translation or token mentions.

We ensured that the Welsh language played a pivotal role in shaping the look and feel of our guide and that the language is mainstreamed throughout, not just a single guidance page. This will help our colleagues engage with the Welsh language in their day-to-day work and help them apply it.

Our guide highlights key considerations that must form part of our work and projects, from signage, the naming of places, to how we need to correspond bilingually initially with customers and asking their language preference for future interactions to ensure effective communication in the language that customers are most comfortable with. This helps to create stronger and more meaningful relationships with customers. We have also signed posted to internal and external support and guidance for our colleagues to help them.

The guide was developed with input from our Translation and Equality Diversity and Inclusion and Welsh Language Teams to develop a bilingual guide that celebrates both languages equally while acknowledging their unique characteristics and differences. When colleagues or partners use our guide, they will find tailored sections in each language.

This is our first fully interactive guidance, in the development phase, we became resourceful and took time to explore new ways of doing things. This led us to create our first fully interactive brand guide, which allows the user to toggle between Welsh and English on each page without compromising either language or the design. We're proud of this innovative solution, which showcases great bilingual design and will be used in multiple projects from now on. It will also help our colleagues embrace the use of the Welsh language and especially help those learning Welsh with us.

The guide will help us speak with a consistent and engaging voice and will help us connect with our customers and colleagues more meaningfully while building their trust and creating emotional bonds along the way.

Education team training events

During the year our Education and Health Team ran 38 training courses in total.

  • 21 webinars in total, 9 were through the medium of Welsh.
  • 84 (17%) attended the Welsh webinars with 412 (83%) attending the English webinars.
  • 17 face to face courses were run, with 4 being run in Welsh and 2 bilingually.

Participants on all training courses receive all the course materials in Welsh and English.

In addition to training courses the team have: -

  • Run 2 national campaigns – Acorn Antics and Wales Outdoor Learning Week ran in Welsh and English.
  • Sent 7957 newsletters by email which include stories with a direct link to Wales/Welshness/the Welsh language of which, 2379 (29.9%) were opened in Welsh.
  • Written 22 blogs and news items bilingually.
  • 3339 bilingual Facebook posts.
  • 4121 bilingual X posts.
  • 6197 bilingual emails were sent to highlight both health, education and learning news.

Sessions delivered through the medium of Welsh have continued to be low during 2023-2024. Several face-to-face sessions were cancelled, and webinars ran without attendees or low numbers on the call where a recording of the content could be provided to those who had shown an interest.

To help address this issue, we have contacted Cyngor Gwynedd, Ynys Môn and Conwy Welsh Language Policy Officers to help promote these courses through their own educational contacts, to help us in promoting these courses. We will continue to monitor attendance and look at other ways of raising awareness of these courses.

Whilst our training courses are provided in Welsh and promoted widely through various channels as explained above, the numbers who use the service in Welsh continue to be very low. This service has been identified as the second service we are promoting as part of the 'Design and promotion of Welsh language services' project to do more to raise awareness of their availability in Welsh with the aim of increasing the numbers attending the Welsh medium courses.

We are required to offer any education courses in Welsh, which is a requirement of Standard 80.

27 apprenticeships and higher education paid placements were arranged by the team, of those placements 11 (41%) were fluent Welsh speakers and 1 able to converse confidently.

More information can be found in Appendix 2 of this report on the resources the team have produced for educators and teachers, their partnership work with others and national campaigns and events over this reporting period.

Website and digital services

The Digital Services team continued to work closely with partners to develop, share and learn from best practice to design and build services that promote and ease the use of Welsh.

This includes:

  • Digital Content Designers and Translators working together to write, edit and review content for high-profile services.
  • Contributing and sharing our experience in a new book and guidance for using the “trio writing” approach to designing bilingual services: How to do trio writing | Centre for Digital Public Services (gov.wales)
  • Continued to hold and encourage user interviews in Welsh, and make sure that all recruitment information, forms, and emails go out bilingually.
  • Taking part in Welsh language user research interviews for other public bodies, including Ministry of Justice, to provide feedback, and learn how others approach conducting user research in Welsh.
  • Receive and respond to website user request and feedback in Welsh.
  • Invited by other public sector bodies to present and share our approach with user research and the value of trio writing for developing better bilingual content.
  • Invited to speak at the CDPS and Welsh Language Comissioner’s Iaith ar Daith events and in a video about trio writing Ysgrifennu Triawd - YouTube

Due to a change in reporting website statistics in August 2023, we’re unable to share statistics as part of this year’s report as they would not be reflective of the actual true visits to each of our pages.

We would recommend that more consideration needs to be given to the Welsh language in the initial planning stages, rather than at the end of the process, to ensure we are compliant with our Service Delivery Standards.

For example, when we buy in new systems and software rather than develop them ourselves, it can at times provide us with challenges. When the systems provide services to the public on our website it is not always possible for the system to be provided fully bilingually. This also includes data we provide to the public, which can at times be of a technical nature and only available from our internal systems in English.

New and updated staff guidance and support

Following receipt of the draft code of practice document for our standards from the Welsh Language Commissioner, and project work with North Wales Public Service Boards last reporting year, we have introduced some new guidance, and updated others. We have included examples which our colleagues can relate to more easily than just directives. This will help increase understanding of what is meant by working bilingually and providing a real language choice to customers and colleagues. This work will continue during this year.

New guidance launched during this reporting year were: -

  • Creating video and visual content for both internal and external use.
  • Welsh language considerations in Procurement process.
  • Customer Care at Reception guidance.
  • Dealing with Complaints - to help staff understand the process to follow upon receipt of a complaint in relation to the Welsh language. The guidance also includes the process the Welsh Language Commissioner will follow upon receipt of a complaint.
  • Managers Toolkit – Welsh language responsibilities as a manager.

Guidance updated during this reporting year were: -

  • Meetings and Events – words and phrases for Chairing bilingual meetings.
  • Recruitment guidance – updated with Census 2021 figures for all Local Authorities.
  • Telephone communication guidance – total refresh with useful phrases.
  • Correspondence guidance to include statement that colleagues need to include welcoming use of Welsh to fully meet the requirements of standard 7.

All the above have been promoted in our Managers Monthly bulletin, asking managers to raise awareness and discuss with their team members.

Raising awareness of the Standards

All Managers within the organisation receive a monthly bulletin to share corporate information with their teams. This helps colleagues to understand what we are required to

do, and our bilingual ways of working.

Over the last year we have raised awareness of the Welsh Language policy and any other relevant information for managers to discuss and inform their staff as follows: -

  • Where to find information on our Welsh Language Standards policy and guidance on the intranet.
  • Following launch of our new brand, Managers were reminded to ensure all their teams have a fully bilingual job title and update their email signature which includes requirements of our Standards.
  • Launch of new updated Microsoft letterhead templates, where they can be found and a reminder that they should always be used when sending correspondence, with templates available in both Welsh and English and include statement as found in Standard 7 welcoming correspondence in Welsh.
  • Reminder of the importance when initiating correspondence with the customers, partners, or stakeholders, that letters or emails are sent in both Welsh and English, asking which language the person would prefer to correspond with us, and recording the language preference once confirmed.
  • To review all letter templates in place in readiness for use, and ensure they are available in Welsh and English asking the preferred language of the recipient in dealing with us.
  • Reminder that all out of office messages or any other automated email message should be fully bilingual, with the Welsh text above or to the left of the English text and where examples of messages can be found in our Correspondence Guidance on the intranet. With a reminder that our Translation Team can help with more bespoke messages.
  • Reminder to colleagues that we have an internal language policy and its requirements.
  • New guidance developed to ensure that Welsh language is considered as part of the Procurement process.

Each new starter with the organisation received a welcome email with information on our Welsh Language Standards and Welsh Language Training programme. A link is provided to the dedicated Welsh language pages on the intranet page, asking them to assess their Welsh language skills and record them in MyNRW.

Implementing our policy making standards

Over the last reporting year 43 Equality Impact Assessments have been reviewed for Welsh language considerations by the Specialist Advisor Welsh Language Policy.

Advice has been provided on how best to reach out to ensure we receive feedback from Welsh speakers on our proposals. This involves looking at what groups are within the local community likely to be affected e.g., Young Farmers, Ti a Fi (Mothers and Toddlers), Local Rugby and Football Clubs, Merched y Wawr and Clybiau Gwawr. This helps ensure that our reach is wider in terms of age and protected characteristics, groups from different socio-economic backgrounds and Welsh speakers.

When Equality Impact Assessments are reviewed, advice is provided on what the requirements of the standards and information from the draft code of practice are in relation to the proposal being assessed as part of the review process. Providing examples from the code of practice helps colleagues to understand the requirements and considerations as part of our day-to-day work. This helps in mainstream the language more and more into our ways of working.

Consultation documents

Following a Welsh Language Tribunal in 2023 which determined the true interpretation of “policy decisions” within The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, we have been advised that there is a need to assess all proposals being consulted on to see if the proposal is likely to affect the use of the Welsh language and in treating the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.

We need to consider the effect our decisions could have on:

  • Exercising our functions
  • Conducting our business

This is not limited to written policy documents only.

During the consultation period where impact is assessed there is a need to:

  • Include within the consultation documents the direct and indirect effects the decision could have on the use of the Welsh language.
  • Seek stakeholder opinions.
  • Consider those effects as part of the decision-making process.

This is similar to how we need to identify and include environmental impacts in consultation documents.

Advice from the Welsh Language Commissioner is that the language should no longer form part of an Equality Impact Assessment and should have its own assessment. New draft guidance and a draft Welsh Language Impact Assessment is being developed for this requirement which has been reviewed by the Welsh Language Commissioner with further comments and advice.

This assessment will need to be embedded into our processes and work will be required to raise awareness of this requirement. Colleagues will require support initially in carrying out this process, whilst we will also need to monitor our consultations to ensure due consideration is given to the language.

Implementing our Operational Standards

ICT Portal - Hornbill

A new page has been created on our ICT Portal – Hornbill which lists the Welsh language systems and support tools that are available for colleagues to use in Welsh. The ICT portal – Hornbill is also available for colleagues to use in Welsh.

The systems and support tools listed are: -

  • Hornbill
  • MyNRW
  • MS Office
  • MS Outlook
  • MS Windows
  • MS Teams
  • Intranet
  • Cysgliad: Cysill and Cysgeir
  • To Bach

The page also provides a direct link to the Welsh language pages on our intranet and includes a link to the guidance on recording telephone answerphone messages. These systems help support our vision in providing more opportunities to work in Welsh internally. We will over the coming year do more to promote these systems to increase awareness and encourage more to use the systems in Welsh.

Display screen equipment assessment

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) includes desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile smart phones and all peripheral equipment related to the use of the above.

To ensure all colleagues are trained in DSE use and have a DSE assessment we have an online training and assessment package called WorkRite.

The online training and assessment is fully bilingual where the user can toggle between the two languages. This helps those who are less confident in using online resources in Welsh as well as those developing their language skills to use their Welsh language skills in work.

New e-Induction hub

A ‘hub’ for new starters and their line managers has been developed during this year. This looks, and functions, like a website allowing for a wide range of useful information to be shared, making delivery more efficient and provides a much better user experience for our induction participants.

The hub is used to book various training courses which form part of our e-induction programme and helps us in keeping a record of who has attended and completed each course as required within the 9-month probation period.

The hub is available in Welsh and over the next year we will continue with the work of ensuring that all the information on there is available in both languages.

Welsh language training

Over this reporting period, 259 of our colleagues were supported to develop their Welsh language skills at various levels. This is an increase of 86 from last year.

  • 51% (132) learners are at Entry level 1or 2.
  • 25% (65) learners are at Foundation level 1 or 2.
  • 9% (22) learners are at Intermediate level 1 or 2.
  • 13% (34) learners are at Advanced level 1 or 2.
  • 2% (6) learners attended Gloywi.
  • 13% (34) of our learners are or near being fluent Welsh speakers.
  • If the 9% (22) who are currently learning at Intermediate level continue learning, they will become fluent Welsh speakers within the next 3 to 4 years.

Our learners are based across the whole of Wales with the majority over this reporting year based around Cardiff and Bangor areas.

Whilst the numbers of learners are increasing and a lot of interest has been shown in developing language skills which is really encouraging, it can be challenging for colleagues to balance the requirements of the course and their day-to-day work commitments. Due to this, some colleagues are unable to attend the course regularly which results in them having to stop attending the course. Over this reporting year 27 have informed us that they have pulled out of attending these courses.

Learning a language is a long-term commitment and Managers need to consider this when approving training to ensure that sufficient time and consideration is allocated as all other training we provide. As we pay in advance for each course, with limited budgets this is costly to us as an organisation, and limits opportunities for others to develop their language skills.

Over the coming year with our Learning Management System becoming operational, we intend to utilise this facility in providing more support to our learners by developing short training bite-size videos to support colleagues in developing Welsh language skills at all levels.

Providing Welsh language training is a requirement of Standard 126, 127 and 128.

Clwb Clonc (Mentoring scheme)

In April 2023 our Welsh Language Mentoring Scheme was re-branded to Clwb Clonc (chat club) and re-launched. 10 of our learners meet up on a regular basis with a fluent Welsh speaker to have an informal conversation which helps in building confidence in speaking Welsh.

Over the next year we will promote Clwb Clonc by sharing good practice and personal stories on how having a mentor alongside regular training courses helps in consolidating what has been learnt in the lesson and using Welsh language skills.

Promoting our Welsh language training programme

The activities which have taken place to promote our Welsh language training are as follows: -

  • Throughout July and August our Welsh Language Training programme was promoted on our intranet to encourage colleagues to develop their language skills and sign up for lessons which begin in September each year.
  • As part of our e-Induction training for new starters, our Welsh Language Training Co-ordinator gives a presentation on our Welsh Language Training programme to support those who wish to develop their language skills at all levels. Over the year 224 new starters have received this information as part of their induction.
  • Each new starter receives an email with information on our Welsh Language Training programme and how to book on a course.
  • As part of our St David’s Day celebrations, a colleague filmed a video diary of his experience in attending a residential course at Nant Gwrtheyrn. This was shared internally on our intranet and externally on our social media accounts. The post had a high number of viewings and was shared on both Nant Gwrtheyrn and The National Centre of Learning Welsh social media accounts.

Promoting Welsh culture and language

  • June – Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
  • Promoted Urdd Gobaith Cymru’s Peace and Goodwill message for 2023 on our social media accounts.
  • July – Tafwyl – Cardiff Welsh Language Festival.
  • August – National Eisteddfod.
  • September – Diwrnod Owain Glyndwr Day.
  • October - Diwrnod Shwmae Day.
  • 27 November – December – Use your Welsh, Welsh Language Commissioner campaign.
  • January – Diwrnod Santes Dwynwen Day.
  • March – Dydd Gŵyl Dewi – St David’s Day.

St David’s Day presentation in Welsh

As part of our St David’s Day celebrations a presentation was given in Welsh by Dr Lana St Leger, Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management from Cardiff Metropolitan University on the findings of a research project called “Pan Fydd y Styd yn Siarad – When the Street Talks” researching the impact of climate change on the Welsh language, culture, and heritage. The research involved speaking to people across Wales and the presentation explained the findings of this work. The research concluded the importance of considering the Welsh language in policy making decisions in preserving our language, culture, and history for future generations.

The session was recorded and uploaded onto the intranet as part of our Webinars resource for staff.

List of Historic Place Names

We have a statutory duty to consult and add to the List of Historic Place Names and we have our Operational guidance note 124 – Naming sites and places: consulting the List of Historic Place Names, and in place to help colleagues understand this requirement and what we need to do.

During this reporting year we have developed a log to record activity relating to the List of Historic Place Names for the period April 2023 to March 2024 which records naming activities for: -

  • naming activities e.g., woodlands, designated sites, area place names, character areas.
  • consulting the List of Historic Place Names for information or reference.
  • acquiring place names that may not be on the List of Historic Place Names e.g., purchase of new land with historic field names.

In September 2023 a Web Mapping Service to the List of Historic Place Names was also

set up to link into our internal GIS. This is in addition to the online resource.

Our annual submission on the use of the List includes the following which we also sought advice from The Welsh Language Commissioner’s Place Name Standardisation Panel to ensure we were using the correct historical Welsh name: -

  • Coed Abermarlais or Coed Brownhill
  • Coed Tynymynydd
  • Coed Bryn Crugog
  • Chwarel Maelwg
  • Ynys Sgomer
  • Enwau Sgomer (Placenames on Skomer Island)
  • Coedwig Penlle’r-gaer
  • Coed Pantperthog
  • Coed Cwm Cadian
  • Pont Ty'n-y-groes
  • Pont Cae'n-y-Coed

A site acquired at Cwmbiga, Staylittle, near Llanidloes in 2020 along with a map showing

the historic field names, these were checked against the List of Historic Place Names.

We had no new records to add to the list of Historic Place Names report for this reporting year.

Training courses

Training courses provided in Welsh

Two courses were delivered in Welsh during the year as follows: -

  • Cadernid Personol / Personal Resilience Training – 8 participated in the training.
  • Sgyrsiau Gonest / Honest Conversations Training – 9 participated in the training.

Over the coming year we plan to arrange training to support more use of the language internally supporting the commitment in our Corporate Plan and our vision for the language.

Welsh language awareness training

Over this reporting year training on the language, it’s history and role in Welsh culture, how the language is used within our workplace and the support in place to help everyone in working bilingually has been delivered over Microsoft Teams to 298 colleagues and 31 received the training face to face.

Each of the Welsh language awareness sessions as part of the e-Induction training over the reporting year have taken place over Microsoft Teams and have been offered in Welsh and English. 3 have participated in the Welsh language sessions. Invitations are sent out to the two sessions at the same time and the Welsh language sessions promoted. We will over the coming year look for other ways in encouraging more of our Welsh speaking new starters to join the Welsh sessions.

These sessions have provided new starters with the opportunity to ask questions at the end which has proved to be popular and engaging. All written material for the training is available in Welsh.

1.5% (3) attended the Welsh language session.

e-INDUCTION training

Our e-Induction is our corporate induction programme which ensures new and returning colleagues have the knowledge needed to perform their role, help build a network of contacts and explain our culture and values.

It is a mixture of live and recorded content which takes place over the 9-month probation period and includes a welcome by our CEO and a member of our Board.

Over this reporting year 224 new starters have completed the e-Induction.

These sessions provide new starters with the opportunity to ask questions at the end which has proved to be popular and engaging. All written material for the training is available in Welsh and Power Point presentations are bilingual. Over the coming year we will continue with our work in developing our Welsh medium Induction training programme to comply fully with Standard 124.

First Aid training

Our new First Aid Training provider can offer this face-to-face course in Welsh. To date no-one has taken up this offer, over the coming year we will do more work to actively promote and encourage our Welsh speakers and learners to attend this Welsh medium training.

New Learning Management System

A Learning Management System (e-learning platform) has recently been procured which will start to become operational in July 2024. The implementation will be delivered in a phased approach, firstly eLearning, followed by course bookings and the performance management module in early 2025. This new system enables our people to access digital learning flexibly, when and where they like through a variety of channels such as desktop, laptop, mobile or tablet.

The e-learning modules on the platform are available in both Welsh and English, providing a language choice in completing the training. As part of our work in promoting, raising awareness and any training sessions on the platform, colleagues will be made aware of the option to complete the training modules in Welsh and how to select the Welsh option in the system.

This new Learning Management System will provide us with data on who has attended which courses, and the number who have completed the courses in Welsh. This is a capability we do not have at present.

New recruitment training

In 2024 our Recruitment Team Leader had developed our own training course on Recruitment and Interviewing processes. The requirements of our Welsh Language Standards and considerations that should be given to the language have been incorporated into the training. The training will be delivered in both Welsh and English.

Due to the current recruitment freeze this training has not yet taken place. The first training session is likely to take place during summer of 2024.

Providing training on Recruitment and Interviewing in Welsh if it is provided in English is a requirement of Standard 124

New Welsh language awareness training

Two new Welsh Language Awareness training sessions have been developed as follows: -

  1. Awareness of the Welsh language, its history and role in Welsh culture. This will be mandatory to all initially, then for each new starter within the organisation.
  2. Welsh Language Standards and how the language can help us in achieving our purpose. This will be mandatory to all initially and for all new starters, then as a refresher for all every 2-3 years.

The two courses which are explained in more detail on page 27 of this report will help all colleagues in gaining an understanding of the importance of the language in our day-to-day work. As an organisation we need to work with farmers, foresters, fisheries, and industry to tackle climate and nature emergencies together. The results of the 2021 Census show that 43% of those working in the agriculture sector in Wales are fluent Welsh speakers. We have important messages to share and need to influence and work with this sector to fulfil our purpose, to do that effectively we have to do it in both Welsh and English.

The two courses will be hosted on our new Learning Management System and will provide us with an up-to-date record of who has completed the training and when.

Providing training on the language, its history and role in Welsh culture; understanding the duty we have to operate in accordance to the standards is a requirement of Standard 128.

Record Keeping Standards

Our Standards require that we keep records as follows:

The number of employees who have Welsh language skills at the end of the year in question on the basis of the records kept in accordance with standard 145.

Over the financial last year our headcount has increased by 102 and we have seen a steady increase in the language skills of our staff at most levels. The highest percentage of our Welsh speakers being fluent in both written and spoken Welsh are at Level 5 (15%). Most of our fluent Welsh speakers (324) are in our Operations Directorate. Overall, 784 (32%) of our staff can discuss matters in Welsh at Levels, 3, 4 and 5, with 94% of our staff are able to show linguistic courtesy when meeting and greeting others.

The number of fluent Welsh speakers have increased by 16 through our recruitment process. The percentage increase from last year does not reflect this due to the increase in our overall staff numbers.

Staff are asked to self-assess their language skills and record in MyNRW. The Welsh language skills of our staff in March 2023 can be found below:

  • Level 5 = 355 (15%)
  • Level 4 = 225 (9%)
  • Level 3 = 204 (8%)
  • Level 2 = 487 (20%)
  • Level 1 = 1034 (42%)
  • No skills = 97 (4%)
  • 46 (2%) are yet to self-assess their language skills.

A reminder has been sent out to those staff and their managers who are yet to assess their language skills.

Analysis of our fluent Welsh speakers show that:

  • The majority are aged between 30-39 (159)
  • 131 are aged between 50-59
  • 54 are aged 60+
  • 316 are male and 264 are females
  • 90 work part-time
  • The highest numbers are in Grades 5 and 6 (388) with the lowest numbers (26) at our more senior Grades of 9 and above.
  • 33 new starters are fluent Welsh speakers
  • 21 new starters can discuss work related matter in Welsh
  • 36 fluent Welsh speakers have left during this reporting year

Our colleagues who have been supported to develop their language skills and successfully moved up a language level during the reporting year were reminded to update their Welsh language skills record in MyNRW. This helps us in providing more accurate figures on the language levels in the organisation when reporting.

More information on the Welsh language skills of staff can be found in Appendix 3 of this report.

The number of staff who attended training courses offered in Welsh during the year on the basis of the records kept in accordance with standard 146. If a Welsh version of a course was offered during the year, the percentage of the total number of staff attending the course who attended the Welsh version on the basis of the records kept in accordance with standard 124.

During this reporting period none of the courses listed below were offered in Welsh as required in accordance with Standard 146:

  • recruitment and interviewing – no course taken place
  • performance management – no course taken place
  • complaints and disciplinary procedures – no courses taken place
  • induction – online using Microsoft Teams
  • dealing with the public – no courses taken place
  • health and safety – face-to-face technical training

Most of our courses have continued online during this period apart from some health and safety technical courses.

The number of new and vacant posts advertised during the year which were categorised as requiring Welsh language skills as essential, desirable, needed to be learnt when appointed to the post, or not necessary on the basis of the records kept in accordance with standard 148.

Some vacancies are advertised both internally and externally simultaneously. 314 were appointed from internal candidates, 235 from external candidates and 1 secondees from other public bodies, 550 in total.

All posts are advertised requiring Level 1 as the minimum language, training is given to staff who need to attain this level of understanding to show linguistic courtesy.

Number of posts advertised during this reporting period were as follows:

Language Level Essential Desirable Welsh to be learnt
Level 5 – fluency in spoken and written Welsh 1 0 0
Level 4 – fluency in spoken Welsh 19 8 0
Level 3 - The ability to communicate in Welsh with confidence in some work situations 34 42 4
Level 1 – The ability to pronounce basic Welsh names, phrases, and greetings 442 0 0

 

Analysis of the above stats and language abilities of staff who secured roles through our recruitment process, both internally and externally during this reporting period are as follows:

  • 82 are Welsh speakers at Level 5
  • 43 are Welsh speakers at Level 4
  • 56 are Welsh speakers at Level 3
  • 99 are Welsh speakers at Level 2
  • 242 are Welsh speakers at Level 1
  • 28 had no Welsh language skills

The 28 who do not meet the Level 1 minimum language level required are expected to complete the 10-hour online course provided by the National Centre for Learning Welsh. This course will need to be completed within the probationary period to help achieve this level.

The number of complaints received during the year which related to compliance with standards numbers 152, 156, 162 and 164 with which we are under a duty to comply with.

During this reporting period we received 5 complaints, 3 we dealt with directly and 2 complained to the Welsh Language Commissioner.

1 complaint from the last reporting period resulted in an investigation being carried out by Welsh Language Commissioner during this reporting period.

Complaints

Complaint 1

A member of the public received correspondence from Environment Agency in English only informing of the change in how fishing licences will be issued from May 2024. The complainant went directly to the Welsh Language Commissioner who enquired about this matter.

Through discussions with Environment Agency, it was established they had not sent the letters on our behalf, it was a decision they made to ensure that all licence holders were aware of this change. We explained to Environment Agency staff involved that any engagement in Wales should be bilingual unless the language preference of the recipient is known. As the correspondence was not instigated by us and the steps we had taken, the Commissioner took no further action on this matter.

Complaint 2

A member of the public complained directly to the Welsh Language Commissioner following receipt of a bilingual text message in January 2024 encouraging people to register for our Flood Warning Service. The complainant was unhappy about the language order of the message received and that the website address was in English only.

We recognised the need to improve the message content in December, but the changes were unable to be implemented for the January messaging due to timeframes associated with the Environment Agency’s contractor’s ability to implement them.

We issued the change request with the contractor so that future welcome messaging sent for this service will be sent as two separate messages, one in Welsh, and one in English. The Flood Warning System will issue the Welsh language message first, followed by the issuing of the English language message. Due to external factors beyond to our control, there is no guarantee that the Welsh language message will deliver to a customer’s phone before the English.

The Welsh Language Commissioner decided not to investigate this matter further due to the action taken to send two separate messages in Welsh and English in future, which would be sent at the same time, with the Welsh message including a Welsh language website address.

Complaint 3

A member of the public contacted us having seen a news article on S4C in relation to traffic management in Newborough village for parking at the forest. A sign seen in the video footage stated that Newborough beach car par was full. The person drew our attention that the sign was factually incorrect as this is not the correct name for the beach. The traffic management in the area is carried out by a third party on our behalf and having looked at the contract there was no stipulation stated in relation to the place names used on the signage other than that they needed to ensure that bilingual signage was in place.

Following the Welsh Language Commissioner’s advice guidance on using checking and using correct historical place names, it was noted that the beach referred to is in fact 3 separate named beaches of Penrhos, Ro Fawr and Ro Fach. The latter two have become known as Llanddwyn Beach though they are not on Llanddwyn. As the car park in question is for the 3 beaches, it was decided to ensure that future bilingual signage would state “the beach car park is full” as using Llanddwyn beach which the complainant requested would also be incorrect. This requirement will be stated in future traffic management contracts moving forward.

Complaint 4

Through our enquiries form we received a complaint regarding an interpretation panel at our Abergwyngregyn Nature Reserve where the panel explains that Rhaeadr Fawr River was one of the steepest in Wales and England. The complainant was unhappy about the reference and saw it as a way of diluting the identity of Wales and felt the comparison to England was unnecessary.

We responded to say that rivers are often mentioned in a Wales and England context. Therefore, making a statement of significance, that Afon Rhaeadr Fawr is one of the steepest in Wales and England, is not unreasonable – it gives an idea that this is a special river with unique qualities. Heritage interpretation tries to reveal significant facts of interest to the reader/viewer, and this is an example.

No further correspondence was received, or action taken.

Complaint 5 – Internal complaint from colleague

One of our colleagues recorded several areas and provided examples where Welsh language services were not proactively offered or received as expected to comply with our Operational Standards.

With the help of the individual, we worked with areas of the organisation to raise awareness and address areas of non-compliance with our Operational Standards and put measures and processes in place to help ensure that a proactive Welsh language offer was offered and available to our colleagues.

Over the coming year as part of our work in creating more opportunities for colleagues to work through the medium of Welsh, we will be carrying out a monitoring process and addressing areas where issues arise during the monitoring exercise.

Investigation by Welsh Language Commissioner

In February 2023 a member of the public received correspondence in English and complained directly to us. The Team in question spoke directly to the complainant and ensured a Welsh letter was consequently sent with an apology. The complainant decided to complain to the Welsh Language Commissioner who decided to undertake an investigation into this matter.

Decision Notice

The conclusion of the investigation found we failed to comply with Standards 5 and 7 in relation to the correspondence sent. Due to the steps we had already taken following the complaint, the Commissioner provided advice on the further action we should take. We took the following action as advised: -

  • A reminder was published in our Managers Monthly reminding colleagues to use our corporate letterhead templates which are available in both Welsh and English and include the statement found in Standard 7 welcoming use of Welsh when sending out letters.
  • Reminder of the importance when initiating correspondence with the customers, partners, or stakeholders, that letters or emails are sent in both Welsh and English, asking which language the person would prefer to correspond with us, and recording the language preference once confirmed.
  • Managers were asked to check that all templates their teams use were on the correct updated corporate letterhead and that the templates were readily available in both Welsh and English.
  • An audit took place of templates in place and found that several old templates were still being used by some of our teams.
  • A second article was published in our Managers Monthly asking that teams review team templates, ensure that they are available in Welsh and English included a question asking the recipient to confirm their preferred language in corresponding with us.
  • Subsequent assessment of sample templates were found to have been updated, with some teams continuing the process of updating their templates and processes to ensure compliance with our Standards.

In the Decision Notice the Commissioner also concluded that we had failed to comply with Standard 128 in ensuring that all employees attend a training course to develop their awareness of the Welsh language, its history and its role in Welsh culture, an understanding of how the Welsh language can be used in the workplace. A record must be kept of the number and percentage of colleagues who have attended the course. We are required to provide sufficient written evidence to satisfy the Commissioner that it has completed this action by 27 May 2024.

The action we have taken to date is as follows: -

  • Over this reporting year 329 have received training on the language, it’s history and role in Welsh culture and an understanding of how the Welsh language can be used in the workplace.
  • Two new Welsh Language Awareness courses have been developed as explained on page 21 of this report. This training will be hosted on our new Learning Management System platform which will become operational in July 2024, with the training available in Welsh and English. The two sessions are as follows: -
    1. The Welsh language, its history and role in Welsh culture training will be mandatory for all to complete initially, and mandatory for all our new starters to complete as part of their e-induction during their probationary period.
    2. Welsh Language Standards and how the language can be used in the workplace will be mandatory for all initially, and as a refresher after a period of time following assessment if required.

Our Learning Management System will provide us with a record of who has completed the training assurance that our employees have all completed this training. This is a capability we do not have currently.

Risk of non-compliance

Fishing licence service on. Gov

We are continuing our discussions with Environment Agency on the further work required to ensure the landing pages on. Gov are available in Welsh. This work forms part of a wider piece of work the Environment Agency has taking place in a subsequent release of the service. Updating the pages is dependent on engagement between Environment Agency and .Gov, their processes, and timelines. A message is published on the landing page to inform users of the service that they can purchase their Fishing Licence in Welsh.

A recent update from the Environment Agency has confirmed that updating the landing pages continues to form part of their work plan but are unable to provide us with timings for this work. The Welsh Language Commissioner is aware of this matter and is supporting us with this work.

Once the above work has been carried out the whole of the Fishing Licence Purchase service will be available in Welsh and compliant with our Standards.

Training

The current contract for our safety online courses has been in place since 2013 and only available in English. We have recently procured a new Learning Management System which start to be operational by July 2024. The system hosts bilingual content which will enable colleagues to complete online courses in Welsh. 

We now have a supplier who can deliver First Aid courses through the medium of Welsh which will be promoted over this coming year.

Once our Learning Management System is operational, we will be near full compliance with Standard 124. To achieve full compliance, we need to continue with our work in developing our Welsh language provision in our Induction course to be fully compliant with this Standard.

Welsh language awareness training

Following an investigation carried out by the Welsh Language Commissioner during this reporting year, where it was found that we could not provide the Commissioner with assurance of our full compliance with Standard 128.

To address this, we have developed two new courses as explained on page 21 of this report which will be hosted on our Learning Management System and will provide accurate reports on the numbers and percentage of colleagues who have completed the training. This will provide assurance to the Commissioner of our compliance with Standard 128.

Consultation process

Following the Welsh Language Tribunal in 2023 which determined the true interpretation of “policy decisions” as explained on page 14 of this report. Whilst the Welsh language does form part of our Equality Impact Assessment, the direct and indirect effects are not at present included in our consultation documents as required.

The process we have developed following advice from the Welsh Language Commissioner in assessing the effects our consultation proposal could have on the use of the language will address this matter during the coming year to ensure we are compliant with our Policy Making Standards

How we support Cymraeg 2050

Through our work in implementing and improving our Welsh language services, over the last year we have contributed to Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 Strategy Action Plan for 2023/24 by:

  • Supported 259 colleagues through our Welsh language training programme, to develop their language skills for work purposes.
  • Actively encouraging the use of Welsh internally.
  • NRW Education and Health Team providing educational courses and resources through the medium of Welsh, ensuring the use of consistent standard Welsh terminology in environmental education.
  • Through our assessment of Welsh language skills for vacant posts, ensuring we have a higher percentage of Welsh speakers in the right roles and locations in our Welsh speaking heartlands who can use their language skills and converse naturally in Welsh with the communities we serve in those areas.
  • Through our bilingual social media accounts, promoting our language and culture to a UK audience and beyond.
  • Developing our digital services bilingually from the start and proactively offering a language choice.
  • Ensuring that Historic Place Names continue to be used verbally and on record for future generations as part of our work.

How we support Anti-racist Wales Action Plan

The Welsh Government has published the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (ARWAP), with a vision of ‘A Wales which is Anti-racist by 2030’.

Education and Welsh Language: More is done to promote access to the Welsh language by ethnic minority communities in the areas of education, language learning, the workplace and community activities. We support this action in the plan by:

  • Supporting colleagues to develop their Welsh language skills, though not specifically targeting ethnic minority people, the courses are available to help all staff develop their language skills in work time across Wales. 

Welsh language Action Plan 2023-24

The action plan for 2023-24 had 43 actions in total, 24 were completed, 15 in-progress and 4 not started. Some of the in-progress actions have not been completed due to other work priorities. The in-progress and not started actions will form part of the action plan for 2024–25.

Welsh language Action Plan 2024-25

The priorities in our action plan for 2024-25 will be:

  • Develop a vision for the Welsh language for our organisation.
  • Implement, raise awareness and support colleagues in our consultation processes.
  • Work with our Learning and Development Team to host our two new Welsh Language Training courses on our Learning Management System.
  • Review Welsh Language Standards policy layout and continue in reviewing guidance to better support and inform colleagues of what we are required to do and how.
  • Develop short training bite-size videos to support colleagues in developing Welsh language skills at all levels and host on our new Learning Management System.
  • Continue in working on the 4 projects with other public organisations including the Welsh Language Commissioner
  • Continue in developing our Welsh medium Induction training programme.
  • Continue working with teams to self-monitor our compliance with our Standards.

Conclusion

We are pleased with the progress we continue to make in implementing our Welsh Language Standards, especially in our work in increasing opportunities for colleagues to use Welsh internally. With 32% of our workforce being able to speak Welsh at Level 3, 4 and 5 and 10% developing their language skills, we understand the importance of ensuring that colleagues can use their language skills in their day-to-day work and the benefits this brings to the organisation.

Whilst there are some Standards, we are not fully compliant with, we will continue in working to address these areas. We are pleased that over this year we have been able to address areas where we have been non-compliant over the years.

We continue to receive complaints when customers and colleagues do not receive services in Welsh from us as they expected, this helps us in addressing problem areas and putting measures in place to provide better services for the future and be compliant with our Standards.

Over the coming year we will continue with our work in improving our Welsh language services and look for ways to increase their use through our collaboration on our project with the Welsh Language Commissioner and Centre for Public Digital Services, which focuses on this area.

Whilst we provide our customers with a bilingual offering, we have some way to go before we are a truly bilingual organisation in our internal ways of working. An important part of Cymraeg 2050 vision involves renewing the association between the language and the workplace. Welsh is spoken for cultural, commercial, social, and emotional reasons, it is also an essential vocational skill for some of our roles and needs to be considered as one.

We want everyone who works with us to have that “ymdeimlad o berthyn” sense of belonging – which is so important if we want to retain our Welsh speaking colleagues. Our work in developing a vision for the Welsh language for our organisation will support our values and the commitment in our Corporate Plan in increasing opportunities for colleagues to work through the medium of Welsh.

Appendix 1 - Flood Warning & Informing Services Statistics

Floodline

The tables below shows overall there are still small percentages of Welsh Language customers.

2019-2020

Floodline callers Cymraeg English
Language choice 307 (3.1%) 9,652
Pre-recorded live warning information 95 (1.3%) 7,456
Calls to Agents 25 (2%) 1,256

 

Note: 2019-2020 data is from July 2019 only.

2020-2021

Floodline callers Cymraeg English
Language choice 244 (4.1%) 5,713
Pre-recorded live warning information 94 (2.4%) 3,789
Calls to Agents 61 (5.3%) 1,067

 

2021-2022

Floodline callers Cymraeg English
Language choice 176 (3.2%) 5,334
Pre-recorded live warning information 59 (1.6%) 3,567
Calls to Agents 58 (7.4%) 729

 

2022-2023

Floodline callers Cymraeg English
Language choice 114 (4.4%) 2,473
Pre-recorded live warning information 46 (2.9%) 1,533
Calls to Agents 25 (5.3%) 443

 

2023-2024

Floodline callers Cymraeg English
Language choice 190 (4.1%) 4673
Pre-recorded live warning information 37(1.5%) 2476
Calls to Agents 55 (6.0%) 924

Flood Warnings, Alerts and Flood Risk Services

2019-2020

Webpage Cymraeg views English views
Flood warnings & alerts 10,257 (0.95%) 1,067,767
5 day flood risk for Wales 489 (0.73%) 66,570

 

2020-2021

Webpage Cymraeg views English views
Flood warnings & alerts 6,771 (0.8%) 856,914
5 day flood risk for Wales 570 (0.3%) 174,150

 

2021-2022

Webpage Cymraeg views English views
Flood warnings & alerts 4,843 (0.5%) 1,024,179
5 day flood risk for Wales 346 (0.1%) 336,933

 

2022-2023

Webpage Cymraeg views English views
Flood warnings & alerts 2,971 (0.3%) 901,042
5 day flood risk for Wales 655 (0.2%) 335,049

 

2023-2024

Webpage Cymraeg views English views
Flood warnings & alerts

8,859 (0.7%)

 1,287,764
5 day flood risk for Wales 356 (0.1%) 347,726

Appendix 2 - Health, Education and Natural Resources Team April 2023 – March 2024

Newsletter

The Health, Education & Learning newsletter goes out separately in Welsh and English each month. The latest news, funding and resources are shared along with examples of good practice from education groups and educators from around Wales.

Health, Education & Learning newsletter

Total number of subscribers

Date subscribers
March 2023 6,842
March 2024 7,957 (+16.4%)

 

Average number total opens

Date range English version Welsh version
18.04.23 – 18.03.24 35% 29.9%

 

Stories with a direct link to Wales/Welshness/the Welsh language over the last year include:

  • ‘Mind your language’ – searchable Welsh species databases. March 24
  • ‘Celebrate the legend of Saint Dwynwen and find heart in nature.’ January 24
  • ‘Festive Welsh Traditions’ – also appeared as a blog. December 23
  • ‘Are you looking for Welsh language education resources?’ December 23
  • ‘Competition invites pupils to celebrate Wales’ cynefin’ December 23
  • ‘Search Visit Wales’ high quality photography library for promotional images’ Nov 23.
  • ‘What’s the natural history of Halloween in Wales?’ October 2023
  • ‘Flintshire schools explore nature through the Welsh language’ – also appeared as a blog. June 2023
  • Cadw and Cynefin. June 2023
  • Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi – caring faithfully for their Cynefin – also appeared as a blog. May 2023
  • Learners connect with their cynefin – also appeared as a blog. April 2023

Blogs and news articles

Twenty-two blogs and news items were produced bilingually by the team:

Social media

All planned posts from the ‘Outdoor Learning Wales’ X and Facebook accounts were written and shared bilingually.

Social media following

Social media platform 13 March 2023 18 March 2024
Facebook (Closed Group) 3,081 3,339 (+8.4)
X 3,844 4,121 (+7.2%)

Direct emailing

Quarterly bilingual emails are sent to 6,197 contacts (3.3% increase from March 2023) using the team’s customer relationship management database to highlight both health, education and learning news.

Other channels

Bilingual articles focussing on children’s rights to live in a healthy environment were

written by the team and featured in the Children in Wales: Autumn and Spring e-magazines.

National campaigns and events

  • Two national campaigns were run bilingually in 2023/24 – Acorn Antics and Wales Outdoor Learning Week (which NRW organises in partnership with the Wales Council for Outdoor Learning). Dedicated Welsh #’s were provided for groups to be able engage through the medium of Welsh if desired.
  • #MiriMes
  • #WythnosDysguAwyrAgored

Educators can book to take part in both campaigns through the medium of Welsh or English as they wish.

The team are on the planning board for both the Royal Welsh Show and Eisteddfod – Welsh speakers from the team staffed both events in 23/24.

Supporting the Welsh language standards

The team have been liaising with our Specialist Advisor Welsh Language Policy, Translations and Communications team to help write internal guidance on how videos should be produced.

A member of the team has volunteered to sit on the steering group Data Cymru are leading to relaunch Tocyn Cymru, which will provide a fully bilingual event booking system.

The team continues to work closely with the Translations team and really value their help and support which ensures their work is of a user-friendly standard of Welsh.

Children, education, lifelong learning and skills (CELLS)

Resources for educators and teachers

All education resources are linked to the Curriculum for Wales and are available bilingually on the webpage.  New resources uploaded this financial year have included:

Continued professional development for educators

The concept of ‘Cynefin’ runs through the Curriculum for Wales – every CPD session, either face to face or online, includes information on how the landscape and geography of Wales has influenced Wales’ culture or history. Opportunities to promote and encourage the use of Welsh language are grasped e.g., suggesting to educators that they ask their learners to investigate the background of placenames and background of Welsh songs that relate to the landscape (Wales Coast Path webinar).

Participants on webinars and face to face CPD courses receive bilingual materials following their training with links to both Welsh and English versions of the resources shared.

Webinars

Separate Welsh and English versions of webinars are written and developed. Both are given equal promotion through marketing channels and attendees can book on to listen through the language of their choice. Where insufficient numbers booked to warrant running a webinar, the session was either cancelled or recorded without an audience and a copy sent to the interested educator.

Tocyn Cymru was used to fully manage webinar bookings bilingually until it closed in November 2023. Ticketsource, which offers a limited bilingual booking system is currently being used until a new version of Tocyn Cymru is available.

Webinar statistics:

  • Number of webinars advertised to be delivered in Welsh: 12
  • Number of webinars run in English: 12
  • Number of webinars run in Welsh cancelled or recorded without an audience due to lack of bookings: 3
  • Number of webinars run in English cancelled or recorded without an audience due to lack of bookings: 0
  • Total number of bookings for Welsh webinars: 84
  • Total number of bookings for English webinars: 412

Face to face training

  • The vast majority of NRW face to face CPD courses are delivered as separate English and Welsh language courses, so educators can book to attend a course in the language of their choice.
  • Courses which have been run and organised in partnership with Techniquest/STEM Learning have £165 available for attending educators to apply for, which helps cover the cost of supply cover. The bookings for these courses are administered through the STEM Learning website – NRW writes and shares bilingual course and booking information.
  • Occasionally English language only courses are offered if an organisation has approached us requesting us to run a training course for their stakeholders in English, or if a new course is being developed and trialled. In such instances, it is made clear to attendees that all the resources will be available bilingually and that they are welcome to converse with our team in their preferred language.

Face to face CPD training course statistics:

  • Number of open to all courses with £165 STEM bursary - advertised as delivered through the medium of English: 12 (7 went ahead)
  • Number of open to all courses with £165 STEM bursary - advertised as delivered through the medium of Welsh: 7 (0 went ahead)
  • Number of face-to-face courses requested to be ran in English for their stakeholders by partners: 4
  • Number of face-to-face courses requested to be ran in Welsh or bilingually for their stakeholders by partners: 2
  • Number of Welsh language acquisition courses ran: 4

Concerns

As previously raised with our Specialist Advisor Welsh Language Policy, numbers attending CPD sessions delivered through the medium of Welsh have been low during 2023-2024.  Several face-to-face sessions have been cancelled and webinars run with nobody or low numbers on the call, with a recording of the content provided to those that had shown an interest. 

Arranging courses incurs time and resources of many teams involved in the process e.g., CELLS, Translation Team, Digital Comms Team, and project teams as Four Rivers for Life. Venues and Welsh speaking trainers who have been hired to help run the sessions need to be cancelled incurring a financial loss for them. We are working with the Welsh Language Commissioner and Centre for Digital Public Services in finding ways to actively address this issue.

Welsh in the outdoors training

The CELLS team have been working alongside Flintshire LEA’s Welsh Advisory Teachers since March 2022 to develop a face-to-face CPD course for educators based at English medium primary schools. The training session provides attendees with ideas on how to deliver Welsh language patterns they are required to teach in learning about the natural environment. The second event in June 2023 was further developed and evaluations showed it was well received. 

The team have also developed a separate, higher level ‘Welsh in the outdoors’ training session for educators completing Welsh language sabbatical courses. Following a request from the Co-ordinator - Work place Welsh, Ceredigion, Powys & Carmarthenshire @ Aberystwyth University an initial course was run at Llandrindod Wells in July 2023.  The session gave the teachers an opportunity to learn and develop their Welsh environmental vocabulary whilst trying their hand at activities that they could run for their learners on returning to school.  Following the success of the trial session, two further courses have been run – one at Newtown and another at Crymlyn National Nature Reserve for teachers on a sabbatical Welsh course with the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David.

Apprenticeships, volunteering, work experience and other placements

All NRW placement opportunities are advertised bilingually with all the paperwork available through the medium of Welsh.

Student Work Experience (SWEP)

With enquiries coming in from members of staff looking to host their family/friends and more external enquiries due to the resurgence of work experience opportunities post Covid, the Children Lifelong Learning and Skills (CELLS) team decided to run a pilot for 2023. The pilot consisted of a cohort approach where a range of opportunities across the business were advertised for Summer 2023.  

Some opportunities were more challenging than others to advertise, possibly due to their location and transport links e.g., Bwlch Nant yr Arian. When emailing and telephoning schools in the area, doing this through the medium of Welsh had a greater impact. The ages of those on placement ranged from 16 - 45.

Twelve of the applicants were in secondary school, and eleven were university students with one from a training centre. Of those appointed, nine were in secondary school and 5 were university students.

Applications were received from many areas across Wales and two applications were received from England. Of the applicants that were successful, seven were from Northwest Wales, four from the Mid Wales, one from the Southwest Wales, one from South Central Wales and one from England (studying at a University in England).

SWEP opportunities

  • LIFE River Dee - delivered through the medium of English however many of the team members spoke Welsh.
  • Ynyslas – Advertised as being delivered through the medium of Welsh and English.
  • Bala - Advertised as being delivered through the medium of Welsh and English.
  • Coed y Brenin - Advertised as being delivered through the medium of Welsh and English. One Welsh application was received, and two Welsh evaluation forms received, although both applied in English.
  • One Welsh medium staff evaluation form was received.
  • Much of the placement was delivered through the medium of Welsh and the Placement Manager was a fluent Welsh speaker.
  • Nant yr Arian - Advertised as being delivered through the medium of Welsh and English.

Advice and guidance

The team continues to advise Welsh Government, supporting them to realise the Curriculum for Wales and the role of the Welsh natural environment within that.

As a members of the Anglesey Early Years board, advice, and guidance on using the natural environment with 0-7 years olds has been provided.

Working with others

Members from the team have worked in partnership with the following to promote the Welsh language:

  • The team are supporting Gwreiddiau Gwyllt, a project which aims to inspire an interest in nature through the medium of Welsh. A Network to promote the use of Welsh in the environmental sector and protect and promote the use of Welsh terms is in the process of being established, the CELLS team have agreed to sit on the network.
  • Bilingual Education resources have been shared with Staywise Cymru for uploading to the Blue Light website where education professionals can access resources relating to personal safety learning resources.
  • A member of the CELLS team presented what the team has to offer through the medium of Welsh at recent One Planet Cardiff Headteachers event.
  • We have been working with the University of Derby to translate ‘The Connection to Nature Handbook’ with some kind of promotion probably May/June time.
  • The team is supporting the Outdoor Education Advisors Panel to translate their National Guidance – English version can be seen here, and they are also supporting the development of their Welsh language webpages.

Looking forward

  • The team is currently working on developing the following new education resources which will be available bilingually:
    • Developing your grounds for biodiversity and learning
    • Countryside Code
    • Coed y Brenin Forest Park
    • Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Park
    • Advice and guidance for nurturing a connection to nature in babies, toddlers, and children.
  • Two dates have been put in the diary with the Flintshire Advisory Teachers for the 2024/25 to offer further environmental CPD for Welsh medium educators.

Working with Flintshire Advisory Teachers to offer further environmental CPD for Welsh medium educators. They have found that outdoor climate and nature learning is the best vehicle to encourage learners to speak Welsh. Educators are keen to gain more ideas to extend their environmental vocabulary and practice their Welsh and require more ideas on how to use introduce incidental spoken Welsh, so it becomes all-encompassing and not a time tabled lesson, with the aim of making it as easy as possible for teachers to get outside as and when they can.

Courses are being arranged to support educations to start using the natural environment to encourage learners to speak and learn Welsh. Educators are keen to gain more ideas through the medium of Welsh and our team will provide them with an opportunity to extend their environmental vocabulary and practice their Welsh. It is hoped that if this model can be refined then it could be introduced to other counties in Wales, helping to increase knowledge of, and use of environmental Welsh.

Health and well-being

Training

Team members have been working to develop a visual training resource targeted at GPs and other Health Professionals highlighting Social Prescribing: Nature based interventions. This resource will be made available bilingually.

Training for GP Trainees on the health benefits of spending time in the natural environment ran for Monmouthshire (May 22) and Rhondda Cynon Taff (October 22. Another event is being planned for May 24 – the session will be delivered in English, but all resources are available bilingually and Welsh speakers will be helping on the day. The team now has a model which could be run through the medium of Welsh if there was ever interest. Further information available here - Natural Resources Wales / Trainee GPs encouraged to prescribe a bigger dose of nature.

Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 - Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Regulations

The Health, Education and Natural Resource Team are developing an organisational approach in readiness for the regulations through the HIA Framework Development project. Members are currently working with the North-East Wales National Park Designation Project Team to undertake a HIA as part of the designation process, ensuring that all communication, engagement, and resources are offered bilingually.

Programme Management Office

The team are currently working through the Programme Management Office (PMO) to understand the breadth of NRW’s work and how aspects of the HIA framework can enhance what NRW does. Although this provision is delivered largely through the medium of English, a bilingual service is available.

Appendix 3 - Staff self-assessment of Welsh Language Skills at March 2024

Date No return completed No language skills Able to pronounce basic phrases and greetings Able to construct basic sentences Able to discuss some work matters confidently Fluent Welsh speaker Fluent in both spoken and written Welsh
March 2024 46 (2%) 97 (4%) 1034 (42%) 487 (20%) 204 (8%) 225 (9%) 355 (15%)
March 2023 49 (2.1%) 98 (4.2%) 980 (41.8%) 469 (20%) 179 (7.6%) 223 (9.5%) 348(14.8%)
March 2022 43 (2%) 88 (3.9%) 942 (41.7%) 456 (20%) 175 (7.8%) 221 (9.8%) 334 (14.8%)
February 2021 109 (4.9%) 87(3.9%) 915(40.9%) 438 (19.6%) 153 (6.8%) 225 (10%) 310 (13.9%)
March 2020 134 (6.5%) 63 (3.1%) 820 (40.0%) 412 (20.1%) 136 (6.6%) 11 (10.3%) 275 (13.4%)

 

Headcount March 2024 = 2448 – Number and percentage of Welsh speakers in March 2024 = 580 (24%)

Headcount March 2023 = 2346 – Number and percentage of Welsh speakers in March 2023 = 571 (24.3%)

Headcount March 2022 = 2259 – Number and percentage of Welsh speakers in March 2022 = 555 (24.6%)

Headcount February 2021 = 2237 - Number and percentage of Welsh speakers in February 2021 = 535 (24%)

Headcount March 2020 = 2051 - Number and percentage of Welsh speakers in March 2020 = 486 (23.7%)

Welsh Language Skills by Directorate – March 2024

Directorate No Return Completed No understanding of Welsh Able to pronounce basic Welsh phrases and names Able to construct basic Welsh sentences Able to discuss some work matters confidently Fluency in spoken Welsh Fluency in spoken and written Welsh Grand Total
CCC 6 5 35 24 13 16 47 146
CSD 3 3 39 32 9 12 23 121
EPP 4 23 316 158 61 47 75 684
FCS 3 15 85 34 16 15 21 189
OPS 30 51 559 239 105 135 189 1308
TOTAL 46 97 1034 487 204 225 355 2448

Welsh language skills by Age profile March 2024

Age No Return Completed No understanding of Welsh Able to pronounce basic Welsh phrases and names Able to construct basic Welsh sentences Able to discuss some work matters confidently Fluency in spoken Welsh Fluency in spoken and written Welsh Grand Total
<20 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3
22-29 5 8 76 23 14 12 57 195
30-39 11 26 212 115 47 54 108 573
40-49 12 24 316 171 64 78 84 749
50-59 12 27 319 131 57 57 74 677 <
60+ 6 12 111 47 21 22 32 251
Total 46 97 1034 487 204 225 355 2448

Welsh language skills by gender – Full-Time/Part-Time Employees March 2024

Gender

No Return Completed

No understanding of Welsh

Able to pronounce basic Welsh phrases and names

Able to construct basic Welsh sentences

Able to discuss some work matters confidently

Fluency in spoken Welsh

Fluency in spoken and written Welsh

Grand Total

Female

21

48

458

253

102

97

167

1146

FT

15

39

367

186

75

72

128

882

PT

6

9

91

67

27

25

39

264

Male

25

49

576

234

102

128

188

1302

FT

21

45

532

221

96

112

178

1205

PT

4

4

44

13

6

16

10

97

 Total

46

97

1034

487

204

225

355

2448

Welsh language skills by each grade March 2024

Grade No Return Completed No understanding of Welsh Able to pronounce basic Welsh phrases and names Able to construct basic Welsh sentences Able to discuss some work matters confidently Fluency in spoken Welsh Fluency in spoken and written Welsh Grand Total
G1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 5
G2 4 9 30 10 6 8 15 82
G3 3 5 43 13 3 14 27 108
G4 11 12 154 55 18 43 68 361
G5 9 28 268 104 62 60 95 626
G6 9 22 257 159 51 50 70 618
G7 3 9 150 91 41 30 38 362
G8 1 3 86 33 14 11 24 172
G9 2 2 33 17 5 6 8 73
G10 0 1 10 0 0 0 1 3
G11 1 3 10 3 1 1 7 26
SPOT 1 3 2 1 1 1 2 11
Exec 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Total 46 97 1034 487 204 225 355 2448

Welsh language skills of new starters and leavers March 2024

New starters / leavers No Return Completed No understanding of Welsh Able to pronounce basic Welsh phrases and names Able to construct basic Welsh sentences Able to discuss some work matters confidently Fluency in spoken Welsh Fluency in spoken and written Welsh Grand Total
Starters 15 14 85 29 21 9 24 197
Leavers 10 12 57 29 12 13 23 156

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