Name: Nia ap Tegwyn
Role: Senior language officer
Location: Newcastle Emlyn
Website: www.mentergorllewinsirgar.cymru
Menter Gorllewin Sir Gar Cyf
Can you tell us a little about your organisation, what inspired you to start, and its role within the local community?
Menter Gorllewin Sir Gar’s remit is to encourage and support communities to develop linguistically and economically, and we applied for a grant from the UK SPF Sustainable Communities Fund specifically to do community empowerment work in and around Llanybydder and St. Clears.
Hosting a community event can often be a bit of a financial risk - even for an organisation like us who are well versed in the habit. Receiving this money removed the burden of the financial risk, enabling us to focus on the task of supporting communities to increase their Welsh language activity.
How has the UK SPF supported your organisation and what specific improvements or changes have you been able to make with the funding?
A ‘Clwb Clebran’ (Chat Club) that supports Welsh learners, a slate decorating workshop, live Welsh music at several different locations with multiple talents... we ensured the funding we received went a long way. It didn’t just enable the hosting of many lively events that united a community, but the initiatives also contributed to boosting the economies of two different areas. When we host events, local businesses are employed as partners to support our activities. The strong numbers we’ve had attending the events in Llanybydder and St.Clears also proves that the desire is there - people want to meet socially through the medium of Welsh and they’re prepared to support events which offer that opportunity.
What impact has this project had on the local community so far and how have they responded to the services/improvements you've made?
From being the spark that’s ignited a desire in other villages to have a go at hosting Welsh language events, to providing people with an opportunity to be together; the community empowerment work we’ve been able to execute as a result of receiving the UK SPF funding, has really paid off. We haven’t just brought people together at entertainment and cultural events, but also in the act of organising those events. Our goal is to open the doors to the opportunities that are available in Welsh and the benefits they bring in terms of the economy and people's well-being.
For example, by organising a gig with the 'Welsh Whisperer' at Llanybydder's rugby club and hosting a slate decorating evening at Caffi Beca, the language benefited from being used and heard, and the cultural life of a community and its economy were enriched. One thing leads to another within an event, and one event leads to triggering another in a neighbouring community, as they watch and ask 'Why don’t we do something like that in our village?'
Quote by Hazel Thomas member of Llanybydder Women's Institute
Following the improvement of The Old School in Llanybydder which is now a Community Centre, we as the Llanybydder Merched y Wawr Branch had the opportunity to organise a Mewn Cymeriad evening with Llion Williams guiding us on the Language Journey. This has been made possible thanks to the support of Carmarthenshire County Council, Menter Gorllewin Sir Gar and funded by the UK Government.
Because of the financial support that made the cost of public access affordable. The proceeds of the evening were shared with the Old School Centre and the Vestry of Aberduar.
Everyone enjoyed the evening very much.
