Welsh language and bilingual futures take centre stage at Ceredigion Language Conference
On 30 June 2025, over 60 people from various organisations from all over Wales came to Ceredigion’s Language Conference at Theatr Felinfach. Sponsored by the ARFOR scheme, this conference was the first of its kind with the support of Ceredigion’s Language Forum which is the Ceredigion Bilingual Futures Forum.
Everyone was welcomed to the conference by Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of Ceredigion County Council. In his opening speech he stated: "Ceredigion is one of the strongholds of the Welsh language and bilingual communities. Individuals and organisations from all sectors play a key role in promoting the status of the Welsh language and maintaining the use of the language in all aspects of life in the County. Through our Language Forum – Ceredigion Bilingual Futures Forum we collaborate and implement ideas and activities that support the development of the language in the County."
During the day there were various presentations by Ceredigion County Council officials talking about the Council's ongoing effort to promote the Welsh language in the county including work on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, Menter Iaith Ceredigion (CERED), and Theatr Felinfach community projects as well as the County Council's Welsh Work scheme which offers Welsh language training for the workplace. There was also a presentation on the impact of the ARFOR scheme in Ceredigion.
During the afternoon there were presentations by Jeremy Evas, the head of Welsh Government’s Project 2050, Dr Arwel Williams, ARFer Project Officer, Canolfan Bedwyr, and Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, Director of the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies and Chair of the Welsh Communities Commission on the BRO Project.
The conference concluded with a Q&A session chaired by Councillor Catrin MS Davies, Ceredigion Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Customer Services. Efa Gruffudd Jones, Welsh Language Commissioner, Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, Director of the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Chair of the Welsh Communities Commission, and Llyr Roberts, Chief Executive of MENTERA. They were welcomed to comment on a range of questions about the future of the language.
The Conference concluded with the sound of the Ceredigion Music Service’s Harp Ensemble. A day of celebrating Welshness in Ceredigion, sharing information and networking with a number of different organisations from across Wales.
Carys Lloyd-Jones, Ceredigion's Language Policy Officer, reflected on the success of the first language conference and said: "This was a successful conference which had very good feedback. This conference was an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the Welsh Language in Ceredigion as well as to consider possible plans for the future."
To see a video of the day go to: https://youtube.com/shorts/x4GhJ4mWETI?feature=share