Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon, a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol
Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
12/06/2025Aelodau'r Pwyllgor a oedd yn bresennol
Committee Members in Attendance
| Alun Davies | |
| Delyth Jewell | Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor |
| Committee Chair | |
| Gareth Davies | |
| Heledd Fychan | |
| Julie Morgan | |
| Lee Waters | |
| Mick Antoniw | |
Y rhai eraill a oedd yn bresennol
Others in Attendance
| Betsan Moses | Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru |
| National Eisteddfod of Wales | |
| Catherine Stephens | Dysgu Cymraeg Morgannwg |
| Learn Welsh Glamorgan | |
| Einir Sion | Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru |
| Arts Council of Wales | |
| Gwyn Derfel | Undeb Rygbi Cymru |
| Welsh Rugby Union | |
| Ian Gwyn Hughes | Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru |
| Football Association of Wales | |
| Lisbeth McLean | Menter Iaith Merthyr Tudful |
| Menter Iaith Merthyr Tudful | |
| Lowri Catrin Jones | Menter Iaith Sir Caerffili |
| Menter Iaith Sir Caerffili | |
| Llio Maddocks | Urdd Gobaith Cymru |
| Urdd Gobaith Cymru | |
| Maiwenn Berry | Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam |
| Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam | |
| Nia Williams | Amgueddfa Cymru |
| Amgueddfa Cymru | |
| Osian Rowlands | Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf |
Swyddogion y Senedd a oedd yn bresennol
Senedd Officials in Attendance
| Haidee James | Ail Glerc |
| Second Clerk | |
| Lowri Barrance | Dirprwy Glerc |
| Deputy Clerk | |
| Osian Bowyer | Ymchwilydd |
| Researcher |
Cynnwys
Contents
Cofnodir y trafodion yn yr iaith y llefarwyd hwy ynddi yn y pwyllgor. Yn ogystal, cynhwysir trawsgrifiad o’r cyfieithu ar y pryd. Lle mae cyfranwyr wedi darparu cywiriadau i’w tystiolaeth, nodir y rheini yn y trawsgrifiad.
The proceedings are reported in the language in which they were spoken in the committee. In addition, a transcription of the simultaneous interpretation is included. Where contributors have supplied corrections to their evidence, these are noted in the transcript.
Cyfarfu’r pwyllgor yn y Senedd a thrwy gynhadledd fideo.
Dechreuodd y cyfarfod am 09:29.
The committee met in the Senedd and by video-conference.
The meeting began at 09:29.
Bore da a chroeso i gyfarfod heddiw o'r Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol. Dŷn ni wedi derbyn ymddiheuriadau y bore yma gan Alun Davies a Heledd Fychan. Bydd Heledd Fychan yn ymuno gyda ni ar gyfer eitem 3. Oes gan unrhyw Aelodau fuddiannau i'w datgan, os gwelwch yn dda? Dwi ddim yn gweld bod yna.
Good morning and welcome to today's meeting of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee. We have received apologies this morning from Alun Davies and Heledd Fychan. Heledd will be joining us for item 3. Are there any declarations of interest from Members? I can't see any.
Felly, fe wnawn ni symud yn syth at eitem 2. Dŷn ni nawr yn cymryd tystiolaeth ar lafar ar gyfer ein ymchwiliad 'Cymraeg i bawb?' A dŷn ni'n cymryd tystiolaeth o'n pumed panel nawr y bore yma. Ac fe wnaf i ofyn i'n tystion gyflwyno'u hunain ar gyfer y record. Fe wnaf i fynd at Nia yn gyntaf.
So, we'll move straight to item 2. We're now taking oral evidence for our inquiry, 'Cymraeg for all?' And we're taking evidence from our fifth panel this morning. I'll ask our witnesses to introduce themselves for the record. And I'll go to Nia first.
Bore da. Nia Williams ydw i, cyfarwyddwr addysg, profiad ac ymgysylltu, Amgueddfa Cymru.
Good morning. I'm Nia Williams, director of education and engagement for Amgueddfa Cymru.
Diolch. Ac fe wnaf i fynd at Hywel nesaf.
Thank you. And I'll go to Hywel next.
Helo. Dwi ddim yn clywed dim byd am ryw reswm. Mae'r sain wedi stopio gweithio.
I can't hear anything at the moment. The audio has stopped working.
Ocê. Fe wnawn ni jest gymryd egwyl gyflym, dechnegol. So, fe wnawn ni aros i glywed ein bod ni'n breifat.
Okay, we'll just take a quick break—a quick technical break. So, we'll wait to hear that we're in private session.
Gohiriwyd y cyfarfod rhwng 09:30 ac 09:32.
The meeting adjourned between 09:30 and 09:32.
Croeso nôl unwaith eto i'r cyfarfod yma o'r pwyllgor diwylliant, ac fe wnaf i ofyn i Einir i gyflwyno'i hunan ar gyfer y record.
Welcome back once again to this meeting of the culture committee, and I'll ask Einir to introduce herself for the record.
Bore da. Einir Sion ydw i, a fi yw ysgogydd y Gymraeg ar ran Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru.
Good morning. I'm Einir Sion, and I am the Welsh language enabler at the Arts Council of Wales.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i’r ddwy ohonoch chi. Mae croeso mawr i chi. Ac ar gyfer unrhyw un sydd yn gwylio hyn ar Senedd.tv, mae gan Hywel Iorwerth broblemau technegol ar hyn o bryd, ond rŷn ni'n gobeithio y bydd e’n ailymuno â’r sesiwn yn fuan iawn. Fe wnawn ni symud yn syth at gwestiynau, os yw hwnna’n iawn gyda’r tystion.
A gaf i ofyn i chi yn gyntaf: o ran y rôl mae gwyliau a digwyddiadau Cymraeg yn ei chwarae yn ddiwylliannol o ran hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg, yn enwedig efallai mewn ardaloedd lle mae yna lai o boblogaeth o ran canran, neu mae yna lefelau is o siaradwyr Cymraeg, beth ydych chi’n meddwl ydy rôl y digwyddiadau a’r gwyliau yna? Nia yn gyntaf.
Thank you very much to you both. A warm welcome to you. And for everyone who’s watching this, Hywel Iorwerth is having technical problems at the moment, but we’re hoping he will rejoin the session soon. We’ll move straight to questions, if that’s okay with the witnesses.
May I ask, first of all: in terms of the role that Welsh language cultural festivals and events play in promoting Welsh language use, especially in areas that have lower levels of Welsh speakers in percentage terms, what do you think is the role of those events and festivals? Nia, first of all.
Mae yna rôl bwysig gan wyliau a digwyddiadau o ran hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg. Mae cyfnod yr ŵyl neu’r digwyddiad yn rhoi profiad torfol yn yr iaith Gymraeg i bobl, a hynny y tu hwnt i’r profiad arferol o ddydd i ddydd mewn ardaloedd dwysedd isel o ran y Gymraeg. Mae’n bwysig o ran cynyddu lefel hyder, defnydd, ac ysbrydoli pobl o ran beth yw posibiliadau’r Gymraeg yn eu hardal nhw. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae’r paratoi, a’r gwaith ar lawr gwlad sy’n mynd mewn i baratoi ar gyfer yr ŵyl, yn gyfnod lle mae pobl yn gallu dod at ei gilydd i weithredu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, neu i brofi hynny yn digwydd. Felly, mae’n gyfle iddyn nhw ddatblygu cyfleoedd i ddatblygu sgiliau.
Mae gyda ni amgueddfeydd ar hyd a lled Cymru mewn ardaloedd dwysedd uchel, dwysedd canol a dwysedd isel. Beth fuaswn i hefyd yn dweud yw: tra bo digwyddiadau unigol yn allweddol bwysig—ac rŷn ni’n gweld hynny drwy’r rhai rŷn ni’n eu cynnal yn yr amgueddfa—mae darpariaeth gyson, hirdymor yn bwysig hefyd, ac mae’n hamgueddfeydd ni yn gallu bod yn ganolfannau lle mae’r Gymraeg yn cael ei gweld, ei chlywed a’i defnyddio yn ddyddiol.
Felly, buaswn i’n dweud ein bod ni angen cyfuno'r gwaith creiddiol hirdymor hwn o gynnig profiad cyfrwng Cymraeg ochr yn ochr â’r digwyddiadau a’r gwyliau sydd yn mynd a dod yn yr ardaloedd. Ac mae ymchwil yn dangos bod y seilwaith hwn yn hollbwysig er mwyn creu amgylchiadau ar gyfer defnyddio’r Gymraeg.
Well, events and festivals have an important role in promoting the Welsh language. The event itself gives people an experience of the Welsh language that is beyond the day to day in low density areas in relation to the Welsh language. It’s important in terms of increasing confidence, use of the Welsh language, and inspiring people in terms of the possibilities of the Welsh language in their own areas. And, of course, the preparation and the work on the ground that goes into preparing for these festivals is a time when people can come together to work together through the medium of Welsh, or to experience that. So, it’s an opportunity for people to develop their skills.
We have museums the length and breadth of Wales in high density, medium density and low density areas. What I would also say is that whilst individual events are crucially important—and we do see that through the ones that we hold in the Amgueddfa—long-term provision is also important, and our museums can be centres where the Welsh language is seen, heard and used on a daily basis.
So, I would say that we need to combine that core, long-term work of providing Welsh language experiences alongside these festivals and events that come and go in various different areas. And research shows that this infrastructure is crucially important to create circumstances in which people can use the Welsh language.
Diolch am hynna, Nia. Einir, oedd yna unrhyw beth roeddech chi eisiau ei ddweud?
Thank you for that, Nia. Einir, was there anything you'd like to say?
Oedd. I ychwanegu at hynna, dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr â beth mae Nia newydd ei ddweud o ran buddion gwyliau a digwyddiadau torfol. Mae e'n newid y dwysedd iaith am gyfnod penodol, am gyfnod byr, ac felly yn cyflwyno'r posibilrwydd o ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg mewn modd nad yw'n bosib gwneud hynny tu hwnt i gyfnod yr ŵyl. Ond byddwn i'n cytuno'n llwyr gyda Nia; mae'n rhaid i hyn fynd law yn llaw gyda'r gweithredoedd hir dymor, gyda'r asedau cymunedol sy'n bodoli, gyda'r bobl sy'n byw a bod yn y cymunedau yna, i gael mewnbwn llawn i ddatblygiad unrhyw ŵyl neu ddigwyddiad, i'r trefniadau, ac wrth gwrs yn ystod ac wedi i'r ŵyl ddod i ben, er mwyn iddo fe beidio bod yn un peth ar ei ben ei hun.
Dwi hefyd yn meddwl ei fod e'n agor cyfleoedd i bobl fod yn ymwneud â'r Gymraeg, ac, os yw'r cyfleoedd yna yn cael eu cymryd, o gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli i gyfleoedd busnes i gyfleoedd gwaith, ac wrth gwrs cyfleoedd creadigol a chelfyddydol, yna os yw'r manteision yna yn cael eu cymryd fel rhan o drefniadau a chynhaliaeth gŵyl neu ddigwyddiad, yna mae'r effaith yn fawr iawn. Rydyn ni'n clywed anecdotau unigolion yn gyson o ran yr effaith mae'n cael arnyn nhw, a dwi'n meddwl y dylen ni weld hynny fel y man pwysicaf i fesur yr effaith yna, achos pobl sydd yn siarad iaith, pobl sydd yn ymwneud â'r iaith, a phobl felly rydyn ni angen dod gyda ni ar y siwrnai arbennig yma gyda'r iaith.
Felly, mae yna rôl bwysig i wyliau a digwyddiadau ar y siwrnai yna, ond dylai fo ddigwydd yng nghyd-destun cymunedol mwy hir dymor, yn ogystal â'r rhai mawr rydyn ni'n meddwl amdanyn nhw, wrth gwrs, sydd yn teithio ac ati. Ond mae yna wyliau a digwyddiadau cyson. Ac ar y pwynt yma, mae hefyd yn plethu ac yn cyflwyno ein diwylliant Cymraeg ni—digwyddiadau a gweithredoedd creadigol. Mae'n rhoi cyfle inni ddod â'r rheini hefyd at y boblogaeth, er mwyn iddyn nhw weld y gwahanol opsiynau a'r gwahanol feysydd sydd ar gael iddyn nhw ymwneud â nhw yn hir dymor wedi'r digwyddiad yna.
Yes. Just to add to that, I totally agree with what Nia has just said in terms of the benefits of festivals and events. It changes the language density for a specific period of time, for a short period of time, and therefore introduces the possibility of using the Welsh language in a way that it's not possible to do beyond the period of the event. But I would completely agree with Nia; this has to go hand in hand with the long-term actions, with the community assets that exist, with those who live in those communities, for them to have full input into the development of any festival or event, into the arrangements, and of course during and after the event has come to an end, or the festival has come to an end, so that it's not just one thing.
I also think that there are opportunities there for people to be involved in the Welsh language, and, if those opportunities are taken up, from volunteering to business opportunities and work opportunities, and of course creative opportunities and arts opportunities, then, if those benefits are taken up as part of the arrangements of an event or festival, then the impact is great. We've heard anecdotal evidence from individuals consistently that it is having an impact on them, and I think we should see that as the most important place to measure the impact, because it's people that speak a language, people are involved in language, and so it's people that we need to bring with us on this special journey in terms of the language.
So, there is an important role for events and festivals on this journey, but it should happen in a more long-term community context, as well as the large festivals that we think about, of course, which travel from area to area. But there are regular festivals and events. And on this point as well, it also weaves into and presents our Welsh culture—events and creative activities. It gives us an opportunity to bring those to the population, so that they can see the different options that are out there for them to be involved in in the long term, after that event.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am hynna. Hywel, croeso nôl atoch chi. Ydych chi'n clywed ni'n iawn nawr? Fe wnaf i ofyn ichi os gallwch chi gyflwyno eich hunain ar gyfer y record, a hefyd rŷn ni yn trafod—. Roedden ni wedi gofyn o ran y rôl sydd gan wyliau Cymraeg a digwyddiadau o ran yr iaith Gymraeg. Pa rôl sydd ganddyn nhw i hybu'r iaith, yn enwedig mewn rhai o'r ardaloedd hynny lle mae dwysedd is o'r Gymraeg yn cael ei siarad? Felly, os gallwch chi gyflwyno eich hunain a hefyd rhoi eich syniadau am hynna, plis.
Thank you very much for that. Hywel, welcome back. Are you hearing us okay now? I'll ask you if you could introduce yourself for the record, and also we're discussing—. We were asking about the role of Welsh language festivals and events in terms of the Welsh language. What role do they have in promoting the Welsh language, particularly in areas where there are lower levels of Welsh speakers? So, if you could introduce yourself and also provide us with your ideas, please.
Grêt, diolch, ie. Hywel Iorwerth ydw i. Dwi'n uwch swyddog polisi yn swyddfa Comisiynydd y Gymraeg.
I gychwyn, buaswn i'n dweud bod digwyddiadau diwylliannol mawr fel yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, Eisteddfod yr Urdd, Tafwyl ac ati yn ffyrdd effeithiol iawn o gynnig gofodau i bobl glywed, gweld a defnyddio'r Gymraeg. Mae'n gyfle i ddathlu'r Gymraeg a'i diwylliant, a dwi'n meddwl ar y cyfan yn rhoi hysbyseb ofnadwy o bositif i'r iaith, ac yn gwneud gwaith gwych o hyrwyddo'r iaith Gymraeg.
Peth arall pwysig, dwi'n meddwl, a'n ein hargraff ni o'r digwyddiadau yma, ydy ei bod nhw'n gynhwysol iawn eu natur. Hynny ydy, maen nhw'n annog pobl o gefndiroedd gwahanol—rhai sydd yn siarad Cymraeg a rhai sydd ddim yn siarad Cymraeg—i fynychu, i fwynhau, ac i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg sydd ganddyn nhw. Felly, dwi'n meddwl bod hynna yn neges bwysig iawn. Mae Eisteddfod yr Urdd, er enghraifft, yn gwneud gwaith gwych, dwi'n meddwl, yn annog rhieni di-Gymraeg sydd wedi dewis anfon eu plant i addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg i fod yn rhan ohono fo, ac i deuluoedd sydd ddim wedi dewis addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg hefyd.
Dwi'n meddwl efallai, o beth gwnes i glywed, fod Einir efallai wedi crybwyll rhai o'r materion yma, ond dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n bwysig ystyried effeithiau anuniongyrchol y digwyddiadau yma—so dim jest y pethau sy'n digwydd yn ystod y digwyddiad ond sut mae hyn yn effeithio yn y tymor hirach ar agweddau pobl a'r ymdeimlad o berthyn i'r iaith, o bosib wedyn sy'n dylanwadu ar benderfyniadau tymor hirach mae pobl yn eu gwneud o ran eu defnydd personol nhw o'r iaith, yn y gweithle, yn gymdeithasol, ac o bosib ar ddewisiadau fel i le maen nhw'n gyrru eu plant, i ba gyfrwng iaith ysgol, sut maen nhw'n rhyngweithio efo'u hwyrion a'u hwyresau. Mae'n siŵr y down ni at hyn mewn munud. Mae'n anodd iawn mesur y pethau yna, dwi'n meddwl, ond maen nhw'n agweddau hynod bwysig.
Ac wedyn, jest i orffen, fel pwynt cychwynnol, buaswn i'n dweud hefyd bod beth sy'n digwydd o amgylch y digwyddiadau yma'n hynod bwysig: beth sy'n digwydd yn arwain i fyny i'r digwyddiad, beth sy'n digwydd o amgylch y digwyddiad ac ar ôl y digwyddiad, pwysigrwydd y cyfnod trefnu, hel arian, yr holl ddigwyddiadau yna sy'n creu ymdeimlad o gymuned a hefyd yn cynyddu cyfleoedd i ddefnyddio'r iaith Gymraeg. Felly, dwi'n meddwl bod angen ystyried y digwyddiadau yma o fewn cyd-destun cynllunio ieithyddol ehangach o bosib hefyd.
Yes, thank you very much. I'm Hywel Iorwerth. I'm a senior policy officer at the office of the Welsh Language Commissioner.
Initially, I would say that major cultural events such as the National Eisteddfod, the Urdd Eisteddfod, Tafwyl and so on are very effective ways of providing spaces for people to hear, see and use the Welsh language. It's an opportunity to celebrate the Welsh language and culture, and I think generally speaking it is a very positive advertisement for the Welsh language, and does great work in promoting the language.
Another important thing, I think, and our impression of these events, is that they're very inclusive in nature. They encourage people from different backgrounds—those who are Welsh speaking or non-Welsh speaking—to attend and enjoy and use the Welsh language skills that they have. That's a very important message, in my view. The Urdd Eisteddfod, for example, does excellent work, I think, in encouraging non-Welsh speaking parents who've chosen to send their children to Welsh-medium education to be part of it, and those families who haven't chosen Welsh-medium education too.
I think that Einir may have mentioned some of these issues, but I do think it's important to consider the indirect impact of these events—so not just the things that happen during the event itself, but how this has a longer-term impact on people's attitudes and that feeling of belonging in relation to the Welsh language that may influence longer term decisions that people make, in terms of their personal use of the Welsh language, in the workplace, socially, and perhaps choices such as where they send their children to school, what medium they choose, and how they interact with their grandchildren, for example. I'm sure we'll come to this in a minute. It's very difficult to measure those things, but they are very important aspects.
And just to conclude, as an initial point, I would say that what happens around these events is also very important: what happens in the lead-up to the event, what happens around the event itself and after the event, there's the importance of that period of organisation, the fundraising, all of those activities that create a feeling of community and provide opportunities to use the Welsh language. So, I do think that we need to consider these events within the context of wider language planning too.
Diolch, Hywel, ac ar y pwynt roeddech chi'n ei wneud fanna o ran sut mae mesur hwnna, oes gennych chi unrhyw sylwadau ychwanegol ar hynny o ran y ffaith ei bod hi'n eithaf anodd weithiau i fesur yr ymdeimlad tuag at y Gymraeg ymysg y rheini sydd ddim yn siarad yr iaith, ac ati?
Thank you, Hywel, and on the point that you were making there about how you measure that, do you have any further comments on that, in terms of the fact that it can be difficult at times to measure the feeling towards the Welsh language amongst those who don't speak the language, and so forth?
Ydy, yn enwedig, dwi'n meddwl, pan rydyn ni'n sôn bod lot o'r pethau yna yn gorfod cael eu mesur yn y tymor hirach. Hynny ydy, dwi'n meddwl mai'r broblem ydy sut ti'n ynysu'r cause and effect, effaith y digwyddiad ar ymdeimlad rhywun o berthyn a'r penderfyniadau maen nhw'n eu gwneud blynyddoedd lawr y lein, o ystyried bod yna lot o ymyraethau gwahanol yn digwydd gan yr Urdd, y mentrau iaith, Mudiad Meithrin, Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg, yr holl sefydliadau yma sy'n gweithio'n barhaus ar ran addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg hefyd. Felly, mae'n anodd ond mae'n bosib ein bod ni yn gallu gwneud mwy yn y cyd-destun yna i drio mesur yr effaith.
Yes, particularly, I think, when you consider that we have to measure many of those things in the longer term. That is, I think the problem is how you isolate the cause and effect, the impact of the event on someone's feeling of belonging and the decisions they may make years down the line, given that there are a number of different interventions by the Urdd, the mentrau iaith, Mudiad Meithrin, Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg, and all of these organisations that are working continually to promote Welsh-medium education. So, it is difficult, but perhaps we could do more in that context to try to measure the impact.
Diolch am hwnna. Gwnaf i ddod at Einir ar hwnna hefyd.
Thank you for that. I'll come to Einir on that too.
Diolch. O ran y dulliau mesur, rydyn ni wedi bod, trwy raglenni penodol y cyngor celfyddydau, yn edrych ar y maes yma wrth i ni fod yn enwedig yn rhedeg rhaglen o'r enw Llais y Lle, sy'n rhaglen sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r defnydd a pherchnogaeth o'r Gymraeg ar lefel gymunedol trwy ddulliau creadigol yn benodol. Ac rydyn ni yn defnyddio arddull ac yn gynyddol yn mesur, yn gofyn i'r artistiaid sydd yn y cymunedau yn ogystal ag aelodau o'r cymunedau eu hunain, os oes effaith iaith, i ddweud beth maen nhw'n meddwl sydd wedi arwain at le maen nhw nawr. Dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n dueddol o fesur ble mae rhywun ar ôl digwyddiad heb ystyried yr holl agweddau eraill sy'n bwydo i mewn i ble mae unigolyn a'u perthynas nhw gydag iaith. Ac felly dwi'n meddwl bod yna le i ni, yn ein dulliau asesu ni, i fod yn cynnwys y cwestiynu mwy hirdymor yna ac, o bosib, dod o hyd i ffordd i gadw'r data yna mewn ffordd saff, wrth gwrs, ond dod o hyd i ffordd i gadw'r data yna er mwyn i ni fod yn gallu adeiladu ffordd fwy hirdymor o weld beth sy'n effeithio'n gadarnhaol ar ddefnydd iaith unigolion.
A dwi'n meddwl beth rydyn ni wedi ei ddarganfod ydy mai'r pwynt yna o berchnogaeth sy'n gwneud y newid. Unwaith mae unigolyn yn perchnogi'r iaith, yna mae'r defnydd yn cynyddu, achos wrth berchnogi, mae'r awydd yn cynyddu, mae'r hyder yn gallu cynyddu ac mae'r defnydd, felly, yn dod. Felly, dydy o ddim mor syml a dweud, 'Ydy rhywun yn defnyddio iaith?' a sut rydyn ni'n mynd i'w cael nhw i ddweud, 'Bore da' yn hytrach na 'Good morning'. Dydy o ddim mor syml â hynny. Mae angen cael yr ymdeimlad yna o berchnogaeth er mwyn adeiladu at y pwynt hwnnw. Felly, o ran mesur, dwi yn meddwl bod yna le i ni ddatblygu dulliau mwy hirdymor o fesur effaith.
Thank you. In terms of the means of measuring this, through specific programmes of the arts council, we've been looking at this area, particularly as we've been running a programme called Llais y Lle, which is a programme that addresses the use and ownership of the Welsh language on a community level through creative means specifically. And we use a method and increasingly measure, asking artists who are in the communities, as well as members of those communities themselves, if there is a language impact and for them to say what they think has led to where they are now. I think we tend to measure where somebody is after an event without considering all of the other aspects that feed in to where an individual is in terms of their relationship with language. And I do think that there is a means for us, in our assessment methods, to include longer term questions and then perhaps to look for a way of retaining that data, in a safe way, of course, but to seek a way of keeping that data so that we can build a more long-term means of seeing what has a positive effect on the use of language amongst individuals.
And I think that what we've discovered is that it's that point of ownership that causes a change. Once somebody owns the language, then the use increases, because when owning it, the desire increases, the confidence grows and then the use of the language appears. It's not as simple as querying whether somebody is using the language and how we're going to get them to say, 'Bore da', rather than 'Good morning'. It's not as simple as that. There is a need for that feeling of ownership in order to build towards that point. So, in terms of measuring, I do think that there is a means of developing longer term ways of measuring impact.
Diolch, Einir. Roedd Nia eisiau dod i mewn hefyd, dwi'n meddwl.
Thank you, Einir. Nia wanted to come in there as well.
Diolch. Jest i gytuno gydag Einir yn fanna, dwi'n meddwl mai'r perchnogi yna—rydyn ni'n gweld yr un peth. Rydyn ni wedi dechrau arbrofi gyda chasglu data o gwmpas y defnyddwyr sydd gyda ni, ac mae'r berchnogaeth yna'n dod trwyddo yn eithaf clir. Buaswn i'n cytuno, dwi'n meddwl, fod yna fwlch data yn fan hyn. Mae'r cyfrifiad yn canolbwyntio ar niferoedd yn hytrach na defnydd. Mae'r prosiect BRO, wrth gwrs, yn mynd i roi data ansoddol i ni o ran ardaloedd dwysedd uchel, ac mi fyddai'n fanteisiol, dwi'n meddwl, i gynnal y math yna o ddadansoddiad ar gyfer ardaloedd dwysedd isel a chanolig hefyd. Dwi'n gwybod bod yna drafod ar hynny ar hyn o bryd, ond mae yna fwlch. Ac wedyn, wrth gwrs, byddai hwnna'n ein helpu ni i gynllunio yn fwy effeithiol pe bai gennym ni ddata gwell.
Thank you. I just wanted to agree with Einir, I think it's that ownership—we see the same thing. We've started experimenting with data gathering around our visitors, and that issue of ownership comes through quite clearly. I would agree, I think, that there might be a data gap here. The census focuses on numbers rather than usage. The BRO project, of course, will provide us with qualitative data in terms of high-density areas, and I think that it would be useful to have this kind of analysis for low-density and medium-density areas too. I know that there is some discussion around that at the moment, but there is a gap. And then, of course, that would help us to plan more effectively, if we had better data.
Diolch, Nia. Gwnawn ni symud at Lee ar gyfer y cwestiynau nesaf.
Thank you, Nia. We'll move on to Lee for our next questions.
Diolch. I'm quite struck, listening to the discussion, by the parallels with major events in sport. I think that, often, the case for an Olympics or a Commonwealth Games is heavily based on the need to create a legacy, and all sorts of ambitions are set out for a legacy that something would create, whereas in fact the evidence of that legacy is very weak. In fact, there's some negative evidence of the effect that major sporting events have on physical activity, for example, which is that physical activity goes down. So, I just wonder if there's a parallel here with what we're talking about today, because some of the evidence we've had is that, particularly in areas where there are low levels of Welsh spoken, the long-term impact of a large event is non-existent or weak. I wonder if you have any thoughts on the evidence base of that, but moreover, whether we're trying to measure the wrong things here. Does it matter if there's an evidence base of—? There is no evidence base of an Olympics having a long-term impact on physical activity, it doesn't mean that we stop doing the Olympics—they have other benefits. So, I just wonder what your reflections are really on this, the evidence base and whether or not we put too much store on it.
Einir.
Einir.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Mae o yn gwestiwn pwysig a diddorol iawn, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun gwyliau neu ddigwyddiadau mawr sydd efallai yn mynd i rywle, yn hytrach na'r amryw wyliau a digwyddiadau llai sydd yn digwydd yn gyson ac yn dod o gymuned a gyda'r gymuned.
Dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni ddefnyddio enghreifftiau lle mae yna lwyddiant. Os gwnaf i fynd at yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, er enghraifft, ym Mhontypridd y llynedd, gan ei bod hi yng nghanol tref, rydyn ni'n dal i glywed y newyddion cadarnhaol ynglŷn â'r effaith—ar agweddau efallai yn fwy na defnydd—a'r teimlad yna o fod wedi gallu perchnogi'r ŵyl yna i'r gymuned. Dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni fod yn ystyried hynny wrth ddatblygu'r hyn sy'n digwydd yn y dyfodol. Eto, yn mynd nôl at berchnogaeth pobl—nid o angenrheidrwydd yr iaith yn yr achos yma felly, ond yn y trefnu a'r paratoi—os yw pobl yn cael bod yn rhan o rywbeth ac yn cael budd o hynny ac yn teimlo'r berchnogaeth yna o fod yn rhan o drefniadau neu o gynhaliaeth neu o ddatblygiadau digwyddiad, maen nhw'n fwy tebygol wedyn o gael profiad cadarnhaol gyda'r digwyddiad yna, ac wedyn yn fwy tebygol o gael profiad cadarnhaol gyda beth bynnag yw'r maes wedi'r digwyddiad yna.
Felly, dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n dod nôl at yr hyn y mae'r tri ohonom ni wedi dweud eisoes: at yr ymwneud cymunedol yna, yr ymwneud lleol, gyda digwyddiad. Beth bynnag bo'r digwyddiad yna—os ydy o'n un sy'n teithio i ardal neu'n un sydd yna'n barhaus—fod yna ddigonedd o gyfleoedd i'r gymuned yna ymwneud â'r digwyddiad, yn y paratoad a'r hyn sy'n digwydd yn ystod ac wedi hynny. A dwi'n sôn yn fan hyn am ddefnyddio'r asedau cymunedol sy'n bodoli yn barod yn yr ardaloedd yna—y mudiadau cymunedol a'r mudiadau mwy sydd yn bodoli eisoes yn y cymunedau yna. Os oes yna bartneriaeth a chydweithio dwys efo nhw, yna dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n fwy tebygol bod yr effaith wedi'r digwyddiad a'r sgil-effaith yn rhai cadarnhaol.
Thank you for this question. It's an important one and an interesting one, particularly in the context of large events and festivals that perhaps go somewhere, rather than the various smaller festivals and events that happen regularly in a community and with the community.
I think it's important for us to use examples where there's been success. If I turn to the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd last year, because it was in the centre of the town, we're still hearing the positive news about the impact—on attitudes perhaps more than use—and that feeling of having been able to own that festival for the community. And I think it's important for us to consider that in developing what's happening in the future. Again, going back to people's ownership—not necessarily the language in this case, but in the organisation and the preparation—if people are part of something and get a benefit from that and feel that ownership of being part of the organisation or the arrangements or the development of an event, they're more likely then to have a positive experience with that event, and then are more likely to have a positive experience with whatever the area is following the event.
So, I think it comes back to what the three of us have said already: to that community involvement, that local involvement, with an event. Whatever that event is—whether it's one that travels to an area or is there permanently—there should be sufficient opportunities for that community to be involved in the event, in the preparation and during and after the event. And I'm talking here about using the community assets that exist already in those areas—the community organisations and the larger organisations that already exist in those communities. If there is a partnership and intense collaboration with them, I think it's more likely then that the impact following the event and the knock-on effects will be positive ones.
Dwi'n meddwl bod Hywel eisiau dod i mewn hefyd.
I think Hywel wants to come in now.
Diolch. Ie, dwi'n meddwl, wrth baratoi ar gyfer sesiwn heddiw, wnes i feddwl am yr union gwestiynau a gafodd eu gofyn yn fanna. Hynny ydy, ydy o wir ots, a beth fuasem ni'n ei wneud pe bai'r dystiolaeth yn awgrymu bod yna ddim effaith? Hynny ydy, buasem ni ddim yn stopio eu cynnal nhw, dwi ddim yn meddwl. A dwi'n meddwl hefyd, efo rhai o'r pethau yma, rydyn ni'n trio mesur pethau sydd, buaswn i'n ei ddweud, bron yn amhosibl eu mesur. Dwi'n meddwl ei fod yn ofnadwy o anodd i ynysu beth ydy effaith un digwyddiad ar faterion cymhleth yn ymwneud efo seicoleg rhywun a sut maen nhw'n teimlo am yr iaith a'r penderfyniadau sy'n cael eu gwneud.
Felly, dwi'n cydymdeimlo efo'r sentiment yna, felly. Efallai beth fuaswn i'n ei ddweud, dwi'n meddwl, yn ailadrodd i raddau beth y mae Einir newydd ei ddweud, ydy, efallai bod yna wahaniaeth rhwng trio mesur effaith y digwyddiad ar ei ben ei hun a hefyd mesur beth sy'n digwydd yn fwy holistig o ran cynllunio ieithyddol cymunedol yn yr ardal yna, sy'n cynnwys lot o ymyraethau gwahanol, a bod gennym ni well data i fod yn trio tracio, mesur beth sy'n digwydd, i ba raddau mae yna gynnydd, a thrio gwella'r ymyraethau rydyn ni'n eu cyflwyno yn sgil hynny. Ond dwi'n gweld hwnna'n ddarlun mwy holistig a fuasai'n digwydd efo nifer o ymyraethau gwahanol a ddim yn trio canolbwyntio ar un digwyddiad ac effaith hwnna, os ydy hwnna'n gwneud sens. So, yn sicr, buasai digwyddiadau fel hyn yn rhan o'r darlun yna. Diolch.
Thank you. Yes, I think in preparing for today's session, I considered the exact questions you've just asked there. That is, does it really matter, and what would we do if the evidence suggested that there was no long-term impact? That is, we wouldn't stop holding these events, I don't think. And I think also that, with some of these things, we're trying to measure things that, I would say, are almost impossible to measure. I think it's extremely difficult to isolate the impact of one event on complex issues related to psychology and how people feel towards the language and the decisions that they make.
So, I do sympathise with that sentiment. Perhaps what I would say, maybe rehearsing what Einir has just said, is that there may be a difference between trying to measure the impact of a particular event in isolation and measuring the impact of what happens more holistically in terms of community language planning in that area, which includes a number of different interventions, and that if we had better data we could better track and measure what is happening, to what extent progress is being made, and try and improve the interventions that we make as a result of that. But I see that as a more holistic picture that would cover a number of different interventions, rather than focusing on one single event and the impact of that, if that makes sense. But certainly, these events are part of that picture. Thank you.
Thank you. That makes sense. It seem to me it's part of a mosaic of things that we do to create an 'awyrgylch', to use the Welsh word. I'm just thinking as well, listening to the conversation, there's a lot of activity in the run-up to the Eisteddfod, for example, in local committees and events and a real sense of feeling of momentum in the build-up, and then afterwards, that kind of dissipates. You mentioned the Pontypridd example, and there's a bit of a feeling, I think, in some of the events we've had, of a bit of an anti-climax in the local community of, 'Oh, well, what now?'
Are you aware of where this has been done well for a large event, that there has been a legacy? And, just as there is the plan in the run-up, is there a legacy plan? And is there a template of what good practice looks like of, 'These are the handful of steps you would take in the five years after a major event, two years after a major event', to build on that, to keep the momentum going, to keep those networks together? Do we do enough of that post-event planning that matches the effort we put into the pre-event planning? And are there examples of where it's been done well?
Mi wnaf i fynd at Einir yn gyntaf. Gyda llaw, dwi wedi gweld bod Mick eisiau dod mewn gyda chwestiwn atodol ar ôl hyn, ond mi wnaf i fynd at Einir yn gyntaf.
I'm going to go to Einir first of all. I've seen that Mick wants to come in with a supplementary question after this, but I'll go to Einir first.
Diolch. Dwi yn mynd i fynd nôl at greadigaethau’r mentrau, y mentrau iaith a’r mentrau cymunedol eraill. Dros y blynyddoedd, mae'r rheini wedi dod o fudiadau, o bwyllgorau cymunedol sydd wedi cael eu creu yn sgil paratoadau ar gyfer Eisteddfod sy'n dod i'r ardal, ac mae'r pwyllgorau yna wedyn wedi parhau i weithredu ac wedi creu mudiadau cymunedol eu hunain. Mae yna enghreifftiau di-rif ar draws Cymru o hynny, ac mae hynny'n wir am bwyllgorau sydd yn llai na mentrau iaith hefyd, pethau mwy lleol lle mae pobl wedi parhau i ymwneud â'i gilydd ar lefel gymunedol gyda mudiadau hanes, mudiadau diwylliannol sydd yn ymwneud â materion lleol. Dwi'n gwybod bod aelodaeth mudiadau fel y mentrau iaith, neu fel Merched Wawr, neu fel y mudiadau cymunedol hirdymor yn dueddol o dyfu ar ôl digwyddiad fel hyn.
Felly, mae yna enghreifftiau, ond dwi'n cytuno nad oes, efallai, digon o gynllunio ar gyfer yr hyn sydd yn digwydd wedyn. Mae'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd hyd yma efallai yn digwydd yn lled ddamweiniol, yn hytrach na'i fod e yn ymwneud pwrpasol i hynny ddigwydd. Wedi dweud hynny, mi ydyn ni yn y cyngor celfyddydau yn sicr yn edrych ar ariannu'r digwyddiadau a'r gwyliau sydd yn digwydd wedi gŵyl, yn ogystal ag yn ystod a chyn gŵyl, er mwyn i ni allu cyfrannu at y gwaddol yna. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'n mudiadau amlflwyddyn ni yna yn hirdymor, yn y cymunedau yna, yn ogystal a'r mudiadau cymunedol. A dyna'r rhai sydd yn cydio yn y fantell, os hoffech chi, i fod yn parhau â’r ymdeimlad a’r ymwneud wedi digwyddiad.
Thank you. I am going to go back to the creation of the mentrau iaith and other community initiatives. Over the years, those have grown from organisations, from committees in the community that have been created as a result of preparing for an Eisteddfod in an area, and those committees then have continued to operate and have created community organisations themselves. There are numerous examples across Wales of this happening, and that's true of committees that are smaller than the mentrau iaith, more local things where people have continued to come together on a community level with historical associations and cultural organisations for local issues. I know that the membership of organisations such as the mentrau iaith or Merched y Wawr or the long-term community organisations tend to grow following an event like this.
So, there are examples, but I agree that perhaps there's not enough planning for what happens following an event. What has happened so far happens accidentally, rather than being purposely led. Having said that, we in the arts council are certainly looking at funding events and festivals that happen after a big event, as well as during and before, so that we can contribute to that legacy. And of course, our multi-year organisations are there for the long term, in those communities, as well as the community organisations. And those are the ones that pick up the gauntlet, if you like, to continue with that feeling of relating and involvement following an event.
Roedd Nia a Hywel wedi rhoi eu dwylo lan ar union yr un pwynt, dwi'n meddwl, roeddech chi'n ei wneud, Einir. So, mi wnaf i fynd at Nia ac wedyn Hywel, ac wedyn mi wnawn ni fynd at Mick ar gyfer ei gwestiwn atodol. Mi wnaf i fynd at Nia.
Nia and Hywel had put their hands up at exactly the same point, I think, that you were making, Einir. So, I'll go to Nia and then Hywel, and then we'll go to Mick for a supplementary question. I'll go to Nia.
Ie, diolch, Gadeirydd. Jest i gytuno mewn ffordd, dwi'n meddwl bod y gwaith mae'r mentrau iaith yn ei wneud yn arbennig o bwysig, a dŷn ni’n rhan o Ŵyl Tawe. Mi wnaeth hwnna ddigwydd ddydd Sadwrn diwethaf. Mae'r ffaith ei bod hi'n ŵyl flynyddol, a bod pobl wedyn yn gallu gweithio a gwirfoddoli a chael y profiad yna o'r ŵyl yn flynyddol, mae hwnna'n fodel sydd wedi bod yn gweithio'n effeithiol iawn. Roedd 4,000 o bobl ar ddydd Sadwrn yn ymgysylltu â'r ŵyl honno.
Efallai o ran yr Eisteddfod, roeddwn i'n meddwl am Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Fenni, lle, wel, efallai ei bod hi’n anodd profi hwn, ond fe welon ni dwf addysg Gymraeg yng Ngwent yn dilyn Eisteddfod y Fenni, ac efallai o ran cynllunio'r gwaddol, mae’r Eisteddfod ac Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn gwneud hyn yn arbennig o dda yn barod—y bartneriaeth, y rhwydwaith o bartneriaethau sydd yn ei le, bod y bartneriaeth yn ei lle gyda'r mentrau iaith, gyda'r system addysg ac yn y blaen, fel bod modd parhau â’r gwaddol wedi i’r ŵyl i fynd. Y seilwaith parhaol yna mewn ardaloedd, a pha mor bwysig yw hynny.
Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to agree; I think that the work that the mentrau iaith do is extremely important, and we're part of Gŵyl Tawe, which happened last Saturday. The fact that it is an annual festival and that people can work and volunteer and have that experience of that festival annually, that is a model that has worked very effectively. There were 4,000 people that engaged with that festival on Saturday.
Perhaps in terms of the Eisteddfod, I was thinking of the Abergavenny National Eisteddfod, and perhaps it's difficult to prove this, but we saw a growth in Welsh-medium education in Gwent following the Abergavenny Eisteddfod, and perhaps in terms of legacy planning, the Eisteddfod and the Urdd Eisteddfod do this particularly well already. It's that partnership, that network of partners that's in place with the mentrau iaith, with the education system, and so on and so forth, so that that legacy can continue once the festival has left. It's that permanent infrastructure in areas that's so important.
Diolch, Nia. Hywel.
Thank you, Nia. Hywel.
Ie, i ategu’n gyflym iawn y pwyntiau sydd wedi'u gwneud yn barod, dwi'n meddwl bod lot o sefydliadau efo presenoldeb cenedlaethol parhaus yn yr ardaloedd yma wedyn. Mi fuaswn i'n cytuno efallai bod yna ddim digon o gynllunio bwriadol yn digwydd i ystyried beth sy'n digwydd o amgylch ac ar ôl digwyddiad o'r fath. Mae hwnna yn digwydd, ond dwi'n meddwl bod yna le i’w gryfhau o. Yn ddiweddar, er enghraifft, rydyn ni wedi bod yn cael trafodaethau efo'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, y Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol a'r mentrau lleol i weld os allwn ni wneud rhywbeth yn y maes yma o ran cefnogi busnesau lleol i gynyddu cyfleoedd i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg ar ôl i'r digwyddiadau gael eu cynnal.
Jest i gyfeirio yn gyflym iawn, efallai dof i nôl ato fo wedyn, at berthnasedd y safonau hybu yn y cyd-destun yma. Efallai eich bod chi'n ymwybodol bod awdurdodau lleol a pharciau cenedlaethol yn gorfod llunio strategaethau ar gyfer hybu'r Gymraeg am gyfnod o bum mlynedd. Dwi'n meddwl bod y rhain efo potensial yn y cyd-destun rydyn ni'n trafod fan hyn o ran y broses yma o gynllunio yn fwy holistig beth sy'n digwydd o amgylch y digwyddiadau yma i ystyried materion fel cynlluniau strategol Cymraeg mewn addysg, y gwaith mae sefydliadau a phartneriaid amlwg fel y mentrau yn ei wneud i fod yn adeiladu a chreu'r gwaddol yma rydyn ni'n ei drafod. Felly, dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n un fframwaith cynllunio perthnasol yn y cyd-destun hwn.
Yes, just to endorse very quickly the points that have already been made, I think there are a lot of organisations with continuous national presence in these areas then. I would agree that perhaps there's not enough intentional planning happening to consider what happens around and after such an event. It does happen, but I think it could be strengthened. For example, we've been having discussions recently with the National Eisteddfod, the National Centre for Learning Welsh, and local mentrau to see if we can do something in this area in terms of supporting local businesses to increase opportunities to use the Welsh language following major events.
Just to refer very quickly, and perhaps I'll come back to it later, to the relevance of these promotion standards. Perhaps you're aware that local authorities and the national parks have to draw up strategies for promoting the Welsh language over a period of five years. I think those have a potential in the context that we're discussing here in terms of this process of more holistic planning around these events to consider things such as the WESPs, the work that prominent organisations and partners such as the mentrau are doing to create this legacy. So, I think that's one planning framework that's relevant in this context.
Diolch Hywel. Mick, roedd gennych chi gwestiwn.
Thank you, Hywel. Mick, you had a question.
I just wanted to ask, following on, how important you think it is that there should be a greater emphasis on strategic planning of locations in terms of events, in terms of impact. The reason I say that is I am the Member for Pontypridd, and accessibility and location were absolutely fundamental. All those things came together, plus the fact that the Eisteddfod built on the fact that you do have an annual Welsh language event with all the schools—you have Evan James, Ysgol Garth Olwg and others in the nearby area. So you do have a younger population now where there are certainly more Welsh speakers.
The impact on the town and its engagement with business and so on came together. I've seen some comments that have been negative, but I have to say overwhelmingly, particularly amongst the predominantly English-medium businesses and the town generally, the Eisteddfod was regarded as an enormous success and has had an impact. That impact will be built on, of course, by the fact that they have the Welsh-medium schools eisteddfod, which actually now comes into the town.
Of course, that's one of the points as well, to some extent: the location meant that the town actually became the Eisteddfod base—not just the park, the whole of it came together. One of the things I've had concerns with with a number of the festivals and the impact is that, to some extent, they're somewhat isolated. The analysis of the strategic impact of the event, it seems to me, is quite often more of a secondary factor, rather than maximising the potential impact on influencing and beginning to change culture within an area. I just wonder to what extent that happens in practice.
Mae hwnna'n gwestiwn diddorol iawn, a dwi ddim yn meddwl mai ni ydy'r bobl gywir i roi ateb i'r cwestiwn yna. Buaswn i'n cytuno ei fod o'n hanfodol, ac roedd yr Eisteddfod llynedd yn un o'r goreuon dwi'n eu cofio am yr union resymau sydd wedi cael eu hamlinellu yn fanna. Mae'n amlwg bod yna rai Eisteddfodau sy'n gweithio lot gwell na'i gilydd o ran cael y gymuned i mewn, ac roedd blwyddyn diwethaf yn enghraifft wych o hynna, dwi'n meddwl.
Am wn i, ac efallai buasai angen gofyn i'r Eisteddfod am hyn, mae yna densiwn rhwng dewis llefydd sy'n gweithio'n hwylus fel Pontypridd, ond hefyd yr angen i deithio o gwmpas i ardaloedd sydd efallai yn methu â chynnig hynny. Felly, dwi ddim yn meddwl ei fod o wastad mor hawdd â chael ardaloedd fel Pontypridd, wnaeth weithio'n wych y flwyddyn diwethaf. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna densiwn rhwng ffeindio'r lleoliadau yma sydd yn gweithio, ond hefyd yr angen yma i deithio i ardaloedd gwahanol ar hyd a lled Cymru, sydd hefyd yn ofnadwy o bwysig, dwi'n meddwl.
That's a very interesting question, and I don't know if we're the right people to answer it. I would agree that it's crucial, and last year's Eisteddfod was one of the best that I can remember for the very reasons that you've just outlined. Clearly, there are some things that work much better than others in terms of getting the community in, and I think last year was an excellent example of that.
Perhaps you'd need to ask the Eisteddfod about this, but there is a tension, perhaps, between choosing things that work conveniently like Pontypridd, but also the need to travel around Wales to areas that perhaps can't offer those facilities. I don't think it's always that easy to have areas like Pontypridd, which did work superbly last year. There might be that tension between finding these locations that work well, but also this need to take the festival to different areas across Wales, which is also very important indeed, I think.
Dwi'n cytuno efo Hywel. Dwi'n credu efallai mai'r eisteddfodau fyddai'n gallu ateb y cwestiwn yma orau, a dwi yn ymwybodol bod nifer o'r sialensiau o ran dewis lleoliad o fewn sir neu ardal yn ymwneud â beth sydd ar gael, beth ydy maint llefydd ac, wrth gwrs, yr arian ynghlwm â hynny. Felly, os oes yna gefnogaeth i'r eisteddfodau i fod yn gallu cynllunio'n strategol gyda'r angen yma am gynyddu'r dwysedd o bobl sy'n ymwneud â'r busnesau lleol, os oes yna ffordd i gefnogi hynny, dwi'n siŵr y byddai hynny yn cael ei groesawu.
Dwi'n cytuno bod gwaddol digwyddiad mawr sy'n gallu mynd mewn i ganol tref yn dangos effaith mwy ar y lle penodol yna. Dwi'n meddwl hefyd y gallwn ni ddim anghofio'r ardaloedd gwledig. Mewn ardal wledig, mae'r seilwaith yn wahanol ac felly mae ei gael e yng nghanol y wlad mewn ardal wledig yn cynyddu’r dwysedd yn yr ardal benodol yna. Ac mae'r amrywiaeth yna mae'r digwyddiadau teithiol yma yn ei gynnig, a’r elfen yna o berchnogi cymunedol sy’n cael ei agor allan drwy’r symud yna, yn bwysig iawn. Ond buaswn i’n cefnogi edrych yn fwy strategol ar ddewis lleoliadau sy’n ymwneud â threfi—lle maen nhw o gwmpas tref, ydyn nhw ar y cyrion neu ydyn nhw yn y canol. Ac rydw i'n meddwl bod y dewis yna o leoliad yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar y dwysedd iaith sydd yn digwydd o fewn ac wedi'r digwyddiad yna.
Thank you. I agree with Hywel. I think perhaps that the eisteddfods would be best placed to answer these questions, and I'm aware that there are a number of challenges in terms of choosing a location within a county or an area, depending on what's available, the size of settings and the funding. So, yes, if there is support for the eisteddfodau to be able to plan strategically with this need to increase the density of people involved with the local businesses, if there's a way of supporting that, I'm sure that would be welcomed.
I agree that the legacy of a large event in the centre of a town shows more of an impact on that specific place. I also think that we can't forget the rural areas. In a rural area, the infrastructure is different, and to hold an event in a rural area increases the density in that specific area. And that variation that these travelling events have, and that element of community ownership that's opened up through that travel, is very important. But I would support looking more strategically at choosing locations that are around towns, and looking at whether they're in the centre or on the edge of towns. I think that choice of location does have a direct impact on the language density within and following an event.
Diolch am hwnna. Cwestiwn diddorol iawn, Mick. Gwnawn ni symud ymlaen at gwestiynau gan Gareth.
Thank you for that interesting question, Mick. We'll move on now to questions from Gareth.
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Bore da, bawb. I'd like to ask each of the witnesses to expand on their own activities and events, particularly in areas with fewer Welsh speakers that support the use of the language, and what you've done specifically in your roles and organisations to enhance the Welsh language experience within those communities with fewer Welsh speakers.
Diolch, Gadeirydd. A diolch am y cwestiwn. Mae'n hamgueddfeydd ni yn ganolfannau byw lle mae'r Gymraeg yn cael ei gweld, ei chlywed a'i defnyddio, ac mae'r Gymraeg yn rhan allweddol o brofiad ein hymwelwyr ni ym mhob un o'n saith safle amgueddfaol ni a'n canolfan gasgliadau ni ar hyd a lled Cymru. Gan ein bod ni mewn ardaloedd dwysedd iaith uchel, canol ac is, ar draws y saith, mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n cynnal profiad 'Cymraeg gyntaf' ym mhob un o'n hamgueddfeydd ni.
Rŷn ni, er enghraifft, gyda rhai o'r amgueddfeydd yn yr ardaloedd dwysedd canol ac is, yn cynnal gwersi Cymraeg i bobl ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg. Mae hynny ar y cyd gyda Chyngor Abertawe, er enghraifft, yn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Lleng Rufeinig Cymru, a gyda'r ganolfan dysgu Cymraeg yn Sain Ffagan, lle gallwch chi wneud mynediad, safon 1 a 2. Mae gyda ni leoliadau sy'n cynnig eu hunain mewn ffordd wahanol i ddysgu iaith, lleoliadau lle mae hanes a diwylliant Cymru o'ch cwmpas chi.
Mae rhaglen fawr iawn gyda ni gydag ysgolion Cymru; rŷn ni'n gweithio gyda phob un o siroedd Cymru o ran y rhaglen addysg, ac mae rhyw 0.25 miliwn o blant ysgol yn dod i'n hamgueddfeydd ni i ddysgu am gelf, am wyddoniaeth, am Gymru, am hanes Cymru, ac yn gwneud hynny trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Gyda'r ysgolion cyfrwng Saesneg, rŷn ni'n defnyddio lluosieithrwydd, plurilingualism. Mae'r Gymraeg yn rhan o’n gwaith ni trwy gyfrwng y Saesneg hefyd, i'r disgyblion i weld y Gymraeg fel iaith fyw.
Rŷn ni hefyd yn cynnig llu o ddigwyddiadau a phrofiadau creadigol, a phrofiadau emosiynol cyfrwng Cymraeg. Mae hwnnw'n bwysig, rwy'n credu—i gysylltu gyda'r creadigrwydd a gyda'r emosiwn. Er enghraifft, mae gŵyl fwyd flynyddol gyda ni yn Sain Ffagan, mae rhyw 24,000 o bobl yn dod i hwnna. Ond mae hwnna'n bwysig o ran hybu’r 80 o stondinwyr sy'n dod i'r wŷl fwyd i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg ac i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg mewn busnes. Mae gyda ni raglenni llesiant, er enghraifft yn Big Pit gyda Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru. Rŷn ni'n cynnal gŵyl Caru Dy Iechyd Meddwl—eto, mae hwnna trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg, a chyfle i bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia i gael cefnogaeth trwy gyfrwng yr iaith Gymraeg.
Mae nifer o wyliau rŷn ni'n eu cynnal mewn partneriaeth, Gŵyl Hanes Cymru gyda'r mentrau iaith, ac yn y blaen, ar hyd a lled ein hamgueddfeydd ni. Mae hefyd cyfleoedd i blant iau; mae cylchoedd ti a fi, gallwch chi wneud y rheini yn amgueddfeydd Amgueddfa Cymru hefyd. Ac rŷn ni'n arbrofi ar hyn o bryd gyda dulliau o normaleiddio'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn ddigidol. Mae gyda ni beilot yn Amgueddfa Lleng Rufeinig Cymru ar y funud i ddefnyddio ap deallusrwydd artiffisial fydd yn teilwra eich ymweliad Cymraeg chi yn y ffordd rŷch chi eisiau. Mae hwnna’n beilot ar y funud ac rŷn ni'n gobeithio datblygu hwnna.
Y rôl arall rŷn ni'n ei chwarae sy'n bwysig ydy ein bod ni'n cynnig lle i bobl i weithio ac i wirfoddoli trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Sain Ffagan oedd un o'r lleoliadau cyntaf yng Nghymru lle rŷch chi’n gallu gweithio trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, ac mae hwnna’n bwysig. Mae yna ryw 50 y cant o'n 800 o wirfoddolwyr yn meddu rhywfaint o'r Gymraeg. Efallai cyfle y gellid ei ddatblygu yw cyfle i ddatblygu prentisiaeth Cymraeg a gweld y Gymraeg fel sgil prentisiaeth. Dwi’n meddwl bod cyfleoedd i bobl weithio trwy'r Gymraeg a defnyddio eu Cymraeg y tu hwnt i'r ystafell ddosbarth yn rhywbeth rŷn ni'n ei gefnogi drwy ein gwaith gwirfoddol ni a'n lleoliadau gwaith ni ar hyn o bryd.
Felly, ystod eang iawn o brofiadau y gallwch chi eu cael gydag Amgueddfa Cymru. Ac rŷn ni'n defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn ein brand. Rŷn ni'n galw ein hunain yn Amgueddfa Cymru yn y Gymraeg ac yn y Saesneg.
Thank you, Chair. And thank you for the question. Our museums are living spaces where the Welsh language is seen, heard and used and the Welsh language is a key part of our visitor experience in each of our seven museum sites and our collection centre across Wales. As we are in high-density, medium-density and low-density areas across the seven sites, it's important that we provide a 'Welsh language first' experience in all of our sites.
For example, with some of the museums in medium and low-density areas, we hold Welsh language lessons so that people can practice their Welsh. That's in partnership with Swansea Council, for example, in the National Roman Legion Museum, and with the National Centre for Learning Welsh in St Fagans, where you can do entry level, levels 1 and 2 in Welsh. So, we have sites that do provide themselves as locations for learning Welsh, where Welsh history and culture is all around you.
We have a major programme with schools in Wales; we work with all the counties of Wales in terms of our education programme, and some 0.25 million schoolchildren come to our museums to learn about art, science, about Wales and Welsh history, and they do that through the medium of Welsh. With English-medium schools, we use plurilingualism. The Welsh language is part of our work through the medium of English too so that the pupils see the language as a living language.
We also provide a whole host of events and creative experiences, and emotional experiences too through the medium of Welsh. That's so important, I think—to engage with creativity and emotion. For example, we have an annual food festival in St Fagans, some 24,000 people come to that. But that's important in terms of encouraging the 80 stallholders at the food festival to use the Welsh language in their business. We have well-being programmes, for example in Big Pit with Public Health Wales, we have the Love Your Mental Wellbeing event, which is available through the medium of Welsh and English, and there's an opportunity for people who live with dementia to access support through the medium of the Welsh language too.
There are a number of festivals that we hold in partnership, the Welsh History Festival with the mentrau iaith, and so on, across our museum sites. And there are also opportunities for younger children; there are cylchoedd ti a fi, you can actually see those hosted at museum sites too. And we're experimenting at the moment with approaches to normalising use of the Welsh language digitally. We have a pilot at the National Roman Legion Museum at the moment to use an AI app, which will tailor your Welsh language visit in the way that you want. That's in pilot form at the moment, but we hope that it will be developed.
Another role that we play that's important is that we provide spaces for people to work and volunteer through the medium of Welsh. St Fagans was one of the first locations in Wales where you can work through the medium of Welsh, and that is important. We see that some 50 per cent of our 800 volunteers do have some Welsh language skills. Perhaps a development opportunity would be to develop Welsh-speaking apprentices and to see the Welsh language as a skill in apprenticeships. I think providing opportunities for young people to use the Welsh language beyond the classroom is something that we would support through our voluntary work and our workplaces at the moment.
So, there's a very broad range of experiences that you can have with Amgueddfa Cymru. And we use the Welsh language in our brand. We do call ourselves Amgueddfa Cymru in both Welsh and in English.
Mae'r Gymraeg yn un o chwe egwyddor y cyngor celfyddydau ers rhyw dair blynedd bellach, a thrwy hynny, mae ein mudiadau amlflwyddyn ni, a phawb sydd yn ceisio am nawdd loteri drwyddom ni, yn gorfod ymwneud â'r Gymraeg ac yn gorfod esbonio i ni sut y bydden nhw'n gwneud hynny, ac i ba raddau y bydden nhw'n gwneud hynny. Ac mae hynny yn ystyriaeth ym mhob penderfyniad.
Yn sgil hynny, rydyn ni wedi gweld twf, felly, yn yr ymwneud creadigol gyda'r Gymraeg drwy'r mudiadau amlflwyddyn yna—mae 81 o'r rheini ar hyd a lled Cymru, ar bob lefel o ddwysedd gymunedol—ac, wrth gwrs, drwy ein rhaglen arian loteri ni. Y llynedd, roedd dros 30 y cant o'r arian loteri wedi mynd at gynlluniau yr oedd dros 50 y cant o’u gweithredoedd drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae hynny’n gynnydd o dros 10 y cant o'r blynyddoedd cynt.
Felly, rydyn ni'n gwneud yr holl waith hynny ac yn asesu hynny yn gyson. Drwy hynny, rydyn ni’n gweld gweithredoedd pellgyrhaeddol, gwahanol yn digwydd drwy ddulliau amrywiol creadigol. Mae rôl yr ysgogydd yma'n benodol ers ychydig dros dair blynedd. Pwrpas y rôl yna oedd edrych ar sut i gynyddu’r berthynas yma rhwng maes y Gymraeg a'r maes celfyddydol. Felly, mae llawer o waith wedi digwydd allan yn y sector, yn ogystal ag yn fewnol, gan edrych ar ddefnydd mewnol ac ati o ran y cyngor celfyddydau.
Allan yn y sector, un o'r camau cyntaf y gwnaethom ni ei gymryd, wrth greu'r cynllun strategol sydd wedi’i gwblhau ac ar fin mynd yn fyw, oedd creu consortiwm a chreu methodoleg waith, er mwyn cwestiynu'n ddwys ac yn barhaus sut mae cynyddu defnydd a pherchnogaeth o'r Gymraeg mewn gwahanol ffyrdd. Rydw i eisoes wedi sôn yn fras am raglen Llais y Lle, sydd yn canolbwyntio ar gymunedau, drwy roi unigolion mewn cymunedau i fod yn gweithio gyda'r gymuned yna yn ddwys am gyfnod o flwyddyn. Mae'n fethodoleg benodol, lle rydyn ni'n dod â'r bobl yna ynghyd bedair gwaith y flwyddyn, i fod yn rhannu a dysgu o'i gilydd.
Rydyn ni i gyd ar siwrnai o ddarganfod a dysgu. Yn bwysig iawn fan hyn, efallai, ac yn berthnasol i'r elfen o waddol wedi digwyddiad hefyd, dydyn ni ddim yn gofyn i bobl wybod beth fydd yn digwydd ar ddiwedd y cynllun wrth iddyn nhw geisio am y nawdd. Mae hynny'n bwysig iawn er mwyn i ni sicrhau'r berchnogaeth lawn yna i'r gymuned ac i'r bobl a fydd yn ymwneud â'r cynllun, fel eu bod nhw'n gallu ymateb iddyn nhw.
Mae pob cymuned yn wahanol. Mae pob person yn wahanol. Felly, mae'n bwysig i ni fod yn gallu rhoi'r llais cyflawn yna i unigolion. Drwy hynny, rydyn ni nawr, yn ein hasesiadau cychwynnol, yn gweld effaith gadarnhaol iawn ar ddefnydd iaith. Felly, mae'r cynllun yna'n parhau. Rydyn ni hefyd yn archwilio, felly, yr hyn sy'n fwy ymarferol. Rydyn ni yn gweld bod defnydd iaith yn ymwneud â seicoleg. Mae'n ymwneud ag a yw pobl yn cael y cyfle i ymarfer. Mae'n ymwneud â mewnwelediad iddo fo. Mae'n ymwneud ag ymwybyddiaeth ohono fo. Mae'n ymwneud â chymaint o wahanol bethau.
Felly, rydyn ni wedi bod yn edrych ar fethodoleg ynghylch sut i roi’r hyder yna a'r mewnwelediad yna i unigolion i'r Gymraeg—pethau fel sut i ynganu llythrennau. Mae hynny'n gallu bod yn rhwystr i nifer o bobl, ac rydw i'n meddwl bod yna le i ni fod yn strategol wrth edrych ar yr holl dechnegau ymarferol sydd eu hangen, er mwyn inni fod yn mynd ati i gefnogi pobl i gynyddu eu defnydd nhw.
Felly, rydyn ni'n parhau â’r gwaith yna, yn edrych ar feysydd penodol ac yn asesu'r rheini yn barhaus. Ond mae'r methodolegau gwaith yn ganolog i'r llwyddiant, ac mae'r methodolegau yna yn rhoi'r llais canolog i'r bobl yn y gymuned. Mi fyddwn i’n croesawu gweld mwy o gynlluniau hirdymor, achos dydy hyn ddim yn gallu digwydd dros nos. Mae newid agwedd a defnydd iaith yn digwydd dros gyfnod hir o amser. Mae e yn ymwneud â chynyddu sgiliau hefyd. Felly, mae gyda ni hefyd bartneriaeth efo'r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol ac yn cynnig gwersi am ddim i'r sector. Mae e yn ymwneud â'r sgiliau, ond dŷn ni'n edrych fan hyn ar ddefnydd yn benodol, ac mae hynny'n aml iawn yn ymwneud â hyder a pherchnogaeth o'r iaith.
The Welsh language is one of six principles of the arts council and has been for the last three years, and through that, our multi-year organisations and people seeking lottery sponsorship have to be involved in the Welsh language and have to explain to us how they will do that, and to what extent they will do that. And that is a consideration for every decision.
As a result of that, we have seen growth, therefore, in the creative involvement with the Welsh language through those organisations—there are 81 of those multi-year organisations all over Wales, in all Welsh language density areas—and through our lottery funding programme. Last year, over 30 per cent of lottery funding went to schemes that had 50 per cent of their activities through the medium Welsh. That's an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year.
So we do all that work, and we assess that regularly. Through that, we see long-term different activities happening, through various creative methods. This enabler role has been around for about three years, and the purpose of that role was to look at increasing the relationship between the area of the Welsh language and the arts. A lot of work has been happening out there in the sector and also internally, looking at the internal use of the language in the arts council.
Out in the sector, one of the first steps that we took, in creating the strategic plan that has been completed and is about to go live, was creating a consortium and work methodology, so that we question intensely and continuously how to increase the use of the Welsh language or the ownership of Welsh language in different ways. I have already spoken briefly about Llais y Lle, which concentrates on communities and places individuals in communities to work with that community intensely for a period of a year. It is a specific methodology, where we bring those people together four times a year to share and learn from each other.
We are all on a journey of experiencing and learning. Importantly here, perhaps, and relevant to the legacy element following an event, we are not asking people to know what will happen at the end of the scheme when they are seeking sponsorship. That's important, so that we ensure full ownership for the community and the people involved in the scheme, so that they can respond to them.
Every community is different. Every person is different. Therefore, it's important for us to be able to provide that full voice to individuals. Through that, we are now, in our initial assessments, seeing a positive impact on the use of the language. So, that scheme continues. We are also exploring more practical areas. We do see that the use of a language relates to psychology. It relates to whether people have an opportunity to practice it. It relates to insight and the awareness of it. It relates to so many different things.
We have been looking at methodology, therefore, to provide that confidence and that insight to individuals about the Welsh language—things like how to pronounce certain letters. That can be a barrier for some people, and I think that we can be strategic in looking at all the practical techniques that are required, so that we can support people to increase their use of the language.
So, we are continuing with that work, looking at specific areas and assessing those continuously. But the work methodologies are central to success, and those methodologies provide that central voice to the people in the community. I would welcome seeing more long-term plans, because this cannot happen overnight. Changing attitudes and language use happens over a long period of time. It does relate to increasing skills, so we also have a partnership with the National Centre for Learning Welsh and we offer free lessons in the sector. It does relate to skills, but we're looking here at use specifically, and that quite often relates to confidence and the ownership of the language.
Diolch am hwnna. Gareth.
Thank you for that. Gareth.
I'm seeking a response from the Welsh Language Commissioner as well.
Dwi'n meddwl efallai fod Hywel wedi meddwl,
I think Hywel might have thought,
'It goes without saying.'
Apologies, I can only see part of the screen because of the questions.
Hywel, os oedd unrhyw beth roeddech chi eisiau dweud, mae croeso ichi wneud, ond—
Hywel, if there was anything you wanted to add, you're welcome to do so, but—
Fe wnaf i fod yn gryno iawn, achos dwi'n meddwl bod y cwestiwn ychydig bach yn wahanol i ni, gan mai prif bwrpas ein gwaith ni ydy cynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg, felly mae popeth dŷn ni'n ei wneud yn ceisio gwneud hyn. Felly, gwnaf i ddim ailadrodd pob dim dŷn ni'n ei wneud o ran ein gwaith o ran y safonau a'r gwaith hybu efo elusennau a busnesau ac ati.
Efallai beth fuaswn i jest yn tynnu sylw'r pwyllgor ato fo ydy, rai misoedd yn ôl, fe wnaethon ni gyhoeddi ein cynllun strategol newydd ar gyfer y pum mlynedd nesaf. Gwnaf i ddim roi trosolwg o'r cynllun strategol i gyd, ond dwi'n meddwl mai un thema sy'n eistedd ar draws y cynllun ydy'r awydd sydd gennym ni fel sefydliad i flaenoriaethu lot mwy ac i weithio mewn ffordd lot fwy rhagweithiol a strategol er mwyn trio cynyddu defnydd, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys mewn ardaloedd lle mae yna lefelau is o siaradwyr Cymraeg.
Mae rhai o'r themâu dŷn ni'n bwriadu eu blaenoriaethu yn cynnwys plant a phobl ifanc. Bythefnos yn ôl, yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd, fe wnaethon ni gyhoeddi darn o ymchwil ar ddefnydd plant a phobl ifanc o'r Gymraeg. Mae'r ymchwil yna wedi bod yn rhan allweddol i ni o lunio'n cynllun strategol, a sut dŷn ni fel sefydliad yn mynd i drio ymateb i'r her yna sy'n bodoli o ran sicrhau bod plant a phobl ifanc yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg sydd ganddyn nhw, y maen nhw wedi'i dysgu yn yr ysgol.
Rhai o'r pethau dŷn ni'n mynd i fod yn canolbwyntio arnyn nhw ydy pethau fel defnydd o'r Gymraeg o fewn gweithleoedd. Dŷn ni'n gweld hwn fel maes ofnadwy o bwysig. Sut dŷn ni'n sicrhau bod pobl sy'n gadael yr ysgol yn gallu siarad y Gymraeg, yn cynnal ac yn datblygu'r sgiliau yna? Dŷn ni'n meddwl bod y gweithle yn faes strategol allweddol er mwyn rhoi mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl ifanc yn benodol i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg sydd ganddyn nhw.
Eto, dwi wedi crybwyll yn gyflym iawn y safonau hybu a'r strategaethau hybu. Dŷn ni'n teimlo bod yna lot fwy y gallwn ni ei wneud fel sefydliad o ran y cynlluniau cymunedol ieithyddol dwys yna sydd angen digwydd ar lefel leol i gynyddu cyfleoedd i bobl o bob oed, ond plant a phobl ifanc yn benodol, i gael profiadau diwylliannol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, i gael gwneud chwaraeon drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, ac i gael cymdeithasu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Felly, mae'r rheina'n rhai pethau penodol dŷn ni'n mynd i fod yn blaenoriaethu sy'n berthnasol i'r cwestiwn, dwi'n meddwl.
I'll be very brief, because I think the question is slightly different for us, because the main purpose of our work is to increase the use of the Welsh language, so everything that we do is seeking to do that. So, I won't rehearse everything that we do in terms of our work around standards and our work with charities and businesses and so on.
What I would perhaps draw the committee's attention to is that, a few months ago, we announced our new strategic plan for the next five years. I won't give you an overview of the whole strategic plan, but one theme that runs across the plan is our desire as an organisation to prioritise and to work in a far more strategic way in order to increase use, and that includes in areas where there are lower levels of Welsh speakers.
Some of the themes that we intend to prioritise include children and young people. A fortnight ago, at the Urdd Eisteddfod, we published research on children and young people's use of the Welsh language. That research has been a key part of drawing up our strategic plan, and how we as an organisation are going to try to respond to that challenge that exists in terms of ensuring that children and young people use the Welsh language skills that they have, that they've learnt at school.
Some of the things that we'll be focusing on are things like the use of the Welsh language in workplaces. We see that as a very important area. How do we ensure that people who leave school as Welsh speakers maintain and develop those skills? We think that the workplace is a key strategic area in order to provide more opportunities for young people specifically to use the Welsh language skills that they have.
Again, I've briefly mentioned the promotional standards and strategies. We believe that there's far more that we as an organisation can do in terms of community language planning that needs to happen at a local level to increase opportunities for people of all ages, but particularly children and young people, to have cultural experiences through the medium of Welsh, to be involved in sport through the medium of Welsh, and to socialise through the medium of Welsh. So, those are some specifics that we're going to be prioritising that are relevant to the question, I think.
Diolch.
Gareth.
I think that answer's covered my second question, because it was in relation to enhancing the language use with young people in terms of sport and leisure activities, but I think we seem to have covered that in the response.
Ocê, diolch yn fawr iawn am hwnna, Gareth. Ydych chi'n hapus inni symud ymlaen?
Okay, thank you for that, Gareth. Are you happy for us to move on?
Grêt. Ocê, diolch. Fe wnawn ni fynd at Mick.
Great. Thank you. We'll go to Mick.
Thanks. You've started covering some of the things I wanted to ask about with regard to strategic planning. We'll come to that in a minute. The UK Government has been very much promoting and pulling together the concept of soft power, and, of course, there was a large UK-based event in Cardiff a while back. I know some of you were involved in that or will be aware of it. And, of course, part of the objective—whether it's sport, whether it's culture, language, events, et cetera—is the way in which they can also support broader aspects of the economy, tourism and so on.
Just really as a starting point, to what extent have you been involved in any of that or are aware of it? And to what extent do you think there may be benefits in terms of a specific Welsh, I suppose, soft power aspect in terms of interlinking with other aspects of objectives within Wales in terms of tourism, in terms of the economy and so on? Does that feature as part of the strategic planning from the Arts Council of Wales and also, then, from the language commissioner's office and so on? I just wonder what your thoughts are around that.
Pwy sydd eisiau mynd yn gyntaf? Hywel.
Who wants to go first? Hywel.
Fe wnaf i drio ateb y cwestiwn. Dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n gwestiwn diddorol iawn, a dwi ddim yn ymwybodol ein bod ni wedi bod yn rhan benodol o'r pethau yna. Beth fuaswn i'n dweud—eto i gyfeirio'n ôl i'n cynllun strategol ni—dwi'n meddwl bod yr angen yma i gydweithio efo partneriaid allweddol yn hanfodol. Felly, yn sicr mae'n rhan o'n gwaith cynllunio strategol ni ein bod ni eisiau bod lot yn fwy rhagweithiol yn gweithio efo sefydliadau mewn meysydd fel chwaraeon, y celfyddydau ac ati, er mwyn gweld y newid yna dŷn ni'n dymuno ei weld. Felly, ydw, dwi'n cytuno efo egwyddor y cwestiwn fod yna botensial i wneud mwy o hyn yng Nghymru. Mae o'n cyd-fynd efo sut dŷn ni'n gweld ein rôl ni a beth dŷn ni eisiau symud tuag ato fo dros y pum mlynedd nesaf, ond dwi ddim yn ymwybodol ein bod ni wedi bod yn rhan o'r trafodaethau yna hyd yma.
I'll try and answer the question. I think it's a very interesting one, and I'm not aware that we were specifically involved in those things. What I would say—again, referring back to our strategic plan—I think this need to collaborate with key partners is crucial. So, certainly it's part of our strategic planning work that we want to be far more proactive in working with organisations in areas like sport, the arts and so on, in order to generate that change that we want to see. So, yes, I agree with the principle of the question that there is potential to do more of this in Wales. It aligns with how we see our role and where we want to move to over the next five years, but I'm not aware that we have been part of those discussions to date.
Einir.
Einir.
Yr yr un ffordd, dwi ddim yn ymwybodol, ond fe wnaf i fynd yn ôl a gwirio ac ateb ymhellach, rhag ofn ein bod ni. Ond dydw i ddim yn ymwybodol ein bod ni wedi bod yn rhan o hynny.
O ran y rhaglen ei hun, mae soft power, neu'r gair 'pŵer', dwi'n meddwl yn rhywbeth y byddem ni efallai angen ei gwestiynu yng Nghymru, achos ei fod e'n rhywbeth mor uchel i fyny fel gair. Mae'n teimlo fel rhywbeth sydd i lawr ar gymuned—. Ac felly, os byddem ni'n ymwneud â hynny yng Nghymru yn fwy, byddem ni yn edrych i fod yn defnyddio ieithwedd sydd yn addas i Gymru, ein bod ni'n rhoi'r berchnogaeth yna i bobl yng Nghymru, a'i fod e'n ymwneud â'r ymdeimlad yna o ymestyn allan ac o fod yn perchnogi, yn hytrach na'i fod e'n ymwneud â phŵer. Ond yn sicr, o ran y cysyniad yna o fod yn rhoi llais i gymunedau, ac yn rhoi llais i bobl, byddem ni'n ei groesawu'n fawr yng Nghymru.
In the same way, I'm not aware, but I'll go back to check and provide an answer, in case we have been. But I'm not aware that we have been part of that.
In terms of the programme itself, soft power, or the word 'power', I think is something that we would need to question in Wales, because it is something so high up in terms of a word. It feels that is down to a community—. So, if we were more involved in that in Wales, we would look to be using language that's appropriate for Wales, that we provide that ownership to people in Wales, and that it involves that feeling of reaching out and ownership, rather than being involved with power. But certainly, in terms of that concept of providing a voice for communities, and providing a voice for people, we would welcome it very much in Wales.
A Nia.
And Nia.
Anything from you, Nia?
Rŷn ni wedi bod yn rhan o rai sgyrsiau. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna sgwrs, onid oes, ynglŷn â rôl diwylliant, treftadaeth a'r Gymraeg yn y ffordd mae Cymru'n dangos ei hunan i'r byd fel gwlad, a thrwy hynny, wedyn, fanteision soft power of culture. Efallai ein bod ni wedi bod yn swil yn y ffordd rŷn ni'n cyflwyno'n hunain fel gwlad. Yn sicr, pan rŷch chi'n edrych ar wledydd fel Iwerddon, mae ymwybyddiaeth y byd ohonyn nhw fel gwlad yn eithaf gwahanol, efallai, i statws Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Felly, efallai fod eisiau inni feddwl ynglŷn â sut rŷn ni'n portreadu Cymru i'r byd, ac mae rôl fawr, dwi'n meddwl, gan ddiwylliant, gan y Gymraeg fel iaith sydd yn frodorol i Gymru a'n treftadaeth ni i'w chwarae yn y ffordd rŷn ni'n dehongli Cymru i'r byd. Felly, byddwn i'n dweud bod mwy o waith gyda ni fel cenedl i'w wneud yn y man yna.
Yes, we've been involved in some conversations. I think there is a conversation, isn't there, as to the role of culture, heritage and the Welsh language in the way that Wales shows itself to the world as a nation, and through that, then, the benefits of soft power of culture. Perhaps we've been a little reticent in the way that we present ourselves as a nation. Certainly, when you look at countries like Ireland, for example, global awareness of Ireland as a nation is quite different to the status Wales currently has. So, perhaps we need to think about how we portray Wales to the world, and I think that culture, the Welsh language as an indigenous language and our heritage have a major role to play in the way that we actually present Wales to the world. So, I would say that we as a nation have more work to do in that area.
Do you think that—? Just a general comment, I'm not really surprised that there isn't a bigger awareness of what's been happening at the UK level on the soft power issue. I know we've taken evidence ourselves on the approach that we should be taking in Wales, and certainly the event I attended had a very broad cultural representation from the whole of the media, culture industry, sport and so on. I thought it was very broad-ranging. So, I get a little bit concerned as to whether, in terms of strategic planning, we are too inward looking, but I suppose that takes me on in terms of the—. A lot of this comes down to resources. You talked about the strategic plans, particularly Einir, that have been developed. I don't know how much more you can say about that at this stage. But I suppose it comes down to the resources, the engagement, how broad-ranging it is, the extent to which you are able to pull together all the different sort of participants that would contribute in terms of, I suppose, the cultural, the social, the economic environment within Wales, as well as the need to promote Wales internationally. Sorry, it's a little bit of a broad-ranging question, but to what extent is this really sufficiently resourced, either by yourselves, or do you think it's an area where there's not enough focus in terms of Welsh Government's input into this, in terms of pulling together all those different aspects in terms of selling Wales, but also all the benefits that come from having something that is economically and culturally successful?
Einir.
Einir.
Going back to your—
Sori, fe wnaf i ateb yn Gymraeg.
Sorry, I'll answer in Welsh.
Mae croeso ichi siarad ym mha bynnag iaith rŷch chi eisiau.
You're more than welcome to speak in any language that you wish to.
Na, mae'n well gen i siarad yn Gymraeg, os yw hynny'n iawn.
O ran y cynllun strategol roeddwn i'n cyfeirio ato fe, cynllun strategol y Gymraeg a'r celfyddydau yn benodol o fewn ein strategaeth ehangach rydw i'n cyfeirio ato fe. Mae strategaeth ehangach y cyngor celfyddydau yn ymwneud â'r chwe egwyddor, gyda'r Gymraeg yn un ohonyn nhw, a'r lleill yw ehangu cyfranogiad, trawsnewid, creadigrwydd, cyfiawnder hinsawdd, ac ati, a meithrin talent. Felly, mae'r Gymraeg yn rhan o hynny, ac felly mae yna gynllun penodol ar gyfer y maes yna sydd ar fin gael ei ryddhau. O fewn y cynllun penodol hwnnw, dwi yn gallu dweud bod rôl yr iaith Gymraeg, creadigrwydd a diwylliant yn greiddiol yn ei gilydd, wedi plethu â'i gilydd yn ddiwahân, a dyna'r sail i'r cynllun—ein bod ni yn edrych yn fwyfwy ar y berthynas greiddiol yna sydd rhwng y tri maes allweddol yma.
Mi ydyn ni yn cyfleu ein hunain, ac mae'r iaith yn sgìl, ydy, ond mi ydyn ni yn cyfleu ein hunain yn greadigol ac yn ddiwylliannol trwy ieithoedd amrywiol, gan gynnwys y Gymraeg. Felly, mae'n amhosib inni fod yn gwahanu’r tri phwnc yna.
Felly, o ran cynllun strategol y Gymraeg a diwylliant, sydd ynghlwm â hynny, ac mae'r celfyddydau a chreadigrwydd yn rhan greiddiol o hynny hefyd, mi ydyn ni'n edrych i fuddsoddi beth sy'n bosib i mewn i hynny, ond dwi'n cytuno bod angen mwy o fuddsoddiad yn y maes yma o du Llywodraeth Cymru. Dwi'n meddwl bod eisiau inni fod yn gosod diwylliant, yr iaith a chreadigrwydd, a'r meysydd eraill, gan gynnwys ein treftadaeth ni, yn greiddiol i'r ffordd dŷn ni'n cynllunio yn strategol, nid yn unig yn y maes perthnasol yna, ond ar draws pob maes, a'n bod ni'n rhoi lle pwysig a chanolog i'n diwylliant ni, a'r ffyrdd dŷn ni'n cyfleu ein hunain yng Nghymru, yn ieithyddol ac yn greadigol ac yn ddiwylliannol, a bod hynna yn rhan annatod o bob ystyriaeth ar draws y Llywodraeth, fel ein bod ni bob amser nid yn unig yn galluogi ein hunain i wneud y mwyaf o'r cyfleoedd, ac i ddatblygu cyfleoedd yn y meysydd yna. Ond mae e hefyd i fod yn sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn gallu ymwneud â’r meysydd diwylliannol, gan gynnwys digwyddiadau, gan gynnwys gwyliau, gan gynnwys gweithgareddau, a'u bod nhw'n cael llais creiddiol i'r datblygiadau sydd yn digwydd yng Nghymru.
Felly, mi ydyn ni yn cynllunio'n strategol ar y trywydd yna o fewn Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, ond byddwn i'n cytuno'n llwyr fod angen tipyn mwy o fuddsoddiad yng Nghymru. Os byddem ni'n edrych ar gymhariaeth Gwlad y Basg, er enghraifft, a dwi'n gwybod bod y gymhariaeth yma'n cael ei gwneud yn gyson, mae eu dull ariannu nhw tuag at yr iaith wedi bod yn strategol bwysig o ran yr ariannu ar draws eu Llywodraeth nhw. Mae yna ganran o wariant ar draws pob maes gweithredol y Llywodraeth yn mynd tuag at yr iaith, a thrwy hynny, maen nhw'n gallu gwario yn bwrpasol ac yn gallu cynnal meysydd strategol a chreu ymyraethau pellgyrhaeddol, a dŷn ni’n gweld yr effaith yna ar yr iaith yn y wlad yna. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna le inni fod yn edrych ar fodelau tebyg i hynny o ar draws y byd, er mwyn inni fod yn gallu cymharu a dysgu o’n gilydd.
Dwi hefyd yn gwybod bod ein rhaglen celf ryngwladol ni yn y maes yna yn gweithio'n ddiwyd ar draws y byd, yn dod â lleisiau ynghyd, yn gwrando ar ein gilydd ac yn dysgu o'n gilydd, er mwyn gallu cyfrannu at unrhyw ddatblygiad posib yn y dyfodol. Gobeithio fod hynny'n ateb y cwestiwn.
No, I'd prefer to speak in Welsh, if that's okay.
In terms of the strategic plan I was referring to, it's the specific Welsh language and arts strategic plan that's within our wider strategy that I'm referring to. The wider strategy of the arts council relates to the six principles, with the Welsh language being one of them, and the others are increasing participation, transformation, creativity, climate justice, and so forth, and nurturing talent. So, the Welsh language is part of that, and therefore there's a specific programme for that area that's about to be released. Within that specific programme, I can say that the role of the Welsh language, creativity, and culture is core, and they are intertwined, and that's the basis for the scheme—that we look more at that core relationship between those three key areas.
We do convey ourselves, and the language is a skill, yes, but we convey and interpret ourselves culturally and linguistically through different languages, including the Welsh language. Therefore, it's impossible for us to separate those three areas.
So, in terms of the Welsh and culture strategic plan, which is associated with that, and the arts and creativity are also a core part of that, we are looking to invest what's possible into that, but I agree that there is a need for more investment in this area from Welsh Government. I think we need to be placing culture, the language and creativity, and those other areas, including our heritage, as a core part in the way that we strategically plan, not only in this relevant area, but across every area, and that we give an important and central space to our culture, and the way that we convey ourselves in Wales, linguistically, creatively and culturally, and that that is an integral part of every consideration across Government, so that we enable ourselves at all times to make the most of every opportunity, and develop opportunities in those areas. But it is also to ensure that more people can engage with those cultural areas, including events, festivals and activities, and that they have a core voice in the developments that are happening in Wales.
So, we are strategically planning in the arts council in that field, but I would entirely agree that there is a need for more investment in Wales. If we looked at the Basque Country, for example, and I know this comparison is made quite regularly, their funding plans for the language have been strategic in terms of funding across their Government. There is a percentage of expenditure across every operational area of the Government on the language, and through that, they can spend with purpose and can maintain strategic areas and create far-reaching interventions, and we see the impact of that on the language in the Basque Country. I think we could be looking at similar models across the world, so that we can compare and learn from each other.
I also know that our international arts programme in that area is working hard and diligently across the world, bringing voices together, listening to each other and learning from each other, so that we can contribute to any potential development in the future. I hope that's answered the question.
Diolch am hwnna—trylwyr iawn. Jest i bawb fod yn ymwybodol, dŷn ni bron i mewn i'n pum munud olaf o'r sesiwn, ond os oes gan Nia neu Hywel unrhyw beth ychwanegol i'w ddweud ar hynny—. Maddeuwch i fi fod ein hamser yn rhedeg mas. Mae Hywel eisiau dod i mewn.
Thank you very much. It was a very thorough answer. Just for witnesses to be aware, we're almost into our last five minutes of the session, but if Nia or Hywel had anything to add on that point— Do forgive me, our time is running out. Hywel wants to come in.
Dwi ddim yn siŵr os dwi'n siarad cweit am yr un peth ac yn ateb y cwestiwn, a dwi wedi cyfeirio ato fo'n barod, o ran yr angen dŷn ni'n ei deimlo am ddwysáu ymdrechion o ran cynllunio ieithyddol cymunedol, ac fel rhan o hynny i ddod â phartneriaid ynghyd yn y cyd-destun yna. Roedd hwn yn rhywbeth roedd y comisiwn cymunedau wedi'i argymell hefyd, fod angen edrych i gryfhau'r ffordd mae awdurdodau lleol yn cynllunio ar gyfer cyfleoedd i bobl ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg.
Felly, i ateb y cwestiwn, dwi'n meddwl bod angen mwy o adnoddau. Beth fuaswn i’n ei ddweud cyn hynny ydy bod yna bethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud, o fewn yr adnoddau sydd gennym ni, yn well. Dŷn ni eisoes wedi adnabod pethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud o ran cyfrannu at hyn, o ran ein gwaith ni efo'r strategaethau hybu. Mae Bil y Gymraeg ac Addysg, wrth gwrs, yn ymrwymo i adolygu'r safonau sy'n ymwneud efo hybu, so dwi'n meddwl bod yna gyfle i gryfhau'r fframwaith polisi o gwmpas y strategaethau hybu. Ond yn y pen draw, dwi yn meddwl bod angen, o bosib, mwy o adnoddau a chyllid i'r partneriaethau allweddol sy'n mynd i fod yn gweithredu'r strategaethau yma—yr Urdd, y mentrau iaith, y stwff o gwmpas gwaith ieuenctid, chwaraeon, yr holl bethau yma sy'n hanfodol er mwyn gweithredu'r strategaethau yma sy'n bodoli.
Felly, mi fuaswn i'n—. Mae yna bethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud yn well, mae yna bethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud o fewn yr adnoddau sydd gennym ni ar hyn o bryd, ond, wrth gwrs, mi fuasai mwy o adnoddau yn golygu ein bod ni'n gallu mynd llawer pellach a chael mwy o ddylanwad.
I'm not sure if I'm talking about exactly the same thing or answering the question, and I have referred to it already, in terms of the need that we've identified in terms of intensifying efforts for community language planning, and as part of that to bring partners together in that context. That was something that the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities had recommended too, that we need to look to strengthen the way that local authorities plan for opportunities for people to use the Welsh language.
So, to answer the question, I do think we need more resources. What I would say before that is that there are things that we can do, within existing resources, better. We've already identified things that we can do to contribute to this, in terms of our work with promotional strategies. The Welsh Language and Education Bill commits to reviewing the standards relating to promotion, so I think there's an opportunity to strengthen the policy framework around those promotional strategies. But, ultimately, I think that we do need greater resources and more funding for the key partners who will be implementing those strategies—the Urdd, the mentrau iaith, stuff around youth work and sport, all of these things that are crucially important in terms of delivering these existing strategies.
So, I would—. There are things that we can do better and things we can do within existing resources, but, of course, having more resources would mean we could go much further and have so much more influence.
Diolch am hwnna. Mae Mick yn hapus. Ac yn olaf, fe wnawn ni droi at Lee.
Thank you for that. Mick is content. Finally, we'll turn to Lee.
Just to build on the last answer then, given that there are fixed resources, how we spend the balance of that, so the benefits versus the opportunity costs, in terms of the lower cost entry, which everybody agrees is desirable, particularly for those families on lower incomes, rather than saying, 'Well, if we had more money it'd be a nice thing to do', to what extent do you think the value of that is sufficient that that should be a choice made as a matter of course? So, in terms of where the benefits of spend are made, given the fixed costs, do you think that the benefits socioeconomically of reaching new audiences are such that that should be part of the choices that we make at the expense of other things, or should it only be something we do if there's additional resource available?
Mae'n gwestiwn eithaf mawr i orffen gyda fe. Mae'n flin gen i bod gennym ni gyn lleied, pedwar munud, ar ôl, ond allaf i ofyn a oes unrhyw un eisiau dod i mewn ar hyn yn gyntaf? Hywel.
That's quite a major question to finish on. I apologise that we only have four minutes left, but did anyone want to come in on this point first? Hywel.
Gallaf i drio ateb y cwestiwn yna, ond jest rhoi barn yn gyflym ar beth fuaswn i'n ei ddweud ar hynny. Dwi'n meddwl bod yna dystiolaeth fod yr eisteddfodau yna lle mae mynediad wedi bod am ddim, yng Nghaerdydd ac yn sir Ddinbych, ac i raddau llai yn Rhondda Cynon Taf y llynedd, wedi denu mwy o bobl ac yn debygol o fod wedi denu cynulleidfaoedd ehangach. Felly, yn sicr, dwi'n meddwl bod hynny yn beth da, a dwi'n meddwl mai'r ffordd buaswn i'n ei fframio fo hefyd ydy dim jest meddwl am y byd o ran defnydd iaith, ond o ran tegwch ac o ran ymestyn allan at gynulleidfaoedd fuasai ddim, fel rheol, yn mynychu'r eisteddfod.
Dwi'n wastad yn meddwl wedyn fod yna gwestiwn o'r balans—a ydy o'n werth yr arian ychwanegol ac ai yn fanna y dylem ni fod yn ei wario fo? Dwi ddim yn gwybod beth ydy'r ateb i'r cwestiwn yna, ond yn sicr dwi'n meddwl bod yna fudd enfawr i fod yn denu pobl fuasai ddim fel arfer yn mynychu'r digwyddiadau yma i fynychu'r digwyddiadau, a dim o reidrwydd bod hynny'n ymwneud â'u bod nhw'n siarad Cymraeg neu beidio. Mewn ardaloedd, er enghraifft, yng Ngwynedd mae yna garfannau mawr o'r boblogaeth fuasai ddim yn mynychu'r math yma o ddigwyddiadau oni bai eu bod nhw'n cael cyfle i wneud hynny. Felly, dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n fater o degwch a chyfiawnder, yn fwy nag yn ymwneud efo'r Gymraeg yn benodol. Dyna fuasai fy safbwynt i.
I can try and answer the question, but I'd just be expressing a quick view on that, really. I think there is evidence that those eisteddfodau where entry has been free, in Cardiff and in Denbighshire, and to a lesser extent in RCT last year, have attracted more people and are likely to have attracted a broader audience. So, I do think that that's certainly a good thing, and the way I would frame it is not just thinking about the benefits in terms of language use, but also in terms of fairness and reaching out to audiences that wouldn't usually attend the eisteddfod.
I always think that there is a question of balance as to whether it is value for money and is that where we should be spending it. I don't know the answer to that question, but certainly I do think there are huge benefits to attracting people who wouldn't necessarily attend these events otherwise, and that's not necessarily to do with whether they speak Welsh or not. In areas of Gwynedd, for example, there are large proportions of the population that wouldn't attend these events unless they had that opportunity. So, I think it's an issue of fairness and social justice, rather than to do with the Welsh language specifically. That would be my view.
Diolch, Hywel, a Nia. Dŷn ni wedi colli sain Nia, yn anffodus.
Thank you, Hywel, and Nia. We've lost Nia's sound, unfortunately.
A ydych chi'n fy nghlywed i nawr?
Can you hear me now?
Ie, dŷn ni'n eich clywed chi nawr.
Yes, we can hear you now.
Beth roeddwn i'n mynd i'w ddweud oedd bod y Gymraeg yn iaith frodorol yng Nghymru, ac mae'n iaith leiafrifol. Mae'n bwysig cael gwyliau a digwyddiadau lle mae'r Gymraeg yn iaith ddominyddol, a bod mynediad i'r rheini yn rhad ac am ddim i deuluoedd incwm isel o ba bynnag gefndir, achos mae'r cyfleon ar hyd a lled Cymru i brofi'r Gymraeg fel iaith fyw ym mhob agwedd ar fywyd yn brin. Felly, ni ddylai diffyg incwm fod yn rhwystr i glywed a phrofi'r Gymraeg o dy gwmpas di tu hwnt i'r ysgol. Mae yna werth mwy na jest y cwestiwn ynglŷn â'r gwerth ariannol fan hyn—mae yna werth diwylliannol ac mae yna werth o ran ni fel gwlad os ydym ni o ddifrif yn meddwl am y Gymraeg fel rhan o deithi tirwedd Cymru. Dwi'n meddwl bod eisiau i ni ystyried hynny hefyd.
Felly, buaswn i'n dweud bod hwnna'n rîli bwysig. Mae wedi bod yn llwyddiant; rŷn ni wedi gweld hynny ym Margam yr wythnos diwethaf, ac rŷm ni wedi gweld hynny droeon gyda'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol hefyd. Ac rŷn ni'n profi hynny—
What I was going to say was that the Welsh language is an indigenous language in Wales, and it's a minority language. It's important to have festivals and events where the Welsh language is the dominant language, and that entry to those events is free for low-income families, whatever their background, because the opportunities across Wales to experience the Welsh language as a living language in every aspect of life are very scarce. So, a lack of income shouldn't be a barrier to hearing and experiencing the Welsh language around you beyond school. I think there's a value more than just the financial value here—there is a cultural value and also value to us as a country if we're serious about thinking about the Welsh language as part of the landscape of Wales. I think we should also consider that.
So, I would say that that is crucial. It's been successful; we've seen that in Margam last week, and we've also seen that on numerous occasions with the National Eisteddfod. And we're experiencing that—
Just very briefly, can I press you on that? Because, again, I don't want to let everybody off the hook here. Yes, we all agree it's desirable. My question is: is it sufficiently desirable that it should be part of the costs we assume, rather than being something we only do if we can get additional revenue?
Na, dwi'n meddwl ei fod e'n greiddiol i'r gost. Os rŷn ni'n dweud bod y Gymraeg yn perthyn i bawb yng Nghymru, yna mae hwn yn gam pwysig i ni ei gadw, dwi'n meddwl, fel un o'n hegwyddorion ni, buaswn i'n dweud. Ond dwi'n siŵr y bydd yr Eisteddfod yn gallu rhoi mwy o ddata ansoddol i chi ar hynny.
No, I think it is core to the cost. If we're saying that the Welsh language belongs to everybody in Wales, then this is an important step that we need to retain, I think, as one of our principles, I would say. But I'm sure the Eisteddfod can provide you with more analytical data on that.
Diolch am hynna. Y gair olaf i Einir, a sori bod cyn lleied o amser gyda chi.
Thank you for that. The final word to Einir, and sorry that there's not much time left.
Diolch. Dwi eisiau cytuno gyda Nia a Hywel ar y pwynt yma. Dwi'n meddwl ei fod e'n rhan greiddiol hefyd, ac i ni gadw mewn cof bod nifer o wyliau llai yn digwydd ledled Cymru—rhai y mentrau iaith ac ati—sydd yn rhad ac am ddim, oherwydd y pwynt allweddol yma, ei fod e'n fater o degwch, a'i fod e'n bwynt pwysig os ŷn ni o ddifrif ynglŷn â chynyddu niferoedd y siaradwyr Cymraeg yng Nghymru erbyn 2050.
Thank you. I wanted to agree with Nia and Hywel on this point. I do think that it's a core part, and we should bear in mind that there are a number of smaller festivals across Wales—the mentrau iaith ones and so on—which are free of charge, because of this key point, that it is an issue of fairness, and that it's an important point if we are serious about increasing the number of Welsh speakers in Wales by 2050.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r tri ohonoch chi am y dystiolaeth. Mae e wedi bod yn eithriadol o ddiddorol a defnyddiol i ni. Bydd transgript o'r hyn sydd wedi cael ei ddweud yn cael ei anfon atoch chi i wirio ei fod e'n gofnod teg. Efallai y bydd yna ambell i beth byddwn ni eisiau ei ofyn i chi mewn ysgrifen—roedden ni wedi rhedeg mas, ychydig, o amser fan yna. Ond diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y dystiolaeth. Dŷn ni wir yn ddiolchgar am eich amser.
Aelodau, fe wnawn ni gymryd egwyl fer o naw munud cyn y sesiwn nesaf. Fe wnawn ni aros i glywed ein bod ni'n breifat. Ond diolch eto i'n tystion.
Thank you very much to the three of you for your evidence. It's been extremely interesting and useful for us. A transcript of what's been said this morning will be sent to you to check for accuracy. Perhaps there will be a few more questions we'd like to ask you in writing—we ran out of time there. But thank you very much for the evidence. We're very grateful to you for your time.
Members, we'll take a short break of nine minutes before the next session. We'll wait to hear that we are in private session. Thank you again to our witnesses.
Gohiriwyd y cyfarfod rhwng 10:31 a 10:39.
The meeting adjourned between 10:31 and 10:39.
Croeso nôl. Dŷn ni yn cario ymlaen gyda’r un ymchwiliad ar 'Cymraeg i bawb?’, a dŷn ni nawr yn cymryd tystiolaeth eto. Fe wnaf ofyn i’n tystion gyflwyno’u hunain ar gyfer y record. Fe wnaf fynd at Gwyn yn gyntaf.
Welcome back. We're continuing with our inquiry on 'Cymraeg for all?', and we're now taking evidence again. I'll ask our witnesses to introduce themselves for the record. I'll go to Gwyn first.
Bore da, bawb. Gwyn Derfel ydy fy enw i. Ers bron i ddwy flynedd a hanner, fi yw rheolwr y Gymraeg gydag Undeb Rygbi Cymru.
Good morning. I'm Gwyn Derfel. For almost two and a half years, I've been Welsh language manager with the Welsh Rugby Union.
Diolch, Gwyn. Ac Ian.
Thank you, Gwyn. And Ian.
Ian Gwyn Hughes. Dwi wedi bod gyda'r gymdeithas ers rhyw 12 mlynedd rŵan, a bellach yn edrych ar ôl hyrwyddo'r gymdeithas a diwylliant.
Ian Gwyn Hughes. I've been with the Football Association of Wales for some 12 years now, and am now responsible for promoting the FAW and culture.
Croeso mawr i’r ddau ohonoch chi, ac fe wnawn ni fynd yn syth mewn i gwestiynau, os yw hynny’n iawn gyda chi.
A allwch chi siarad ni drwy, plîs, o ran gwyliau, pethau fel eisteddfodau, pethau fel yna, a hefyd, digwyddiadau diwylliannol Cymraeg, pa rôl rydych chi’n meddwl bod nhw yn ei chwarae o ran hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg, yn enwedig efallai mewn ardaloedd sydd â dwysedd is o siaradwyr Cymraeg? Pwy fuasai eisiau mynd yn gyntaf ar hyn?
Thank you. A very warm welcome to you both, and we’ll go straight to questions, if we may.
Could you just talk us through, in terms of festivals, eisteddfodau and cultural events and so on, what role do you think they play in promoting the Welsh language, particularly in low-density areas? Who would like to go first?
Mae’n rhaid i mi ddweud, pan wnes i gychwyn gyda’r gymdeithas, rhyw 12 mlynedd, 13 mlynedd yn ôl, y ddau sefydliad oedd yn gefnogol, ymysg y rhai oedd yn gefnogol iawn i ni, oedd yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol ac Eisteddfod yr Urdd, ac yn rhoi llwyfan i ni. Achos doedd pethau ddim fel maen nhw rŵan; roedd yna apathi tuag at, efallai, y gymdeithas, apathi gan y tîm ac yn blaen, tuag at gefnogwyr, y ddwy ffordd. Ac roedden ni eisiau, beth fuasech chi’n dweud, rhyw fath o quick fix, efo pobl yng Nghymru yn gallu gweld ein bod ni’n teimlo ein bod ni’n berthnasol, a'n bod ni’n ymwybodol o beth sy’n digwydd yng Nghymru. Ac aethon ni i Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn Abertawe. Roedd Gary Speed newydd gael ei benodi, ac aethon ni yna am yr wythnos gyfan. Yn anffodus, y diwrnod cyntaf roedden ni’n mynd, roedd pawb yn gadael Abertawe i fynd i lawr i Wembley, achos roedd gêm yn erbyn Reading yn y play-offs, felly doedd hwnna efallai ddim y penderfyniad doethaf. Ond ddaru o ddangos i bobl ifanc ein bod ni’n ymwybodol o beth oedd yn digwydd yn ddiwylliannol yng Nghymru.
A, wedyn, aethon ni i’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn Wrecsam ar y dydd Gwener gyda Gary, ac roedd yna 25,000 yna, ac roedd pawb eisiau rhywbeth i'w wneud efo Gary ac yn y blaen. Ond roedd o’n gweithio’r ddwy ffordd, roeddwn i’n teimlo, achos roedd o’n dangos bod y gymdeithas, efallai, yn ymwybodol o’r digwyddiadau diwylliannol yng Nghymru, ond roedd o’n dangos hefyd, gan fod rhywun fel Gary yno, achos roedden ni gyhoeddi'r garfan i chwarae yn erbyn Awstralia yna ar y maes, fod y Gymraeg, neu’r Eisteddfod, sori, yn berthnasol i Gymry di-Gymraeg hefyd. Felly, roedd o’n gweithio’r ddwy ffordd. Roedden ni’n elwa ohono fo, drwy roi proffil i ni, gymaint o bobl oedd yna, achos, gan amlaf, roedd pobl jest yn dod i fyny atom ni i gwyno, cael paned o de, a chwyno, ond, y tro yma, roedd gennym ni rywbeth positif i siarad amdano fe, sef Gary. Ond, wedyn, roeddwn i’n teimlo bod o hefyd, drwy’r cyhoeddusrwydd—. Roedd Sky Sports News yn dilyn Gary ar y dydd; dydych chi ddim yn aml yn cael Sky Sports News ar faes yr Eisteddfod, felly roedd o'n ehangu’r apêl. Felly, roedden ni’n gweld bod o’n gweithio’r ddwy ffordd.
A rŷn ni wedi trio gweithio ar hynny dros y blynyddoedd, gyda’r math o wyliau sy’n cael eu cynnal ar draws Cymru, mewn llefydd lle mae’r Gymraeg yn gryfach, ac, wrth gwrs, mewn llefydd lle dydy hi ddim mor gryf.
I have to say, since I started with the association, about 12, 13 years ago, the two organisations that were supportive, amongst the ones that were very supportive, of us, were the National Eisteddfod and the Urdd Eisteddfod, and they provided us with a platform. Because things weren’t as they are now; there was, perhaps, apathy towards the association, by the team and so on, towards supporters, on both sides. And we wanted, what would you say, some sort of quick fix with people in Wales, so that they could see that we felt that we were relevant, and that we were aware of what was happening in Wales. And we went to the Urdd Eisteddfod in Swansea. Gary Speed had just been appointed, and we went there for the whole week. Unfortunately, on the first day we went, everybody was leaving Swansea to go to Wembley, because there was a game against Reading in the play-offs, so perhaps that wasn’t the wisest decision. But it showed young people that we were aware of what was happening in terms of culture in Wales.
And then we went to the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham on the Friday with Gary, and there were 25,000 people there, and everybody wanted to do something with Gary and so on. But it worked both ways, I felt, because it showed that the association was, perhaps, aware of these cultural events in Wales, but it also showed, with somebody like Gary there, because we announced the squad to play against Australia there, —that the Welsh language, or the Eisteddfod, sorry, was relevant to non-Welsh speakers. So, it worked both ways. We benefited, because we were getting a profile, with so many people there, because, usually, people just came up and had a cup of tea and complained, but, this time, we had something positive to talk about, namely Gary. But I also felt, through the publicity—. Sky News Sports was following Gary on the day, and you don’t very often have them on the Eisteddfod field, so it was broadening the appeal. So, it was working both ways.
And we’ve tried to build on that over the years, with the sorts of festivals that are held across Wales, in areas where the Welsh language is stronger, and, of course, where it’s not as strong.
Diolch, Ian. A Gwyn.
Thank you, Ian. And Gwyn.
O ran Undeb Rygbi Cymru, dwi’n meddwl, rydym ni wedi bod yn gwneud gweithgareddau cymunedol yn y digwyddiadau, fel trio pasio pêl, sgorio pêl, neu beth bynnag. Felly, efallai roedd ein presenoldeb ni, yn y blynyddoedd cynnar, yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd, fel roedd Ian yn dweud, ac yn llai, o bosib, yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, ac yn enwedig efo Tafwyl, sydd ar garreg ein drws ni fan hyn. Dŷn ni wedi bod yn gwneud gweithgareddau cymunedol, a dwi’n credu, yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf yma, dŷn ni wedi bod yn trio cael mwy o bobl adnabyddus, i wneud pethau’n fwy perthnasol. Felly, mae’n cyn-gadeirydd ni, Ieuan Evans, wedi bod yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Yr hyn weithiodd yn wych i ni oedd aethon ni â Dewi Lake yn fwriadol i Eisteddfod Pontypridd, sef yr union fath o ardal dwi’n credu eich bod chi’n sôn amdani—ardal hollol Gymreig, byddwn i'n dadlau, wedi byw yn yr ardal am rai blynyddoedd. Ac roedd jest gweld cydnabyddiaeth pobl ifanc—a nifer ohonyn nhw wedi cael tocynnau am ddim i ddod i’r maes hefyd, fel pobl leol, sydd, dwi’n meddwl, yn arbennig o bwysig hefyd—a gweld perthnasedd rhywun fel Dewi Lake, sydd y cyntaf i gyfaddef bod ei Gymraeg o ddim yn berffaith, ond mae ei Gymraeg o’n llawer gwell na mae Dewi ei hun yn feddwl ydy hi, jest yn wych, ac i gael dim byd penodol yno, jest crwydro’r maes. A dwi’n credu, wedyn, ein bod ni’n cynnig rhywbeth i’r gwyliau, ond dŷn ni'n cael cymaint yn ôl gan y gwyliau hefyd, o weld bod yr undeb yn berthnasol i’r genhedlaeth ifanc o bobl.
In terms of the WRU, I think, we’ve been involved with community events at these events, providing lessons on passing a ball and so on. So, perhaps our presence, in the early years, was at the Urdd Eisteddfod, as Ian said, and perhaps we’ve less so in the National Eisteddfod, and particularly with Tafwyl, which is on our doorstep here. We’ve been involved in community activities, and, I think, in recent years, we have been trying to get more celebrities, so that things are more relevant. So, our former chair, Ieuan Evans, has been at the Urdd Eisteddfod. What worked superbly for us is that we took Dewi Lake to the Pontypridd Eisteddfod, which is exactly the kind of area I think you’re talking about, which is a very Welsh area, I'd say, having lived in the area for some years now. And just seeing young people’s recognition—and many of them had had free access to the field too, as local people, which I think is very important too—and seeing the relevance of someone like Dewi Lake, who would be the first to admit that his Welsh isn’t perfect, but his Welsh is far better than Dewi himself thinks, was just wonderful, and not doing anything specifically, just wandering around the Eisteddfod field. And then, I think, we provide something to the festivals, but we also get so much back from the festivals too, in seeing that the union is relevant to that younger generation of people.
Diolch am hynny. Ydych chi'n meddwl ei fod e'n gallu bod, efallai, yn anodd gwerthuso, neu fesur, beth ydy effaith calonogol rhai o'r gwyliau neu'r digwyddiadau yma ar ardaloedd, yn enwedig efallai os ydyn ni'n edrych ar ymdeimlad neu bositifrwydd y rhai sydd ddim yn medru'r iaith eto, neu sydd ddim yn hyderus, ond sy'n teimlo mwy o berchnogaeth ar yr iaith? Oes gennych chi unrhyw syniadau am—? Neu sut ydych chi'n ymwybodol o fel mae e'n gallu cael ei fesur, neu ydych chi'n meddwl bod hynny jest yn rhywbeth sydd yn anodd ei fesur?
Thank you for that. Do you think that it can be difficult, perhaps, to evaluate or measure the impact of some of these festivals and events on areas, particularly if we're looking at a feeling of positivity among those who can't speak the language yet, or who aren't confident, but who feel more of an ownership of the language? Do you have any idea about—? Are you aware of how it can be measured, or is that something that is just difficult to measure?
Dwi'n meddwl ei fod e'n eithaf anodd ei fesur, heblaw yr ymateb rydych chi'n ei gael, sydd yn reddfol gan bobl, o'ch presenoldeb chi yna. Mae'n hynod gadarnhaol. Er enghraifft, penwythnos yma; rydyn ni wedi gweithio'n agos efo Tafwyl dros y blynyddoedd, ac yn lle trio jest denu chwaraewr, fel rydyn ni wedi gwneud yn y gorffennol, beth rydyn ni'n ei wneud tro yma ydy cynnig sesiwn ar y berthynas rhwng llesiant meddwl, y Gymraeg a phwysigrwydd clybiau rygbi. Felly, rydyn ni'n trio cynnig rhywbeth gwahanol, o bosib, a gweld beth ydy'r ymateb gwahanol, ac wedyn penderfynu ar gyfer y blynyddoedd i ddod beth rydyn ni'n mynd i'w wneud. Y tro diwethaf roedd yr Eisteddfod yn y gogledd, yn hytrach na chael uned benodol Undeb Rygbi Cymru, cawson ni uned benodol Rygbi Gogledd Cymru, er mwyn trio cael pobl i ymgysylltu mwy efo'r tîm mwyaf yng ngogledd Cymru.
Felly, buaswn i'n pwysleisio, er bod fel rydyn ni'n trin y gwyliau efallai yn wahanol o flwyddyn i flwyddyn yn dibynnu ar y lleoliad, dwi'n credu ei fod yn gyfle arbennig i ymgysylltu efo pobl. Ond un o'r pethau efo Tafwyl sydd yn wahanol i'r lleill, wrth gwrs, ydy ei fod o am ddim, felly mae pobl yn fwy tebygol o fynd i Coopers Field y penwythnos yma. Dwi'n gwybod eich bod chi'n gallu cael tocynnau am ddim i Eisteddfod yr Urdd a'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, ond eto, hyd yn oed os ydych chi'n gystadleuydd yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd, rydych chi'n gorfod talu i fynd i'r maes. Ac nid beirniadaeth o'r Urdd ydy hynny, ond os dydych chi ddim yn siaradwr Cymraeg ac os ydych chi'n digwydd byw yn y de-ddwyrain, 'Lle dwi'n mynd i fynd? Ydw i'n mynd i fynd i Tafwyl am ddim neu ydw i'n mynd i Eisteddfod yr Urdd sy'n costio £23 i oedolyn i fynd i mewn?' Mae angen bach mwy o help, efallai, os ydyn ni eisiau denu'r bobl yna sydd rhwng dau feddwl os ydyn nhw'n mynd i roi cynnig ar un o'r gwyliau Cymraeg.
I do think it is quite difficult to measure, besides the response that you get instinctively from people of your presence. Usually it's very positive indeed. This weekend, for example; we have worked very closely with Tafwyl over the years, and rather than just trying to attract a player, as we have done in the past, what we're doing this time is offering a session on the relationship between mental health and well-being, the Welsh language and rugby clubs. So, we're trying to offer something different, and we're going to see what the response is to that, and then we'll make future decisions based on that. Last time the Eisteddfod was in north Wales, rather than a WRU stall, we had a Rygbi Gogledd Cymru stall, so we were trying to encourage people to engage more with the biggest team in north Wales.
So, I would emphasise that although the way that we treat the festivals differs from year to year depending on location, I do think that it is a great opportunity to engage with people. One of the things with Tafwyl that is different to the other festivals is that it's a free festival, so people are more likely to go to Coopers Field this weekend. I know that you can get free tickets to the Urdd Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod, but even if you're a competitor at the Urdd Eisteddfod you have to pay to enter the Eisteddfod. And that's not a criticism of the Urdd, but if you're a non-Welsh speaker and you happen to live in the south-east, you're thinking, 'Where am I going to go? Will I go to Tafwyl that's free of charge or will I go to the Urdd Eisteddfod, which costs £23 for an adult to enter?' We do need a bit more help perhaps if we want to attract those people who are in two minds as to whether they are going to have a go at attending a Welsh language festival.
Diolch am hynna. Ian, oeddech chi eisiau dod i mewn ar hyn hefyd?
Thank you for that. Ian, did you want to come in?
O ran gwerthuso beth ydy'r effaith, yn y gorffennol aethon ni â Ryan Giggs i'r Eisteddfod yng Nghanolfan y Mileniwm, mae Chris wedi bod yn y Bont-faen, roedd Rob Page wedi bod llynedd ym Meifod. Dyna un o'r pethau olaf a wnaeth o i ni. A'r flwyddyn cynt yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd. A hefyd rydyn ni wedi dysgu na allwch chi ddim dibynnu ar jest mynd â'r rheolwyr. Mae Rhian Wilkinson wedi bod, mae Gemma Grainger wedi bod, aeth Jayne Ludlow. A'n bod ni'n gwneud pethau yn enw'r gymdeithas, lle does dim rhaid inni gael yr enwau mawr.
Ond pan mae'r enwau mawr yn mynd yna, rydyn ni'n gweld, er enghraifft, yr ymateb gan bobl ifanc iddyn nhw, ac yn heidio atyn nhw, eisiau llofnodion ac yn y blaen. Mae pob un wedi bod yn grêt. A dwi'n credu beth mae'n gwneud i'r bobl ifanc yma yn yr ardaloedd yma ydy dangos fod y Gymraeg yn berthnasol ac yn rhywbeth modern, hyderus. Os ydyn nhw'n gweld rheolwr tîm pêl-droed sydd wedi bod yn llwyddiannus yn Ewrop ac ar draws y byd, dwi'n credu eu bod nhw yn gallu uniaethu â hynny ac wedyn efallai eu bod nhw'n meddwl, 'O, mae'r Gymraeg yn rhywbeth sydd yn berthnasol ac yn fodern' ac yn y blaen.
Allaf i ddim gwerthuso beth ydy'r effaith o ran gweld twf yn yr iaith ac yn y blaen, ond gallaf i werthuso o ran gweld beth ydy'r ymateb gan y bobl ifanc mewn awyrgylch lle mae'r Gymraeg yn iaith naturiol, ac maen nhw'n ei weld o tu allan i'r sefydliad ac maen nhw'n ei weld o'n berthnasol i reolwyr tîm pêl-droed Cymru—y merched a'r dynion—a dwi'n credu eu bod nhw'n gallu uniaethu efo hynny. Ac os ydy hynny jest yn gwneud i un person ddweud, 'O, reit, mae'n iaith sy'n berthnasol i mi—gwnaf i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg' yna mae hynny'n llwyddiant, yn fy marn i. Dyna fel buaswn i'n edrych arno fo.
In terms of evaluation of the impact, in the past we took Ryan Giggs to the Eisteddfod in the Millennium Centre, Chris has been in Cowbridge, Rob Page went last year in Meifod. That was one of the final things he did for us. And the previous year in the Urdd Eisteddfod. And we've also learned that you can't just take the managers. Rhian Wilkinson has been, Gemma Grainger has been, Jayne Ludlow went. And doing things in the name of the association where we don't need those big names.
But when those big names go to these events, we've seen the response from young people to them, and they want autographs and they want to meet them. Everybody's been great. And I think what it does for those young people in these areas is that it shows that the Welsh language is relevant, is modern and confident. If they see the manager of a football team that's been successful in Europe and globally, I think they can relate to that and then perhaps they think, 'Oh, the Welsh language is something that is relevant and modern' and so on.
I can't measure what the impact is in terms of an increase in the number of Welsh language users, but I can see from the response of young people in an environment where the Welsh language is a natural language, and they see it outside the organisation, and they see it relevant to the managers of football in Wales—women and men—and I think they can relate to that. And if we can just see one person saying, 'Oh, right, the language is relevant to me—I'll use Welsh,' I think that is a success. That's how I would look at it.
Diolch. Roedd Gwyn eisiau dod nôl i mewn, dwi'n meddwl.
Thank you. Gwyn wanted to come back in there, I think.
Roeddwn i'n ddigon ffodus i weithio efo Ian a'r gymdeithas bêl-droed am bron i 12 mlynedd, a dwi'n credu un o'r prif bethau wnes i dystio o ganlyniad i waith Ian a'r tîm, a oedd yn cynnwys nifer o bobl ddi-Gymraeg, oedd dwi'n credu gwnaethon nhw wneud i nifer fawr o Gymry di-Gymraeg deimlo fod y Gymraeg yn berthnasol ac yn bwysig iddyn nhw, drwy'r gweithgareddau a wnaethon nhw. A dwi'n credu bod beth ddywedodd Ian yn y fanna o ran gwneud yr iaith yn berthnasol yn un o'r pethau dwi wedi trio ei wneud yn fy ngwaith fan hyn efo'r undeb.
Efo'r stadiwm, rydyn ni'n cynnig gwasanaeth am ddim i bob un artist neu bob digwyddiad sy'n digwydd yma. Er enghraifft, gwnaeth Pink dderbyn ein gwahoddiad ni am ddatganiad i'r wasg yn ddwyieithog. Gwnaeth Coldplay wneud fideo amgylcheddol cwbl ddwyieithog. Rhoesom ni wersi Cymraeg i Chris Martin ac i Taylor Swift. Os ydyn ni'n trio sôn bod y Gymraeg yn amherthnasol, roedd y ffaith bod Taylor Swift wedi siarad Cymraeg yn y stadiwm wedi cael ei ddarllen a'i glywed 13.28 biliwn o weithiau ledled y byd. Felly, i bobl sy'n dweud bod pobl ifanc ddim â diddordeb yn y Gymraeg, dwi'n credu bod yr enghreifftiau yna yn gwrthbrofi hynny.
I was fortunate enough to work with Ian at the FAW for almost 12 years, and I think that one of the main things that I learnt as a result of Ian and the team's work, which included a number of non-Welsh speakers, is I think they made a number of non-Welsh speakers feel that the Welsh language was relevant to them through their activities. And I think that what Ian said in terms of making the language relevant is one of the things that I've done in my work with the WRU.
With the stadium, every artist or every event that's happening here, we offer them a free service. For example, Pink accepted our invitation for a bilingual press release. Coldplay did an environmental video that was entirely bilingual. We provided Welsh lessons to Chris Martin and to Taylor Swift. If we're saying that the Welsh language is irrelevant, the fact that Taylor Swift spoke Welsh in the stadium was seen and heard 13.28 billion times across the globe. So, for people who say that young people aren't interested in the Welsh language, then I think that those examples do actually disprove that.
Mae hwnna'n gyffrous. Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r ddau ohonoch chi. Gwnawn ni symud at Mick.
Well, that's very exciting. Thank you very much to both of you. We'll move to Mick.
Thank you. You've partly answered some of the things I wanted to ask about, which is really about the way in which Welsh is increasingly becoming normalised within sport. And of course, over the last 30, 40 years there has been a very dramatic transformation. There's almost no comparison between going to an event in the early 1970s as opposed to going to an event now, and I think that that's very important.
There's a lot of talk about soft power and the way in which, for example, sport and language is also part of integrating into a broader economic strategy, social strategy, selling Wales—what is unique about Wales, what is unique about the identity, and so on. For example, the FAW have, obviously, the partnership with the Arts Council of Wales, Gŵyl Cymru Festival and so on.
To what extent is there sufficient integration with all of those other aspects of the economy, strategy, the Welsh Government and so on when events are taking place, and to what extent is the strategy now about normalising the use of, I suppose, bilingualism—whichever language you want to use, the ability for that to become normalised within the activities and the events that you're involved in? Just a little bit about that. I know that you started talking about that, but just a little bit more about how you see that progressing and how you're measuring the success of it.
Croeso i chi ateb ym mha bynnag iaith.
You can answer in either language.
Gwnes i ddod yn fwy ymwybodol o hynny am y tro cyntaf yn 2016, yn Ffrainc, pan roedd pêl-droed, diwylliant, iaith, hanes, traddodiad—roedd pobl eisiau gwybod amdanon ni. Roedden nhw'n gallu gweld ein bod ni'n gallu chwarae pêl-droed, ac wedyn roedd gennym ni lwyfan. Dyna un peth doedd pêl-droed ddim wedi ei gael, efallai'n wahanol i rygbi, oedd y llwyfan rhyngwladol i werthu Cymru ac i werthu pêl-droed. Ac rydyn ni wedi bod yn ffodus, ddaru ni ei gael o yn 2016—mae hynny naw mlynedd yn ôl, rŵan—wedyn daeth, yn anffodus, COVID ac wedyn roedd Qatar yn wahanol, ond mae wedi ein galluogi ni i gydweithio â'r Llywodraeth ac yn y blaen yn fwy nag y buasem ni erioed wedi ei wneud o'r blaen oherwydd roedden ni ar lwyfan rhyngwladol.
Pan rydych chi'n mynd i'r digwyddiadau yma, mae yna mwy o ddiddordeb gan y wasg ledled Ewrop, neu beth bynnag, yn eich cynadleddau chi, ac roedden nhw'n holi am beth yw ystyr 'Gorau chwarae cyd chwarae', roedden nhw eisiau gwybod mwy am ein hiaith ni, roedden nhw eisiau gwybod mwy am ein diwylliant ni ac yn y blaen a dysgu mwy amdanon ni. Roedden ni'n sôn am normaleiddio dwyieithrwydd; roedd yna 24 iaith ar draws yr Ewros yna, achos roedd pob gwlad efo ei iaith ei hunan, ac roedd y Gymraeg yna ochr yn ochr.
Ac mae'n rhaid i fi ddweud, dwi erioed wedi teimlo'n fwy cyfforddus yn fy Nghymreictod nag oeddwn i yna, a dwi ddim wedi teimlo mor gyfforddus ers hynny, achos roedd o jest yn normal. Roedd dwyieithrwydd, amlieithrwydd, popeth jest yn naturiol. Doedd yna ddim issue am hyn neu issue am y llall, pam roedden ni'n gwneud hyn. Roedd popeth jest yn normal. Efallai eu bod nhw'n fwy parod ar y cyfandir i dderbyn dwyieithrwydd, amlieithrwydd, dwi ddim yn gwybod.
Roedden ni'n sôn am normaleiddio'r Gymraeg. Pan roeddwn i'n gweithio yn y BBC ac roedd cynadleddau i'r wasg, os oedd rhywun yn siarad Cymraeg, roedden nhw'n gofyn, 'Oes rhywun eisiau cyfweliad yn y Gymraeg?' ac roedd yn cael ei wneud mewn ystafell arall. Rŵan, rydyn ni'n ei wneud o ar y prif lwyfan o flaen pawb ac mae'r Gymraeg yn gyntaf. Felly, mae pawb yn yr ystafell yn clywed y Gymraeg ac yn gweld bod gennym ni ein hiaith ein hunain a'n diwylliant ein hunain.
Dwi'n credu bod cyrraedd y rowndiau terfynol yma'n amhrisiadwy i Gymru, nid jest i'r tim pêl-droed, ond i'r Llywodraeth yn economaidd, pob math o bethau, o ran gwerthu ein hunain o ran pwy ydyn ni. Ac roedd y cydweithio yn arwain i fyny at Qatar—dwi'n gwybod ddaru fo ddim digwydd ar y cae, ond roedd y cydweithio yn arwain i fyny at Qatar, rhwng y Llywodraeth a Chymru, y cyngor celfyddydau, ac yn y blaen, a gwahanol sefydliadau llenyddol neu ddiwylliannol yn arbennig ac yn dangos, pan rydyn ni i gyd yn dod at ein gilydd, beth sy'n gallu cael ei wneud. Gobeithio bod hynny'n ateb y cwestiwn rhywfaint.
I became more aware of that for the first time in 2016 in France, when football, culture, language, history, tradition—people wanted to know about us. They could see that we could play football, and then we had this platform. That's one thing that football hadn't had, differently to rugby, was that international platform to sell Wales and to sell Welsh football. And we were fortunate to have it in 2016—nine years ago, now, I'm not saying—but unfortunately COVID came and then Qatar was different. But it has enabled us to work with the Government and so on more than we'd ever done before, because we were on the international stage.
When you went to these events, I felt that there was greater interest from the press across Europe in your press conferences and they were asking about the meaning of 'Gorau chwarae cyd chwarae', for example. They wanted to know more about our language, they wanted to know more about our culture and wanted to learn more about us. And when you're talking about normalising bilingualism, there were 24 languages across the Euros, because every nation had its own language, and the Welsh language was one of them.
And I have to say that I've never felt more comfortable in my Welsh identity than when I was there, and I haven't felt as comfortable since then, because it was just normal—multilingualism, bilingualism, it was all natural. It wasn't an issue here and an issue there, why are we doing this; everything was normal. Perhaps they are more willing on the continent to accept bilingualism and multilingualism, I don't know.
We were talking about normalising the use of the Welsh language. When I worked in the BBC, we used to have press conferences, and if anyone spoke Welsh, they would ask, 'Well, does anyone want a Welsh language interview?', and it would be done in a different room. Now, we do it on the main stage in front of everyone and the Welsh language comes first. So, everyone in the room hears the Welsh language and sees that we have our own language and our own culture.
I think that getting to those finals was valuable for Wales, not just for the football team but for the Government, too, economically and for all sorts of different reasons, in terms of selling ourselves and who we are. And that collaboration in the lead-up to Qatar—I know it didn't happen on the field, but the collaboration in the lead-up to Qatar between the Welsh Government, the FAW, the arts council and so on and different literary organisations and cultural organisations was excellent and showed, when we all come together, what can be achieved. I hope that that answers your question.
Thank you very much.
Mae'r ffigurau yn dangos bod y genhedlaeth iau yn fwy tebygol o ystyried eu hunain yn Gymry nag yn Brydeinwyr, a dwi'n credu bod tipyn o hynny yn dod lawr i'r ffaith bod ganddyn nhw eu harwyr cenedlaethol, boed ar y maes pêl-droed neu faes rygbi. O safbwynt ein cydweithrediad penodol ni efo Llywodraeth Cymru, rydyn ni wedi bod yn lwcus yn y ddwyflwydd ddiwethaf—mae'r ganolfan dysgu Cymraeg wedi cynnig gwersi i dros 100 o'n staff ni. Mae Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Alisha Joyce-Butchers, Kayleigh Powell ac Abbie Fleming o dîm y menywod yn cymryd mantais o'r gwasanaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi ynddo. A hefyd, dwi'n gwybod bod y gymdeithas bêl-droed hefyd wedi manteisio ar gynllun grant Arfor yr oedd Mentera yn ei weithredu ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru.
Eto, i wneud y Gymraeg yn fwy perthnasol, beth wnaethon ni oedd mynd i glybiau rygbi a gofyn, 'Pa help ydych chi eisiau yn benodol yn Gymraeg?' Ac fe wnaethon ni 16 o ddigwyddiadau, a oedd yn cynnwys trafod pynciau fel ro'n i'n sôn amdanyn nhw yn Tafwyl, sef llesiant meddyliol, a gafodd dderbyniad gwych, defnyddio'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Fe ddefnyddion ni gwmni Siml i helpu ni efo hwnnw. Fe wnaeth un o'r clybiau ofyn am y menopos, ac felly, fe wnaethon ni, am y tro cyntaf erioed, gwrs uniaeth Gymraeg am y menopos, ac mi roedd yna 40 o ferched yna yng Nghlwb Rygbi y Bala. Felly, os ydyn ni eisiau gwneud yr iaith yn berthnasol, mae'n rhaid i ni, fel corff rheoli, ac mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth, fod yn berthnasol i fywydau dyddiol pobl, a dyna beth dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n trio ei wneud erbyn hyn o fewn Undeb Rygbi Cymru.
The figures show that the younger generation are more likely to consider themselves Welsh rather than British, and I think that a lot of that comes down to the fact that they have their national heroes, whether on the football field or the rugby field. In terms of our collaboration specifically with the Welsh Government, we've been fortunate in the last two years that the centre for learning Welsh have offered lessons to over 100 members of staff. Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Alisha Joyce-Butchers, Kayleigh Powell and Abbie Fleming from the women's team have taken advantage of the service that the Welsh Government are investing in. And also, I know that the FAW have taken advantage of an Arfor grant scheme that Mentera was operating on behalf of the Welsh Government.
Again, just to make the Welsh language more relevant, what we did was go to rugby clubs and ask, 'What support do you need specifically with the Welsh language?' We held 16 events, which included discussing the subjects that I mentioned at Tafwyl, namely mental well-being, which was well received, using social media through the medium of Welsh. We used the company Siml to help us with that. One of the clubs asked about the menopause, and so, for the first time ever, we did a Welsh language course on the menopause, and there were 40 women present in Bala Rugby Club. So, if we want to make the language relevant, we, as a governing body, and the Government, have to be relevant in people's daily lives, and that is what I think we are trying to do now within the WRU.
That completes my questions. Thank you very much.
Diolch. Fe wnawn ni symud ymlaen at Gareth.
Thank you. We'll move now to Gareth.
Thank you, Chair. Good morning, everybody. I'd like to cover grass-roots sport, if I may, and I'd like to understand how the FAW and indeed the WRU are supporting grass-roots clubs, players and coaches to develop and use their Welsh language skills.
Pwy sydd eisiau mynd gyntaf?
Who wants to go first?
Fe wnaf i fynd gyntaf am tsiênj, os wyt ti eisiau, IG. Pan gyrhaeddais i'r undeb rygbi, ces i fy siomi ar yr ochr orau o ran faint o Gymraeg a oedd yn cael ei defnyddio, ond erbyn hyn, rydyn ni'n gwneud cylchlythyr chwarterol sydd yn gwbl ddwyieithog. I'r rhai sydd ddim yn arbennig o hyderus yn y Gymraeg, mae gennym ni'r lanyards efo termau sylfaenol sydd yn helpu pobl i ddefnyddio eu Cymraeg.
Rydyn ni'n cydweithio efo Radio Cymru 2 fel bod cyhoeddiadau ar systemau sain pob clwb yn gallu cael eu gwneud yn syml yn ddwyieithog hefyd, felly mae'r opsiwn yna ar gael i bawb. Ac rydyn ni'n defnyddio mwy a mwy o'r Gymraeg ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Dwi'n credu ein bod ni wedi defnyddio'r un math o egwyddor ag Ian: yn lle cael y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg yn gwbl ar wahân, beth rydyn ni'n ei wneud ydy rhoi termau Cymraeg, hyd yn oed idiomau Cymraeg erbyn hyn, ac yn defnyddio prif gorff y neges, efallai, yn Saesneg.
Felly, mae'n gwbl normal erbyn hyn bod cyhoeddiadau ar ein cyfryngau cymdeithasol ni'n ddwyieithog. Ac yng Nghwpan y Byd ddwy flynedd yn ôl, neges Gymraeg oedd, dwi'n credu, yr ail neges a gafodd ei weld fwyaf. Yr un a gafodd ei weld fwyaf, credwch neu beidio, oedd pan wnaethon ni longyfarch yr Ariannin am ein curo ni. Felly, neges Sbaeneg a gafodd y prif ymateb, ond roedd y negeseuon Cymraeg yn agos iawn ar ei gwt o.
I'll go first for a change, if you want, IG. When I came to the rugby union, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of Welsh that was used, but now we produce a quarterly newsletter that's bilingual. For those who aren't confident in the Welsh language, we have lanyards with basic terms that help people to use the Welsh language.
We have worked with Radio Cymru 2 so that announcements are on the speakers in every club and those can also be made bilingual, so that option is available to everybody. And we use more and more of the Welsh language on social media. I think we have used the same sort of principle as Ian: rather than having the Welsh language and English language completely separate, what we're doing is using Welsh language terms, even Welsh language idioms, and providing the main body of the message in English.
So, it's completely normal now that announcements on our social media platforms are bilingual. And in the World Cup two years ago, a Welsh message, I think, was the second most viewed message. The most viewed message, believe it or not, was when we congratulated Argentina for beating us. So, it was a Spanish message that got the main response, but the Welsh message was very close to it.
Thanks, Gwyn. I'd just like to ask about grass roots specifically in terms of how that might be localised across different parts of Wales and the role within that in terms of communities, and perhaps lower density areas of Welsh speakers, and how that's enhanced through the work of the WRU.
The one thing that we keep mentioning today is normalising, isn't it? Registration for every player, coach and volunteer in Wales—we've changed that recently, so that's available, which, again, means that everybody has that choice. We have worked on a pilot scheme with the Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire County Council. What we were trying to do, in an area that has been a challenge, where the social use of Welsh was declining—. Although the initial tag courses are available to be taught through the medium of Welsh, the next step up isn't, so we're working with Carmarthenshire County Council to ensure that that second step is available, but then we need to implement those courses. So, we do have work to do.
Our theory here is that, if you teach people through the medium of Welsh right at the start, then coaches tend to stay with the same team throughout. So, that's what we're trying to do. And as I previously mentioned, the Arfor courses—we delivered 16 face-to-face courses and supplementary video content, giving those clubs in those areas covered by the Arfor project, the opportunity to have whatever course they wanted to be delivered. And I'm not sure if now is a time to divulge a couple of successes from that, or if you'd rather me speak about them later, I will gladly do so—
Ie, croeso ichi wneud nawr.
Yes, you're welcome to do so now.
The one thing that sticks in my mind was: great, we went to clubs who have promised to increase their social media output in Welsh. One club with their governance—they checked their governance following a Welsh language course, and they hadn't engaged with the English language option. They found out that the people who were on their board and their volunteers would be liable for any losses. So, by doing this course in Welsh, we've actually safeguarded the future of that club. With a mental health project, we went to this one place and there was one gentleman who had lost both his brothers to suicide, and he spoke in the meeting, and we asked at the end, privately, 'Had this course been in English, would you have attended?' And he said, 'I would have attended, but I would not have had the courage or the confidence to have spoken about it.' So, if we're ever thinking that the power of the Welsh language isn't immense, then that's an example that completely blows it out of the water.
Diolch, Gwyn. Ian, oeddech chi eisiau dod i mewn ar hyn?
Thanks, Gwyn. Ian, did you want to come in on this?
Mae hwn yn gwestiwn hynod ddiddorol gan Gareth. Mae'n gweithio'r ddwy ffordd i ni. Jest i roi cefndir, un o'r rhesymau dŷn ni'n mynd â rheolwyr o gwmpas Cymru—ac roeddwn i’n sôn, roeddwn ni'n gwneud sesiwn holi ac ateb, roeddwn ni'n ei wneud o efo Gary Speed, Chris Coleman, Ryan Giggs, Rob Page, a dwi'n ei wneud o rŵan efo Craig—ydy oherwydd ei fod o'n bwysig i ni fel cymdeithas ddeall, er ein bod ni'n un wlad, efallai fod beth sy'n gwneud i rywun deimlo'n Gymro neu'n Gymraes yng Nghasnewydd yn wahanol, efallai, i rywun yn Aberystwyth, rhywun ym Mae Colwyn neu yn Wrecsam ac yn y blaen. So, byddem ni’n cael y ddealltwriaeth yna.
Ac efallai, dros y blynyddoedd, os ydyn ni'n onest, mae hyn yn un o’n gwendidau ni: sut ydyn ni'n trosglwyddo beth sy'n digwydd ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol, lle os oes unrhyw un yn dod i'n gemau ni, maen nhw'n gweld naws gwbl Gymreig ac yn y blaen, neu ddwyieithog, yn amlwg? Sut ydyn ni’n gallu trosglwyddo hwnna lawr i lawr gwlad? Ac efallai fod hwnna wedi bod yn un o'r gwendidau, achos dŷn ni wedi canolbwyntio gymaint ar y timau cenedlaethol dros y blynyddoedd—ein bod ni heb wneud digon. Efallai fod hynny wedi dechrau newid rŵan, yn y ddwy, tair blynedd diwethaf, lle mae yna lawer iawn mwy o fuddsoddiad mewn adnoddau ac yn y gemau.
Ond dwi'n credu ei fod o'n gwestiwn—. Roeddwn i jest yn mynd i ofyn: oeddech chi’n sôn mwy am yr hyfforddi o gwbl—hyfforddi plant trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, neu jyst naws Gymreig o gwmpas clybiau?
This is a very interesting question from Gareth. It works both ways for us. Just to give you some background, one of the reasons that we take our managers around Wales—and I mentioned that we had a question and answer session with Gary Speed, Chris Coleman, Ryan Giggs, Rob Page, and we're doing it now with Craig—is because it's important for us as an association to understand that, although we're one nation, perhaps what makes one feel Welsh in Newport may be different to somebody in Aberystwyth, in Colwyn Bay or in Wrexham and so on. So, we have that understanding.
And perhaps, over the years, if I'm honest, this has been a weakness of ours: how do we transfer what happens on the international stage, where if someone comes to one of our matches, they clearly see that wholly Welsh or bilingual ethos? How can we convey that on the ground? And perhaps that's been a weakness that we've had, because we've focused so much on our national sides over the years—that we haven't done enough. Perhaps that has started to change now, over the past two or three years, where there's far more investment in resources and in the game.
But I think it is a question—. I was just going to ask: are you talking more about the coaching of children through the medium of Welsh, or just the Welsh ethos around the clubs?
Y naill—y ddau.
Either—both.
Dau o'r clybiau dwi'n ymwybodol ohonyn nhw sy'n trydar yn y Gymraeg, ac yn gyson yn ddwyieithog, ydy Casnewydd a Bae Colwyn—efallai dau glwb na fyddech chi ddim yn disgwyl eu gweld yn gwneud hynny, sy'n ffantastig, os ydyn ni'n gallu cael effaith fel yna.
O ran yr hyfforddi, dwi'n ymwybodol efo hyfforddi—. Mi aethon ni efo Craig yn ddiweddar i Bwllheli, ac roedd yna 150 o blant yna, ac wedyn fe wnaethon ni sesiwn holi ac ateb yn Neuadd Dwyfor. Roedd 400 yna, a dŷn ni bob tro yn mynnu mai pobl ifanc a theuluoedd sydd yna, ac roedd y naws yn gwbl Gymreig o ran y clwb fel yna. Ond, wrth gwrs, ewch chi i glybiau eraill mewn ardaloedd eraill—ai'r cyfrwng ydy Cymraeg?
Mae fy mab i’n hyfforddi pêl-droed yn gyffredinol, a dwi'n siarad gydag o ynglŷn â hyn—‘Sut, os oes gen ti griw o fechgyn neu ferched, ac mae yna 16 yn y garfan ac mae yna ddau yn siarad Cymraeg, ac yn fwy cyfforddus yn y Gymraeg, beth wyt ti'n neud efo nhw?’ Ac roedd o'n sôn, ‘Wel, dwi'n eu cymryd nhw i un ochr, jest i roi negeseuon bach, os dwi'n dweud, "Tria wneud hyn, tria wneud y llall", fel eu bod nhw'n teimlo'n gyfforddus.’ Mae yna rai sy’n chwarae tenis, maen nhw'n mynd i griw—. Mae yna glwb tenis ym Mhenarth, lle dwi'n byw, ac mae yna ddeg yn y criw yn eu dosbarth nhw—wyth ohonyn nhw yn Ysgol Gymraeg Pen y Garth, dau ddim, ac eto mae'r hyfforddi trwy gyfrwng y Saesneg.
So, dwi'n meddwl mai'r ateb i'r peth ydy hyfforddi, a hyfforddi mwy o bobl i hyfforddi trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, a dwi'n meddwl bod hyn wedi cychwyn rŵan. Mae gennym ni gyrsiau hyfforddi llwyddiannus iawn wedi bod dros y blynyddoedd, sydd wedi cael eu sefydlu gan Osian Roberts, ac rŵan mae Dave Adams yn eu cymryd nhw drosodd, ond efallai fod yna ddim digon wedi cael ei wneud yn y Gymraeg. A dwi’n credu mai’r ateb o ran hyfforddi ydy cael mwy o hyfforddwyr ar bob lefel i wneud i blant a phobl ifanc deimlo'n gyfforddus, achos os ydyn nhw'n mynd i glwb am y tro cyntaf a dydyn nhw ddim yn gyfforddus yn yr iaith—os oes rhywun yn hyfforddi'n Saesneg ac maen nhw'n Gymry Cymraeg, ac efallai'n siarad Saesneg ond ddim yn gyfforddus yn y Saesneg—efallai y gallan nhw fynd yn swil, colli ffordd, colli hyder ag yn y blaen. Felly, dwi'n credu mai lot o'r ateb i'r peth ydy cael mwy o hyfforddwyr sydd yn gallu siarad Cymraeg.
O ran naws Cymreig clybiau, beth fuaswn i'n ei ddweud ydy cydweithio—dŷn ni'n dechrau gwneud mwy ohono fo—â chlybiau unigol, achos, yn y diwedd, gwirfoddolwyr ydy'r bobl yma sy'n rhedeg y clybiau. Nhw sy'n adnabod eu hardaloedd. Dwi ddim yn meddwl ei fod o i fyny i'r gymdeithas i ddod i mewn a dweud, 'Gwnewch hyn a gwnewch y llall', achos mae pob ardal yn wahanol, ond i gydweithio a gweld, reit, dydy'r ardal yma ddim mor Gymraeg ag efallai ardal arall. Sut ydyn ni'n gallu dylanwadu tipyn bach a dod â mwy o'r iaith Gymraeg i mewn? Dydy o ddim yn gorfod bod yn gallu siarad Cymraeg, ond termau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a hyd yn oed pethau bach fel ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, 'Llongyfarchiadau ar ennill' neu 'Diolch' ac yn y blaen. Dwi'n credu mai dyna ydy'r ffordd i'w wneud o. Buaswn i'n dweud wrth Gareth efallai ei fod o'n rhywbeth dŷn ni heb wneud digon ohono fo dros y blynyddoedd, ond mae'n un o'n prif bethau ni ar hyn o bryd i ddatblygu yn ystod y blynyddoedd nesaf.
Two of the clubs that I'm aware of that tweet through the medium of Welsh, or consistently bilingually, are Newport and Colwyn Bay—two clubs you wouldn't expect to see doing so, perhaps, which is fantastic, of course, if we can have that impact.
In terms of coaching, I'm aware that—. We took Craig recently to Pwllheli, and there were 150 children there, and then we had a Q&A session at Neuadd Dwyfor. There were 400 people there, and we always insist that it's young people and families that are there, and the ethos was entirely Welsh in terms of the club. But, of course, if you go to other clubs in other areas—is the language medium Welsh?
My son is a football coach, and I speak to him about this, and I ask him, 'How do you cope if you have a group of boys and girls, and there are 16 in the squad and two are Welsh-speaking, for example, and they're more comfortable in Welsh, how do you deal with that?' And he said, 'Well, I'll take them to one side just to give them direct messages, and say, "Try and do this or try and do that", so that they feel comfortable.' There's a tennis club in Penarth, where I live, and there are 10 in the class there. Eight of them are in a Welsh-medium school—Pen y Garth—and two are not, and yet the training is through the medium of English.
So, I think the solution is to train—train more people to coach through the medium of Welsh, and I think we've started to do that now. We have had very successful coaching courses over the years, and they were established by Osian Roberts, and Dave Adams is now taking them over, but perhaps not enough has been done through the medium of Welsh. And I think that in terms of coaching, the answer is to have more coaches at all levels to make children and young people feel comfortable, because if they go to a club for the first time and they're not comfortable in the language used—if someone is coaching through the medium of English and they're Welsh speakers, and perhaps speak English but aren't comfortable—they might become shy, they might lose their way, lose confidence and so on. So, I think a lot of the solution to this is to have more coaches that can speak Welsh.
In terms of the ethos of clubs, what I would say is that it's a matter of collaboration—we're starting to do more of this—working with individual clubs, because, ultimately, it's the volunteers who are the people who are running the clubs. They know their areas best. I don't think it's up to the association to go in and say, 'Do this and do that', because every area is different. But we can work together and say, 'Right, this isn't as Welsh speaking an area as another, so how can we have an influence on that and bring more of the Welsh language in?' It doesn't mean people having to speak Welsh, but using Welsh-language terminology and even small things like on social media, saying, 'Llongyfarchiadau on your win', or 'Diolch' and so on. I think that is the way to do that. I would tell Gareth that it's something that we haven't done enough of over the years, but it is something that is one of our main focuses at the moment to develop in coming years.
Diolch, Ian. And you touched on it there slightly in terms of working with partners in collaborative working—how do, obviously, yourself and the WRU work with partners, maybe such as the Urdd, and are there any specific examples of how that's done to enhance provision in those sporting activities and respective sports?
O'n rhan ni, mae'r gwaith dŷn ni wedi ei wneud gyda—. Mae gennym ni bartneriaeth, beth fuaswn i'n ei ddweud, answyddogol dda gyda'r Urdd ac wedi bod ers blynyddoedd, a beth oeddwn i'n ei wneud oedd eu cefnogi nhw trwy fynd â rheolwyr i Eisteddfodau'r Urdd. Roeddwn i'n sôn yn gynharach am Eisteddfod benodol yng Nghaerdydd, Eisteddfod yn Abertawe. Roeddwn i wedi gobeithio mynd â Rhian Wilkinson i'r eisteddfod ym Margam eleni, ond roedd y tîm y merched yn mynd allan i'r Eidal, felly ddaru hynny ddim digwydd. Ond y flwyddyn gynt a'r flwyddyn cyn hynny aethon ni â Rob Page i Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Dŷn ni hefyd wedi cynnal lansio carfannau, cyhoeddi carfannau, yn Llangrannog ac yng Nglan-llyn gyda Gemma Grainger, Ryan Giggs a Rob Page. Felly, dŷn ni wedi cefnogi fel yna.
Roedd yna bartneriaeth agos yn gweithio tuag at Qatar, gyda jambori a'r gân ar gyfer yr ysgolion. Dŷn ni wedi gweithio eto ar gyfer pencampwriaeth yr Ewros. Mae'r Urdd wedi bod yn gefnogol iawn o ran ein cefnogi ni wrth gynnal bysiau am ddim i fynd â chefnogwyr i gemau'r merched. Felly, mae yna gydweithio agos wedi bod fan yna. Dwi'n deall bod yr Urdd a'r undeb rygbi yn ei wneud o'n wahanol. Wrth gwrs, mae'r gystadleuaeth rygbi dros Gymru gyda'r Urdd. Dŷn ni wedi cynnal trafodaethau gyda'r Urdd ynglŷn â chynnal rhywbeth tebyg, yn enwedig gan ein bod ni yn 150 o flynedd oed y flwyddyn nesaf. Ond hyd yma, dwi ddim yn credu bod unrhyw benderfyniad wedi ei wneud ynglŷn â hynny. Ond mae gennym ni berthynas agos iawn gyda'r Urdd.
Yn yr Eisteddfod ym Margam, roedd y bucket hat, roedd crys y merched ac yn y blaen. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod pob partneriaeth yn gweithio ddwy ffordd, onid ydy, ac maen nhw wedi bod yn gefnogol iawn i ni ymhob agwedd o'n gwaith ni.
From our perspective, the work that we've been doing—. We do have an unofficial partnership with the Urdd, which has been very positive over the years, and what we did was to support them by taking our managers to the Urdd Eisteddfodau. I mentioned earlier the Eisteddfod in Cardiff and in Swansea. We had hoped to take Rhian Wilkinson to the Eisteddfod in Margam this year, but the women's team were traveling to Italy, so that didn't happen. But in the previous years, we took Rob Page to the Urdd Eisteddfod. We've also launched our squad announcements in Llangrannog, and in Glan-llyn, with Gemma Grainger, Ryan Giggs and Rob Page. So, we've supported in that way.
There was a close partnership with the Urdd in working towards Qatar, with the jamboree and the song for schools. Again, we worked for the Euros. The Urdd has been very supporting in terms of supporting us in organising free buses to take supporters to women's matches. So, there is close collaboration there. I understand that the Urdd and the WRU work differently. The WRU rugby competition across Wales is held with the Urdd. We've held some discussions with the Urdd as to having something similar for football, particularly as we're celebrating 150 years next year. But up to now, no decision has been made on that. But we do have a close working relationship with the Urdd.
In the Margam Eisteddfod, we had the bucket hat, the women's shirt and so on on display. I have to say that every partnership is a two-way street, isn't it, and they've been very supportive of us in all aspects of our work.
Diolch, Ian. Gwyn, oeddech chi eisiau dod i mewn?
Thank you, Ian. Gwyn, did you want to come in?
Ar y gystadleuaeth saith bob ochr lawr yng nghaeau Pontcanna, cwpwl o fisoedd yn ôl, dwi ddim yn cofio'r union ffigwr, gallaf i gael y ffigur i chi nes ymlaen, ond roedd miloedd ar filoedd o bobl ifanc Cymru yn chwarae yno. Roedd y negeseuon drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Wrth gwrs, doedd pob chwaraewr ddim yn siarad Cymraeg, ond eto mae'n dangos bod y Gymraeg yn gallu arwain y ffordd ar rywbeth felly.
Mae'r bartneriaeth a'r trefniant efo'n tîm cymunedol ni fan yma, sy'n cael ei arwain gan Geraint John efo'r Urdd efo Gary Lewis, yn rhywbeth gwerthfawr iawn i ni, oherwydd nid yn unig mae'n clymu i mewn efo'n strategaeth ni oherwydd yr iaith a'r diwylliant, mae hefyd yn paratoi chwaraewyr ar gyfer y dyfodol a chadw'r chwaraewyr â diddordeb yn y gamp. Felly, mae'r bartneriaeth efo'r Urdd yn un allweddol iawn i ni fel Undeb Rygbi Cymru.
A dwi'n credu bod ein partneriaeth ni efo'r gymdeithas bêl-droed yn bwysig hefyd, o ran dŷn ni wedi cydweithio ar fideos i hyrwyddo'r Gymraeg efo'r ddau gapten ar y pryd, Ben Davies a Dewi Lake. Felly, dŷn ni yn tynnu i'r un cyfeiriad, onid ydyn ni—dydy hi ddim yn gystadleuaeth rhyngom ni. A dwi yn credu bod gan yr undeb rai pethau i'w dysgu gan y gymdeithas o ran clymu'r iaith â'r diwylliant. Roedd Ian yn sôn am wneud cynadleddau i'r wasg mewn gwahanol leoliadau eiconig yng Nghymru. Mae hwnna'n rhywbeth dwi'n ei groesawu'n fawr, o ran, efallai, ein bod ni'n defnyddio mwy o Gymraeg ar ein gwefan o bosib. Ond nid cystadleuaeth ydy o, ond rhywbeth y gallwn ni i gyd weithio arno a gwthio’n gilydd i wella’r ddarpariaeth ymhellach.
On the seven-a-side competition on Pontcanna fields a few months ago, I can't remember the exact figure, but I can get you the figure later, but there were thousands and thousands of young people from Wales playing there. The messaging was in the Welsh language. Of course, not every player spoke Welsh, but again it shows that the Welsh language can lead the way on something like that.
The partnership with our community team here, led by Geraint John with the Urdd and with Gary Lewis, is something that's very valuable to us, because not only does it tie in with our strategy because of language and culture, it also prepares players for the future, and keeps players with an interest in the sport. So, the partnership with the Urdd is a key one for us as the WRU.
And I think our partnership with the FAW is important as well. We have collaborated on videos to promote the Welsh language with the two captains, Ben Davies and Dewi Lake, at the time. So, we are pulling in the same direction—it's not a competition between us. And I do think that the union has some things to learn from the association in tying the language and culture together. Ian mentioned press conferences in different iconic settings in Wales. That's something that I welcome very much, perhaps in terms of us possibly using more Welsh on our website. But it’s not a competition, but something that we can collaborate on and push ourselves to improve the provision further.
Thank you very much. Just finally, are there any examples of good practice that can be shared where language has increased due to provision and work and efforts in this regard? And how, indeed, would they be communicated with each other so that examples of those good practices can be shared and act as an inspiration to other bodies that you might work with?
Well, social media stats would be the obvious one. As I've said, Welsh language stats in the world cup received more views than when Warren Gatland came back to coach Wales. The feedback that we've had from the general public regarding our use of Welsh has been unilaterally positive. Noah Hathaway, our former social media manager, in the time he was with us, said the thing that gave him greatest pride was the positive reaction that our social media, by increasing our use of Welsh, had received. Noah himself isn't a Welsh speaker, but he engaged with it, so you need key individuals to have that positive impact. As Ian mentioned, you wouldn't have expected Colwyn Bay and Newport County to be two of the clubs that use the language most, but that was down to key individuals. So, if you give those people the tools and, more than anything, you give those people the confidence to use it, then—. Ben Davies, the footballer, he got a lot of abuse for tweeting in Welsh, didn't he, Ian? But that ultimately turned into something positive, because people said, 'Well, no, this is our language, this is who we are, this is what we do.' So, I genuinely believe that, over the last five to 10 years, the confidence and national identity of feeling Welsh is actually something that I haven't experienced in my lifetime before. So, although there are challenges ahead, I'm genuinely enthused and confident about what we can do in the future.
Diolch, Gwyn. Ian.
Mae yna ffordd o wneud hyn, dwi'n credu. A dwi'n credu'r ffordd o—. Dydy o ddim yn rhywbeth eich bod chi'n gallu gwthio lawr corn gwddw pobl, dŷch chi'n gorfod ei wneud o mewn ffordd bositif, lle mae pobl yn gweld o'n rhywbeth naturiol. Ond dwi'n credu mai normaleiddio'r Gymraeg—. Mae pŵer y cyfryngau cymdeithasol—. Dwi'n cofio yn Ffrainc yn 2016, ddaru ni drydar yn Gymraeg, yn Llydaweg, yn Ffrangeg, yn Saesneg, yn Rwsieg, yn Slofeneg, ac yn y blaen—pa bynnag wlad roedden ni'n chwarae yn ei herbyn—ac roedd hynny'n dangos mai’r ffordd yna ydy'r ffordd i normaleiddio'r iaith. A hefyd jest cyflwyno gair, fel ar y crysau-T, ‘Diolch’.
Rwy’n credu, efallai, mai un o'r llwyddiannau ydy ddim cymaint—. Dydy'r gymdeithas, efallai na'r undeb rygbi, ddim yn mynd i—. Nid ein rôl ni ydy, efallai—. Wel, nid ni yn unig sy'n mynd i gynyddu, efallai, nifer y siaradwyr Cymraeg, ond ein bod ni’n dangos bod y Gymraeg—ein bod ni'n gallu cyflwyno geiriau. Mae pawb yn gwybod, rŵan, pan mae'n dod i fyny ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, ‘diweddariad carfan’, mae pawb yn ‘dread-io’ fo achos maen nhw'n gwybod bod yna rywun wedi tynnu allan— efallai nad oedd neb, cyn 10 mlynedd yn ôl, yn gwybod beth oedd ‘diweddariad carfan’.
Dwi'n credu efallai mai'r llwyddiant mwyaf fyddai creu ymwybyddiaeth—mwy ohono fo—o'r iaith Gymraeg. Yn hytrach na thwf yr iaith, creu ymwybyddiaeth ohoni hi. Dwi’n cofio Chris Coleman, pan ddaru’r Llywodraeth lansio’r targed o filiwn o siaradwyr, lawr y ffordd o le dwi ar y funud, roedd o yn y crys-T, ‘Dwi ddim yn siarad Cymraeg, ond mae'n rhan o bwy ydyn ni, mae'n rhan o'n hanes ni, felly parchwch hi’. Dwi'n credu, efallai, ennill parch ac yn y blaen—.
Yn sôn am hyder o ran y Gymraeg, roeddwn i ym Mhwllheli yn ddiweddar, fel roeddwn i'n sôn, efo Craig, ac mae yna gynulleidfa—. Mae naws i'r noson—. Maen nhw’n cynnal y noson, a dwi'n gwneud tri chwarter awr o holi ac ateb efo Craig, ac wedyn mae Craig yn siarad am awr, dwy awr, tair awr, yn dibynnu faint mae Craig eisiau siarad. Roeddem ni’n cael cwestiynau o’r gynulleidfa. Ac roedd yna bobl ifanc yn y gynulleidfa yna ym Mhwllheli i gyd yn gofyn eu cwestiynau yn Gymraeg, a dwi erioed wedi profi hynny mewn 13 mlynedd o wneud hyn. Felly, i fi, roedd hwnna'n llwyddiant, fod y bobl ifanc yma, rŵan, erbyn hyn, yn teimlo bod ganddyn nhw ddigon o hyder o flaen—. Maen nhw'n ddigon dewr i ofyn cwestiwn beth bynnag, ond i bobl ifanc, o flaen 400, i fod yn gofyn cwestiynau i'r rheolwr cenedlaethol yn y Gymraeg, roeddwn i’n meddwl, ‘Waw, mae hwn rili yn ei normaleiddio hi’, a dwi’n credu bod hynny’n un o’r llwyddiannau. Dwi'n derbyn bod hynny mewn ardal fwy Cymreig, ond wedi dweud hynny, mae'r iaith yn dal dan fygythiad yn yr ardaloedd Cymreig yma, felly mae'n bwysig bod pawb yn cael eu cynnwys yn hyn. Roedd hynny jest yn dangos i mi fod gan y bachgen ifanc yma hyder i ofyn cwestiwn yn y Gymraeg, ac roedd hynny'n rhywbeth a oedd yn llwyddiant aruthrol.
There is a way of doing this, I think. And I think they way—. It isn't something that you can stuff down people's throats, you have to do it in a positive way where people see it as being natural. But I think normalisation of the use of the Welsh language—. The power of social media—. I remember in France in 2016, we tweeted in Welsh, Breton, French, English, Russian, Slovenian, and so on—whatever country we were playing against—and that demonstrated that that was the way to normalise the language. And also just introducing the word 'diolch' on T-shirts.
I think one of the main successes is not so much—. Neither the FAW nor the WRU are going to—. Our role is not, perhaps—. Well, it's not just us who are going to increase the number of Welsh speakers, but that we show that the Welsh language can be presented to everyone—we can introduce some words. Everyone understands now when the words 'diweddariad carfan'— an update on the squad—come up, and everyone's dreading that because they know someone has pulled out. Perhaps no-one knew, before 10 years ago, what 'diweddariad carfan' meant.
I think the greatest success is to create greater awareness of the Welsh language. It's not just about growth, it's about awareness. I remember Chris Coleman, when the Government launched the target of a million Welsh speakers, down the road from where I am here, he had a T-shirt saying, 'I don't speak Welsh, but it's part of who we are, it's part of our history, so respect it'. So, perhaps, gaining respect and so on—.
Talking about confidence in the Welsh language, I was in Pwllheli recently, as I mentioned, with Craig, and there was an audience and an atmosphere—. They put on the evening, and I hold a three-quarter of an hour Q&A with Craig, and then Craig talks for one, two or three hours, however long he wants, and then we take questions from the audience. And the young people in the audience in Pwllheli were all asking their questions in Welsh, and I've never experienced that in 13 years of doing this. So, for me, that was a huge success, that these young people now felt that they were sufficiently confident in front of—. It's daunting enough to ask a question in any circumstance, but for young people, in front of 400 people, to be asking a question of the national manager in Welsh, I thought, 'Wow, this really is normalising the use of the Welsh language', and I think that's one of the successes. I accept that that is in a more Welsh-speaking area, but having said that, the language is still under threat in those areas too, so it's important that everyone is included in this. That just showed me that this young boy had the confidence to ask a question in Welsh, and that was a huge success, in my view.
Diolch. Roedd Gwyn eisiau dod yn ôl i mewn, rwy'n meddwl.
Thank you. Gwyn wanted to come back in, I think.
Ie, jest i wneud pwynt sydyn. Dwi'n credu bod yna ddau beth y buaswn i'n licio eu hychwanegu. Mae'n bwysig cael yr help ffurfiol. Fyddai ein polisi Cymraeg ni, a'r hyn rydyn ni yn ei wneud o ddydd i ddydd, ddim mor gryf oni bai ein bod ni wedi cael cymorth swyddfa’r comisiynydd a'r broses Cynnig Cymraeg. A dwi'n credu bod hynny'n gam pwysig pellach, i gynnig arweiniad i gwmnïau ddefnyddio mwy o Gymraeg ac i’w normaleiddio fo. Rydw i'n credu mai ni, efo help y comisiynydd, oedd yr ail gorff chwaraeon—dim ond yr ail gorff chwaraeon, ddwy flynedd yn ôl—i’w gael o. Felly, mae angen i hynny gael ei gryfhau.
Dwi'n credu hefyd ei bod yn bwysig bod y Gymraeg sy'n cael ei defnyddio yn ddealladwy. Un peth dydyn ni heb sôn amdano fo o gwbl eto ydy AI. Er enghraifft, dwi’n gwybod am un corff chwaraeon sydd â gwefan gwbl ddwyieithog, ond mae wedi mynd drwy'r peiriant AI. Felly, fel siaradwyr Cymraeg, dydy hyn ddim yn rhywbeth y byddwn i wedi teimlo yn arbennig o gyfforddus—. Doedd o ddim yn darllen yn rhwydd, fel petai. Felly, dwi'n credu bod angen gwaith yn y maes hwnnw, er mwyn sicrhau bod y derminoleg Gymraeg yn syml ac yn ddealladwy, fel bod pobl, o bosibl, yn mynd i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg, a bod y Cymry Cymraeg yn mynd i ddewis defnyddio'r gwefannau penodol, Cymraeg hynny, fel petai.
Mae gennym ni swyddog sy'n gweithio ar hynny o fewn Undeb Rygbi Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Os oes yna ryw gynlluniau y byddai'r Llywodraeth yn hoffi i ni—ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai’r gymdeithas bêl-droed eisiau gwneud hynny hefyd—. Byddai gennym ni ddiddordeb mewn creu rhyw fath o fas data chwaraeon AI, fel bod y peiriant yn chwydu pethau perthnasol i'r gynulleidfa, yn hytrach na chyfieithiadau llythrennol a slafaidd o’r Saesneg, sydd yn aml yn anghywir.
Yes, just quickly. I think that there are two things that I would like to add. It's important to have the formal support. Our Welsh language policy, and what we do from day to day, wouldn't be as strong unless we'd had support from the Welsh Language Commissioner's office and the Cynnig Cymraeg process. I think that that is a further important step in terms of providing leadership for companies to use the Welsh language and to normalise it. I think that, with the help of the commissioner, we were only the second sports body, two years ago, to have that. So, that needs to be strengthened.
Also, I think that it's important that the Welsh language that is used is understandable. One thing that we haven't spoken about at all yet is AI, for example. I know about one sports body that has a completely bilingual website, but it's gone through the AI machine. So, as a Welsh speaker it's not something that I would feel especially comfortable with. It wasn't easy to read, as it were. So, I think that there needs to be work in that area, to ensure that the Welsh terminology is simple and understandable, so that people, possibly, do use the Welsh language, and that Welsh speakers do choose to use specifically Welsh websites.
We have an officer that's working on that within the WRU currently. If there are any schemes that the Government would like us— and I'm sure that the FAW would like that too—. We'd be interested in creating some sort of database with regard to AI and sports, so that the machine churns out things that are relevant to the audience, rather than literal translations that quite often are wrong.
Diolch, Gwyn.
Thank you, Gwyn.
Diolch.
Thank you.
Grêt. Fe wnawn ni symud at Lee.
Great. We'll move on to Lee.
I just want to ask about the legacy left by major Welsh language events. A lot of effort is put into an eisteddfod in creating local momentum and building up committees, and so on, but there's less of an emphasis on the next steps after the event is finished. It's whether or not you think that that is something that should be rectified and, in terms of a legacy plan for an area where there's been a major event, the role that your organisations and your networks could have in making sure that those building blocks are then extended.
Wel, dwi'n credu bod yna le i ddatblygu hynny. Er enghraifft, fe wnaethom ni gryn dipyn ym Mhontypridd y llynedd. Doedd gennym ni ddim pabell—roeddwn i wedi bwriadu mynd â Craig Bellamy yna ar ei ymddangosiad swyddogol cyntaf y llynedd, ond wedyn mi ddaru i'w wraig o gael plentyn, felly roeddwn i'n meddwl efallai ei fod o'n well ei fod o'n aros adref efo hi, yn hytrach na mynd i Bontypridd, ond roedd o eisiau blas o'r Eisteddfod.
Roedden ni'n cynnal sgyrsiau, ac yn y blaen, ym Mhontypridd, a wedyn, dyna beth sy'n digwydd—unwaith roedd yr Eisteddfod drosodd, roedden ni yn syth i mewn i’r gemau wedyn. Roedd dwy gêm efo ni—dwy gêm gyntaf Craig, ac yn y blaen. Mae'r meddwl yn mynd ymlaen tuag at hynny, yn lle, efallai, ein bod ni fel cymdeithas—a dwi'n siŵr y byddai'r undeb hefyd—yn meddwl, 'Reit, rydyn ni wedi cyfrannu at yr Eisteddfod. Beth ydy'r cam nesaf yn yr ardal yna?', yn enwedig mewn ardal fel Pontypridd, lle’r oedd yr Eisteddfod mewn lleoliad ffantastig ac roedd popeth yn wych amdano fo i Gymry Cymraeg a di-Gymraeg. 'Ble'r ydym ni'n gallu datblygu fwy ar hyn rŵan, yn benodol?' Dyna un peth dydyn ni heb ei wneud.
Yn amlwg, dwi'n darllen ac yn clywed am beth ydy effaith yr Eisteddfod ar ardal. Ond, o'n rhan ni fel cymdeithas, efallai y dylem ni fod yn rhan o'r broses wedyn, a dweud, 'Reit. Dyma beth ddaru i ni ei wneud yn arwain i fyny ato fo. Beth ydyn ni’n ei wneud ar ei ôl o?' A dydyn ni ddim wedi gwneud hynny. Fel dwi’n dweud, rydyn ni'n mynd yn syth ymlaen at y peth nesaf—y prosiect nesaf—achos criw bach ohonon ni, efallai, sy'n gweithio ar hynny ac sy'n gweithio ar yr un peth sy'n digwydd wedyn. Ond dwi’n credu, yn sicr, fod yna le i hynny yn y digwyddiadau yma, mewn eisteddfodau neu unrhyw ddiwylliant, o ran gwyliau ac yn y blaen, lle’r ydym ni'n cael ein gwahodd i fod yn rhan o ryw fath o bwyllgor sy'n edrych ymlaen ar sut ydyn ni'n gallu parhau gyda'r gwaith ac adeiladu ar yr wythnos yna o Gymreictod yn yr ardal.
Well, I do think that there is scope to develop that. For example, we did quite a bit in Pontypridd last year. Now, we didn't have a stall—we had intended to take Craig Bellamy there as his first official appearance last year, but his wife had a baby, so we thought it may be better for him to stay at home with her rather than go to Pontypridd, but he did want to experience the Eisteddfod.
We did have events and conversations in Pontypridd, and then what happened is that, once the Eisteddfod was over, we were straight into games. We had two games—Craig's first two games. Your mind turns to that, rather than us as an association—and I'm sure this would be true of the union too—thinking, 'Okay, we've contributed to the Eisteddfod. What's the next step in that area?', particularly in an area like Pontypridd, where the Eisteddfod had a great location and everything was fantastic about the event for Welsh speakers and non-Welsh speakers. We need to think about where we can develop more there, specifically, and that's one thing that we haven't done.
So, clearly, I read and hear about the impact of the Eisteddfod on an area. But, for us as an association, perhaps we should be part of that legacy process and say, 'Well, this is what we did in the lead-up, but what are we doing after the event?' We haven't done that. As I say, we do move on immediately to the next project, because it's a small group of us working on it, and so we'd be moving on to our next event. But, certainly, there is scope for that within these events, be it an eisteddfod or any other festival, where we could be invited to be part of some sort of legacy committee, to continue the work and to build on that week of Welshness within that particular area.
Gwyn. Os gallwn ni—
Gwyn. If we could—
[Anghlywadwy.]
[Inaudible.]
Sori, Gwyn. Doedd e ddim ar unmute.
Sorry, Gwyn. You weren't unmuted.
Un wers ddysgais i erbyn diwedd fy nghyfnod i yn y gymdeithas bêl-droed, ac sydd yn amlwg iawn o fewn Undeb Rygbi Cymru, ydy gwerth data. Yn aml iawn, os ydych chi'n mynd i ddigwyddiad, ydy'r data yn cael ei gasglu gan bwy bynnag sy'n mynychu, er mwyn eu gwneud nhw'n ymwybodol o beth sy'n digwydd wedyn? Roedd un o'n clybiau ni wedi mynd i gystadleuaeth Ewrop, ac roedd 1,200 o bobl yna. Yng ngêm gynta'r tymor wedyn, roedd 300 yn gwylio. Ac roeddwn i'n meddwl, lle mae'r 800 yna wedi mynd? Ydyn nhw wedi cael gwahoddiad i ddod yn ôl? Ydyn nhw wedi cael gwahoddiad i ddigwyddiad arall wedyn?
Felly, yn amlwg, dwi'n gwybod bod yna gyfyngiadau casglu data, ond, os ydy pobl yn cael cynnig i gyflwyno eu data, ac maen nhw'n dangos bod ganddyn nhw ddiddordeb efallai i barhau i ymgysylltu â'r Cymraeg a digwyddiadau Cymreig ar ôl i'r prif ŵyliau yma adael yr ardal, yna dwi'n credu bod hwnna, efallai, yn ffordd hawdd. O leiaf rydyn ni'n gwybod pwy ydy'r bobl rydyn ni'n targedu wedyn.
One lesson that I learned by the end of my time at the FAW, and which is also very clear in the union, is the value of data. Very often, if you go to an event, is the data collected from the people attending it, to make them aware of what's happening afterwards? One of our clubs went to an European competition, and there were 1,200 people there. Then, in the first game of the season, there were 300 watching. I was thinking where have those 800 gone. Have they been invited to come back? Have they been invited to another event?
Clearly, I know there are restrictions on data collection, but if people are offered to provide their data, and it shows that they have an interest to continue engaging with the Welsh language and Welsh language events after these main events have left an area, then I think that perhaps is an easy way. At least we then know who we're targeting.
Okay. Diolch.
Diolch. Mae yna jest cwpl o bethau roeddwn i eisiau eu gofyn ar y diwedd, os yw hynny'n iawn. Yn gyntaf, i ba raddau ydych chi'n meddwl eich bod chi mewn sefyllfa unigryw, bron, o ran gallu hybu'r Gymraeg? Oherwydd mae gennych chi, ar un lefel, fel mae'r ddau ohonoch chi wedi sôn, pobl ifanc, pobl o bob oedran, yn gallu gweld eu harwyr nhw naill ai'n siarad Cymraeg neu'n dangos rhyw fath o gydnabyddiaeth o bwysigrwydd yr iaith iddyn nhw, os ydyn nhw'n ei siarad hi ai peidio. Mae gennych chi'r lefel yna, lle maen nhw ar ryw fath o bedestal gan bobl, ond hefyd, ar yr un pryd, o ran pethau sy'n digwydd o ddydd i ddydd, fel bydden ni'n dweud, ar lefel gwlad, mae rhai o'r clybiau bychan yna hefyd. I ba raddau rydych chi'n meddwl bod hynny'n rhywbeth unigryw, bod gennych chi'r cyfle yna i allu cyfleu bod yr iaith yn rhywbeth y mae arwyr pobl yn ei siarad, a'i bod hi'n rhywbeth rhyngwladol sy'n gallu cael ei gweld yn Qatar, o ran y rygbi a phêl-droed, ond hefyd yn y gymuned? Ydy Gwyn eisiau mynd yn gyntaf, achos dydy e ddim ar mute?
Thank you. There are just a couple of things that I'd like to ask at the end. Firstly, to what extent do you think you are in an unique situation in terms of being able to promote the Welsh language? Because, on one level, as both of you have mentioned, young people, people of all ages, can see their heroes either speaking Welsh or showing some sort of acknowledgement of the importance of the language to them, whether they speak it or not. So, you have it at that level, where they're on some sort of pedestal, but also, at the same time, in terms of things that are happening on a day-to-day basis, at a grass-roots level, in some of those small clubs as well. To what extent do you think that is unique, in that you have the opportunity to convey the message that the language is something that people's heroes speak, and that it is something that is international, that can be seen in Qatar, for example, in terms of rugby and football, but also in the community? Does Gwyn want to go first, as he's not on mute?
Fe wnaf i sôn am y lefel ryngwladol i ddechrau. Dwi ddim yn gwybod os gwelsoch chi'r fideo efo llysgennad Japan ym Mhrydain yn y stadiwm. Roedd hwnna'n wych. Felly, mae yna gynlluniau, gan fod Cymru yn teithio i Japan dros yr haf, mae yna gynlluniau i fynd allan efo cynllun i hyrwyddo'r diwylliant allan yn Japan dros yr haf. Felly, mae hwnna'n bwysig.
Rydyn ni mewn sefyllfa eithaf unigryw, fel rydych chi'n sôn, am fod gyda ni'r arwyr yma. Fe wnaethom ni fideo—fe ddaeth o allan fis yn ôl, dwi'n credu—o'r ddau gapten ar hyn o bryd, sef Dewi Lake a Hannnah Jones, yn trafod eu perthynas wahanol nhw efo'r Gymraeg. Mae Hannah yn dod o ardal Brynaman, sydd yn ardal draddodiadol Gymraeg, a Dewi'n dod o ochrau Maesteg. Rydyn ni wedi gwneud hynny. Rydyn ni'n ffodus iawn fod gennym ni'r cyfle hwnnw.
Dwi'n credu bod rhaid i ni gydnabod hefyd fod S4C yn bartner pwysig iawn i ni yma yn yr undeb rygbi. Os ydych chi'n sylwi, mae'r sianel YouTube yn denu pumed rhan o'r gynulleidfa rhwng 18 a 24. Mae'r gynulleidfa gwylio rygbi yn dueddol o fod yn hŷn. Felly, dwi'n credu bod rhaid i ni fel cyrff chwaraeon gydnabod ein bod ni ar siwrnai efo darlledwyr, a bod y modd y mae'n negeseuon ni'n cyrraedd ein cynulleidfa ni yn newid, ac mae'n rhaid i ni fel cyrff fod yn ddigon agored i symud gyda'r amseroedd yn hynny.
I'll talk about the international level first. I don't know if you saw the video with the Japanese ambassador to Britain in the stadium. That was wonderful. As Wales is travelling to Japan over the summer, we have plans to go out there and promote Welsh culture in Japan over the summer. So, that's important.
We are in quite a unique position, as you mentioned, because we do have these heroes. We did a video—it went out around a month ago, I think—and we had the two captains, Dewi Lake and Hannah Jones, discussing their different relationships with the Welsh language. Hannah comes from the Brynamman area, which is a traditionally Welsh-speaking area, and Dewi comes from the Maesteg area. So, we did that. We are fortunate that we have that opportunity.
I think we also have to recognise that S4C is a very important partner for us here at the WRU. You'll notice that the YouTube channel attracts a fifth of the audience between 18 and 24. The audience for rugby tends to be older. I think that we as sports bodies do have to acknowledge that we are on a journey with broadcasters, and the way that our messages are delivered to our audience is changing, and we as organisations have to be open to moving with the times in that regard.
Diolch, Gwyn. Ian.
Thanks, Gwyn. Ian.
Rydyn ni'n ffodus ein bod ni'n gamp boblogaidd, nid jest yng Nghymru ond yn rhyngwladol. Mae gennym ni'r llwyfan rhyngwladol. Dwi'n credu bod pobl ifanc yn licio uniaethu eu hunain efo rhywbeth sydd yn llwyddiannus fel yna, ac sydd efo arwyr fel—wel, mae wedi ymddeol rŵan—Gareth Bale neu Jess Fishlock. Mae gennym ni rŵan rywun fel Sorba Thomas, fel y gwelsom ni'r noson o'r blaen, neu Brennan Johnson, ac yn y blaen. Mae pobl yn licio uniaethu efo hynny, ond nid jest ar y lefel ryngwladol. Dwi'n credu ein bod ni wedi ffeindio hefyd, o fewn y brand Gŵyl Cymru Festival, lle rydym ni'n mynd o gwmpas Cymru, weithiau rydyn ni'n defnyddio rheolwyr, dro arall rydyn ni jest yn mynd fel cymdeithas bêl-droed ac yn uniaethu pêl-droed â diwylliant lleol mewn digwyddiadau lleol.
Pan wnes i gychwyn efo'r gymdeithas, dwi'n credu roedd hi'n sefydliad oedd yn cael ei—. Mae Gwyn yn gwybod hyn: pan oedd y ddau ohonom ni yn y BBC, roedd hi'n gymdeithas â dim lot o barch tuag ati; roedd hi'n cael ei gwawdio. Erbyn hyn, dwi'n credu bod yna dipyn o barch tuag at y sefydliad, a dwi'n credu bod gyda ni le i arwain y ffordd oherwydd beth sydd gyda ni a'r llwyfan rydyn ni'n ei gael. Dwi ddim yn gwybod a fyddwn i yma heddiw yn gwneud hyn oni bai am y llwyddiant yn yr Ewros a chwpan y byd ac yn y blaen, achos mae hynny'n cyfri lot. Mae wedi rhoi llwyfan, fel rôn i'n sôn, oedd ddim yno o'r blaen.
Rydyn ni'n ffodus oherwydd pwy sydd gyda ni a beth sydd gyda ni, a hefyd, dwi'n credu, y prif beth, y gemau rhyngwladol, yn enwedig tîm y dynion—30,000 a mwy yn y stadiwm yna, lle does neb yn gallu dadlau nad ydy o'n Gymreig. Dydy o ddim yn erbyn neb arall; mae'n dod â phawb—gobeithio, beth bynnag—gyda'u gwleidyddiaeth nhw, eu cefndir nhw, eu hiaith nhw at ei gilydd am y cyfnod yna i gefnogi'r tîm cenedlaethol. Ein bwriad ni ydy ein bod ni'n berthnasol 365 o ddyddiau'r flwyddyn, ddim jest chwe gwaith y flwyddyn mewn gemau pêl-droed. Felly, ie, dwi'n credu bod gyda ni rôl i'r chwarae, ond dwi'n credu hefyd ein bod ni mewn sefyllfa lwcus, a buasem ni'n gallu cydweithio efo lot o gyrff eraill, efallai, a rhoi cymorth iddyn nhw, achos 'together stronger', 'gorau chwarae cyd-chwarae'—mae hwnna'n berthnasol y tu allan i bêl-droed hefyd.
We are fortunate that we're a popular sport, not just in Wales but internationally. We do have that international platform. I do think that young people like to identify themselves with things that are successful like that, and we do have heroes like Gareth Bale, who's now retired, and Jess Fishlock. Now we have Sorba Thomas, as we saw the other night, or Brennan Johnson, and so on. People do want to identify with those heroes, but not just at an international level. I think we've also found, in terms of the Gŵyl Cymru Festival, where we travel around Wales, sometimes we use the managers, sometimes we just go as the FAW and link football and local culture at local events.
When I started with the FAW, I think it was an organisation—. Gwyn will know, from the time when we were both in the BBC, that the FAW wasn't particularly respected; it was derided. I think there is respect now for the FAW, and I do think that we have a role in leading because of what we have to offer and because of the platform that we have. I don't know if I'd be here today doing this if it wasn't for the success in the Euros and the world cup, because that counts for a lot. It gave us a platform that wasn't there before.
I do think that we are fortunate because of who we have and what we have, and also the main thing, the international matches, particularly the men's games—more than 30,000 people in the stadium and nobody could argue that it isn't Welsh in terms of its atmosphere. It's not antagonistic in any way; it brings everyone together, whatever their politics, their language, their background. They come together for that time to support the national team, and our intention is that we are relevant 365 days of the year, not just six times a year in football matches. So, I do think that we have a role to play, but I think we're also in a fortunate position and we could work with many other bodies and provide support to them, because 'together stronger', 'gorau chwarae cyd-chwarae'—that is relevant beyond football too.
Diolch, Gwyn—sori, diolch, Ian. Mae e achos taw eich enw canol chi yw 'Gwyn'. Gwyn.
Thank you, Gwyn—sorry, thank you, Ian. It's because your middle name is 'Gwyn'. Gwyn Derfel.
Mae yna ddau ddigwyddiad ar y llwyfan byd-eang yn digwydd cyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Yn amlwg, buaswn i'n licio dymuno'r gorau i dîm y merched yn yr Ewros o ran y pêl-droed, ond hefyd mae Cwpan Rygbi'r Byd. Felly, mae gyda ni ddau ddigwyddiad yn fanna efo cefnogaeth lle dwi'n siŵr y byddai'r effaith a'r dylanwad ar hyrwyddo'r iaith a'r diwylliant yn gallu cael eu cryfhau ymhellach. Roeddech chi'n gofyn yn gynharach, 'Ydyn ni mewn sefyllfa unigryw?' Wel, ydyn, i raddau, oherwydd bod gennym ni'r platfform o'r prif ddigwyddiadau yma, ac, yn digwydd bod, o ran tîm y merched a'r tîm menywod rygbi, mae'r ddau ohonyn nhw'n perfformio ar y llwyfan byd-eang o fewn y misoedd nesaf. Felly, mae hwnna'n gyfle arall inni normaleiddio'r Gymraeg ymhellach, sef beth rydyn ni i gyd yn trio ei wneud.
Two events on the global stage are happening before the end of the year. Obviously, I'd like to wish the women's team the best in the Euros in terms of football, but also the Rugby World Cup is taking place. So, we've got two events there with support, and that I'm sure that the impact on promoting the Welsh language could be strengthened further. You were asking earlier, 'Are we in a unique position?' Yes, we are, to an extent, because we have the platform of these main events, and, as it happens, we have the women's rugby and football teams performing on the global stage within these next few months. So, it's another opportunity for us to normalise the Welsh language further, which is what we're all trying to do.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am hwnna. Oedd unrhyw beth roeddech chi wedi gobeithio ei godi y bore yma sydd ddim wedi dod lan mewn cwestiynau? Rydyn ni wedi bod yn eang iawn o ran beth dŷn ni wedi bod yn ei drafod, ond oedd unrhyw beth arall roeddech chi eisiau ei roi drosodd i ni? Ian.
Thank you very much. Was there anything that you'd hoped to raise this morning that hasn't come up in questions? We've been very broad in our discussion, but was there anything else that you wanted to say? Ian.
Na, allaf i ddim meddwl. Does neb wedi trafod Wrecsam, ond dyna fo. Mae hynny'n un peth, efallai. Mae hwnna'n ffantastig, gyda llaw. Mae hwnna'n ffantastig, ac mae hwnna'n rhoi Cymru ar y map, onid ydy?
No, I can't think of anything else. Nobody's discussed Wrexham, but there we go. It's the one thing that perhaps I had hoped to cover, but that story is a great story, and that's put Wales on the map too, hasn't it?
Os caf i jest ychwanegu un peth, fe ges i wahoddiad i ddigwyddiad roedd y gymdeithas bêl-droed a Phrifysgol Cymru y Drindod Dewi Sant wedi'i drefnu oedd yn sôn am ddefnyddio ieithoedd lleiafrifol o fewn y byd pêl-droed, ac roedd yna wersi gwych—gwersi gwahanol iawn, iawn, iawn—i'w dysgu. Roeddech gyda chi glwb Barcelona, sydd yn gweithredu'n gyfan gwbl drwy gyfrwng y Gatalaneg, ond beth ffeindies i'n ddiddorol oedd y cyfleoedd masnachol sydd yna trwy ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg. Roedd Heerenveen, sydd o Friesland yn yr Iseldiroedd, yn awgrymu, yn y 50 y cant o'u cefnogwyr nhw oedd yn gallu siarad yr iaith, mai dyna oedd y crysau a'r nwyddau ychwanegol oedd yn gwerthu orau oherwydd roedden nhw'n cynnig rhywbeth unigryw. Fel undeb, rydyn ni wedi dechrau brandio pethau efo 'Cymru' arnyn nhw; mae'r anthem wedi bod ar goler un o'r crysau. Ond, i bobl sy'n gweld y Gymraeg fel cost ychwanegol a bwrn, o bosibl, 'Allwn ni ddim gwneud hyn ac allwn ni ddim gwneud y llall', mae yna gyfleoedd masnachol i gael yna.
Eto, dyma lle roedd ystadegau swyddfa'r comisiynydd wedi bod yn help mawr i fi yn fy ngwaith, drwy ddangos bod defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn cynyddu brand—brand enhancement. Mae 84 y cant o gwmnïau a gafodd eu holi yn dweud bod defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn cryfhau eu brand nhw. Ac unwaith i mi egluro hynny i gwmnïau fel Go.Compare a Vodafone, fe wnaethon nhw gryfhau eu hymgyrchoedd masnachol a'u hymgyrchoedd hysbysebu'n sylweddol. Felly, eto, mae eisiau inni newid yr agwedd at y Gymraeg o fod yn 'nice to have'. Mae'n rhaid iddi fod yn ganolog yn beth rydyn ni'n ei wneud, gan hefyd werthu'r ffaith bod cyfleoedd masnachol yn gallu dod o ddefnyddio'r iaith hefyd.
If I could just add one thing, I was invited to an event that the FAW and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David had organised, and that covered the use of minority languages within football, and there were excellent lessons to be learned there—very different lessons. You had Barcelona football club, for example, which operates entirely through the medium of Catalan, but what I found interesting was the commercial opportunities in using the Welsh language. Heerenveen from Friesland in the Netherlands suggested that, in relation to the 50 per cent of their supporters who can speak the language, those were the shirts and merchandise that sold best because they were offering something unique. As a union, we've started to brand things with 'Cymru', and the anthem has been on the collar of one of our shirts. But, for people who see the Welsh language as an additional cost and a burden, 'Well, we can't do this and we can't do that', there are real commercial opportunities out there.
Again, this is where the commissioner's statistics were of great help to me in my work, in demonstrating that using the Welsh language increased brand enhancement. Eighty four per cent of companies surveyed said that using the Welsh language strengthened their brand, and once I'd explained that to companies like Go.Compare and Vodafone, they strengthened their commercial campaigns and their advertising campaigns significantly. So, again, we need to change the attitude towards the Welsh language from being a 'nice to have'. It has to be central to what we do, and we have to sell the fact that there are commercial opportunities that can emerge from the use of the language too.
Diolch gymaint i'r ddau ohonoch. A gaf i ddiolch i chi am y dystiolaeth y bore yna? Mae wedi bod yn eithriadol o ddefnyddiol a diddorol i ni. Bydd transgript o'r hyn sydd wedi cael ei ddweud yn cael ei anfon atoch chi er mwyn ichi wirio ei fod e'n gofnod teg. Efallai y bydd ambell bell y byddwn ni eisiau gofyn i chi'n ysgrifenedig hefyd, ond diolch yn fawr iawn am roi'r amser i ni. Rydyn ni wir wedi buddio ohono fe y bore yma. Diolch i chi.
Aelodau, fe wnawn ni gymryd egwyl fer tan y sesiwn nesaf. Fe wnawn ni aros i glywed ein bod ni'n breifat. Diolch eto i'n tystion.
Thank you so much to both of you. May I thank you for the evidence this morning? It's been extremely useful and interesting. There will be a transcript of what's been said available for you to check that it's a fair reflection. Perhaps there'll be a couple of things we'd like to ask you in writing, but thank you very much for giving us your time today. We've really benefited from it this morning. Thank you.
Members, we'll take a short break until the next session. We'll wait to hear that we are in private session. Thank you again to our witnesses.
Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you.
Diolch.
Thank you.
Gohiriwyd y cyfarfod rhwng 11:30 ac 11:39
The meeting adjourned between 11:30 and 11:39
Bore da, a chroeso nôl i'r pwyllgor diwylliant a'r Gymraeg. Rydyn ni nawr yn symud ymlaen at banel arall, ac yn cario ymlaen gyda chymryd tystiolaeth ar gyfer ein hymchwiliad ar Gymraeg i bawb. Rydyn ni'n edrych ymlawn yn fawr at y sesiwn yma. Fe wnaf i ofyn i'r tystion gyflwyno eu hunain ar gyfer y record, ac fe wnaf i fynd at Lis yn gyntaf.
Good morning, and welcome back to the culture and Welsh Language committee. We now move on to another panel, and we continue with taking evidence in our inquiry on Cymraeg for all. We're looking forward to this session. I'll ask the witnesses to introduce themselves for the record and I'll go to Lis first.
Bore da. Lis McLean ydw i. Dwi'n brif swyddog Menter Iaith Merthyr Tudful, ac yn rhedeg Canolfan a Theatr Soar ym Merthyr.
Good morning. I'm Lis McLean, I'm chief officer for Menter Iaith Merthyr Tudful, and run the Soar centre and theatre in Merthyr.
Bore da. Lowri Jones, prif swyddog Menter Iaith Sir Caerffili.
Good morning. I'm Lowri Jones, chief officer of Menter Iaith Sir Caerffili.
Bore da. Maiwenn Berry, prif swyddog Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam.
Good morning. Maiwenn Berry, chief officer, Menter Iaith Fflint a Wrecsam.
Bore da. Osian Rowlands, prif weithredwr Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Good morning. Osian Rowlands, chief executive, Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Bore da. Catherine Stephens, pennaeth Dysgu Cymraeg Morgannwg, Prifysgol De Cymru.
Good morning. Catherine Stephens, head of Learn Welsh Glamorgan, University of South Wales.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae croeso mawr i chi i gyd. Fe wnaf i fynd yn syth mewn i gwestiynau. Des dim rhaid i bob un ohonoch chi ateb pob cwestiwn, ond pryd bynnag rydych chi’n awyddus i ddod mewn, mae croeso i chi wneud.
Rydyn ni'n edrych heddiw yn bennaf ar y rôl sydd gan digwyddiadau diwylliannol mawr a gwyliau o ran hybu'r Gymraeg, efallai yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gyda dwysedd is o ran yr iaith Gymraeg. Pa rôl ydych chi'n meddwl sydd gan y digwyddiadau mawr hynny neu'r gwyliau o ran hynny? Pwy sydd eisiau mynd y gyntaf? Lowri.
Thank you very much. You're all very welcome. I'll go straight into questions. Not everyone has to answer every question, but do feel free to come in whenever you want to.
We're looking today specifically at the role of cultural events and major festivals in terms of promoting the Welsh language, especially in areas with a lower density of Welsh speakers. So what role do you think these major events and festivals have in that regard? Who would like to go first? Lowri.
Diolch yn fawr. Dwi'n hapus i roi trosolwg cychwynnol ac wedyn byddwn ni'n gallu ategu at y wybodaeth yna wrth i'r sesiwn fynd yn ei flaen. A jest diolch yn fawr am y cyfle y bore yma i drafod ein gwaith ni. Diolch i nifer ohonoch chi am ein cefnogi ni yn ystod y flwyddyn, a dod i ymweld â ni, nid yn unig yn ein digwyddiadau, ond i drafod ein gwasanaethau ehangach gyda ni hefyd. Felly diolch yn fawr am y cyfle hwnnw.
Efallai wrth feddwl yn benodol am wyliau a digwyddiadau, a rhai o'n gwyliau cerddorol ni, mae'r mentrau iaith yn eu cynnal nhw dros Gymru gyfan yn gyffredinol, ac mae gyda ni enghreifftiau da iawn yn y de-ddwyrain. Bydd nifer ohonoch chi'n gyfarwydd â Pharti Ponty, Tafwyl, Ffiliffest, ac wedyn ymhellach draw, Ogi Ogi Ogwr, Gŵyl Newydd yng Nghasnewydd, ac wedyn nifer o ddigwyddiadau torfol yn y gymuned yn digwydd yn eithaf cyson. Mae'r rhain wedi datblygu fel ymyraethau, mewn ffordd, er mwyn cynnal mwy o gyfleoedd i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg yn sgil ein cynllunio ieithyddol penodol iawn ni, pwrpasol iawn, i gynyddu’r cyfleoedd yna.
Maen nhw'n ddigwyddiadau torfol bywiog, safon uchel o gerddoriaeth ac enghreifftiau gwahanol sy'n diddanu ein cymunedau ni ac yn creu gofodau Cymraeg dros dro, mewn ffordd, lle mae cymunedau yn cael y profiad o glywed y Gymraeg. Ond maen nhw hefyd yn rhoi llwyfan gweledol iawn i'r iaith yn ein cymunedau ni, yn aml mewn ardaloedd lle dyw'r Gymraeg ddim yn cael ei gweld neu'i chlywed o ddydd i ddydd. Felly, mae gyda nhw rôl allweddol yn hynny o beth.
Yn ein hardaloedd ni lle mae dwysedd is o siaradwyr Cymraeg, maen nhw hefyd yn gyfle i’r rheini sydd yn siarad Cymraeg, sy'n siaradwyr newydd, yn dysgu'r Gymraeg, bod siarad Cymraeg yn norm yn ystod y digwyddiad, a’u bod nhw ddim, efallai, yn teimlo yn y lleiafrif, fel sy'n gallu digwydd yn eu bywydau pob dydd yn gyffredinol. Felly rŷn ni'n teimlo ei bod hi'n hollbwysig bod siaradwyr iaith leiafrifol yn cael y profiadau yma o fewn eu cymunedau nhw, ac maen nhw hefyd yn rhoi cyd-destun ehangach i'w hiaith a'u diwylliant, yn eu helpu nhw i deimlo'n llai ynysig, ac yn gwneud yr iaith yn berthnasol ac yn hwyl yn eu hardal leol nhw.
Mae'r digwyddiadau a'r gwyliau yma yn darparu ystod eang iawn o brofiadau, gweithgareddau i'r teulu, profiadau gwirfoddoli, yn cynnig gwaith i bobl leol, yn aml ymarferwyr ac artistiaid sydd eisiau darparu trwy gyfrwng Gymraeg. Ond maen nhw hefyd yn ffordd o rymuso cymunedau i gymryd cyfrifoldeb, perchnogaeth a bod yn rhan allweddol o drefnu a rhedeg digwyddiadau. Fel roeddwn i’n sôn, mae gennym ni rôl bwysig yn hyn o ran cefnogi artistiaid ac ymarferwyr sydd eisiau gweithio trwy gyfrwng Cymraeg yn eu cymunedau, ond hefyd nifer o ymarferwyr, efallai, sy'n dysgu Cymraeg ac sydd eisiau cyrraedd cynulleidfa newydd ac ehangu eu gwaith nhw i fod yn darparu yn Gymraeg. Felly, mae'n bendant yn rhoi hwb i'r sector yma o ran y gweithlu diwylliannol hefyd.
Maen nhw hefyd yn ddigwyddiadau cynhwysol iawn, ac yn aml iawn yr unig gyfle o fewn blwyddyn i rai teuluoedd sy'n siarad Cymraeg, neu lle mae plant yn siarad Cymraeg a’r rhieni yn dysgu, i gwrdd â theuluoedd eraill yn yr un sefyllfa, ac mewn sawl ardal mae rhieni wedi nodi eu bod nhw'n synnu clywed eu plant yn siarad Cymraeg, achos eu bod nhw wedi arfer â'u clywed nhw'n siarad Cymraeg yn ystafell dosbarth yn unig. Felly, mae'n brofiad arbennig iawn iddyn nhw i weld eu plant yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn naturiol o fewn y digwyddiadau a chymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau gwahanol, ac yn gweld eu cysylltiad personol iawn nhw gyda diwylliant Cymreig hefyd.
I'r rheini sy'n dysgu Cymraeg neu sydd ddim yn siarad Cymraeg, mae'n rhoi cyfle unigryw yn ystod y flwyddyn iddyn nhw ddysgu am ddiwylliant a iaith, a rhoi ffenestr arbennig iawn iddyn nhw i mewn i'r profiadau yma. Yn aml iawn, rŷn ni'n gweld ei fod e'n ennyn diddordeb am y tro cyntaf, naill ai eu bod nhw eisiau parhau i ddysgu mwy a dysgu'r Gymraeg, neu i gysylltu'n fwy effeithiol gyda siaradwyr Cymraeg yn lleol a dod yn rhan o drefnu digwyddiadau yn eu cymunedau.
Mae sawl un o'r digwyddiadau a'r gwyliau yma yn denu ysgolion cyfrwng Saesneg. Yn aml iawn, rŷm ni'n clywed yn ystod y flwyddyn taw efallai dyma'r unig weithgarwch cymunedol sy'n rhoi cyfle i berfformio yn Gymraeg a dysgu mwy am ddiwylliant Cymreig. Felly, mae rôl allweddol i'r sector addysg cyfrwng Saesneg hefyd.
Rwy'n meddwl ei fod e'n bwysig ein bod ni'n nodi bod angen i ni ganfod ffordd i barhau i gyllido'r gwyliau yma yn effeithiol. Mae hynny yn heriol, ac rŷm ni'n teimlo'n gryf bod angen cadw'r digwyddiadau yma i fod yn rhad ac am ddim, fel eu bod nhw'n hygyrch ac yn gynhwysol i gymaint o bobl â phosib yn ein cymunedau ni. Felly, mae sicrhau cynaliadwyedd y gwyliau yma, efallai'r rhai mwyaf torfol, a sicrhau bod pob cymuned yn elwa o'u budd ieithyddol, cymdeithasol ac economaidd, yn flaenoriaeth i ni.
Byddem ni hefyd yn galw efallai am adnodd penodol i Mentrau Iaith Cymru ar gyfer cefnogi a datblygu'r gwyliau yma. Byddai modd i Mentrau Iaith Cymru wedyn gydlynu elfennau o gydbwrcasu isadeiledd, darparu asedau marchnata, cefnogaeth i ddenu nawdd, a chynnal rhaglen farchnata ar draws y rhanbarth ac ar draws ardaloedd eraill hefyd.
Mae hefyd yn bwysig i nodi faint o amser staff a buddsoddiad adnoddau sy'n mynd i mewn i'r digwyddiadau a'r gwyliau, a faint o waith mae'n cymryd i drefnu gwŷl neu ddigwyddiad torfol. Mae e'n anferthol, ac rŷm ni'n teimlo y byddai rhagor o nawdd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr i'r broses yna. Mae'r gwaith o ddenu cyllid i sicrhau bod yr holl ofynion diogelwch o safbwynt y cyhoedd yn digwydd yn waith sylweddol ac yn bwysau sylweddol arnom ni.
A hefyd, dwi'n meddwl y byddai Mentrau Iaith Cymru yn dymuno gweinyddu cyllideb i ddarparu grantiau, efallai rhaglen dreigl a fyddai'n galluogi gwyliau newydd i ddatblygu fel bod rhwydwaith o ddigwyddiadau yn digwydd ar draws y rhanbarth.
Felly, jest trosolwg sydyn iawn o'r sefyllfa fel y mae hi, a rhoi blas o'r cyfleoedd, yr heriau, ond llwyddiant ysgubol y gwyliau yma ar hyn o bryd. Diolch.
Thank you very much. I'm happy to provide an overview and then we'll be able to add to that information as the session progresses. Thank you very much for the opportunity to discuss our work. Thank you to a number of you for supporting us during the year, not only in our events, but also discussing our wider services as well. So thank you very much for that opportunity.
Perhaps thinking specifically about festivals and events and some of our music events, the mentrau iaith hold those over the whole of Wales in general, and we have very good examples in the south-east. A number of you will be familiar with Party Ponty, Tafwyl, Ffiliffest, and then, further afield, Ogi Ogi Ogwr, Gŵyl Newydd in Newport, and then a number of mass events in the community happening quite regularly. These have developed as interventions, really, to provide more opportunities to use the Welsh language as a result of our intentional language planning to increase those opportunities.
They are collective events, lively events, with a high standard of music and different examples of music that entertain our community and create temporary Welsh spaces where communities have the experience of hearing the Welsh language. But they also provide a very visual platform to the language in our communities, quite often in areas where the Welsh language isn't seen or heard on a daily basis. So they have a key role in that regard.
In the areas where there's a low density of Welsh speakers, they're also an opportunity for those who speak Welsh, who are new speakers, who are learning Welsh, to know that speaking Welsh is the norm during the event and that they don't feel in the minority. That can happen, perhaps, in their everyday lives in general. So we feel that it is crucial that the speakers of a minority language have these experiences in their communities, and they also provide a wider context to their language and culture, helping them to feel less insular and make the language relevant and a fun thing in their local area.
These events and festivals provide a wide range of experiences, family activities, volunteering opportunities, they provide work to local people, practitioners and artists who want to provide services through the medium of Welsh, but they also empower communities to take responsibility, ownership and be a key part of arranging and organising and running events. And as I mentioned, we have an important role in this in supporting artists and practitioners who want to work through the medium of Welsh in their communities, but also a number of practitioners perhaps who are learning Welsh, and want to reach a new audience and broaden their work to provide through the medium of Welsh. So certainly it provides a boost to the sector in terms of the cultural workforce as well.
They are also very inclusive events and quite often the only opportunity during the year for families who speak Welsh, or where children speak Welsh and parents are learning the language, to meet other families in the same situation. And in many areas, parents have said that they're surprised to hear their children speak Welsh, because they're only used to hearing their children speak Welsh in the classroom. So it's a very special experience for them to see their children use the language naturally within these events and taking part in different activities, and see their personal connection with Welsh culture.
For those who are learning Welsh or don't speak Welsh, they provide a unique experience during the year for them to learn about the culture and language, and provides a window for them into these experiences. Very often, we see that it sparks an interest for the first time, that they either want to continue to learn more and to learn Welsh, or to connect more effectively with Welsh speakers locally and become part of arranging events in their communities.
A number of these events and festivals attract English-medium schools. We often hear during the year that perhaps this is the only community activity that provides an opportunity to perform through the medium of Welsh and to learn more about Welsh culture. So, there is a key role for the English-medium education sector as well.
I do think that it's important to note that we need to find a way of continuing to fund these events effectively. That is challenging, and we do feel strongly that there's a need to keep these events to be free, so that they are accessible and inclusive to as many people as possible in our communities. So, ensuring the sustainability of these events, perhaps some of the most collective ones, and ensuring that every community benefits from this linguistically and economically, is a priority for us.
We would also call perhaps for a specific resource for Mentrau Iaith Cymru to support and develop these festivals. There would be a way for Mentrau Iaith Cymru then to co-ordinate elements of co-purchasing infrastructure, providing marketing resources, support for attracting sponsorship, and then marketing across the region and other areas as well.
It's also important to note how much staff time and investment of resources go into these events and festivals, and how much work it does take to arrange an event or festival. It is huge, and we feel that more funding would make a great difference to that process. The work of attracting funding to ensure that all the health and safety requirements in terms of the public happen is significant, and a heavy burden on us.
I also think that Mentrau Iaith Cymru would wish to administer a budget to provide grants, perhaps a rolling programme that would allow new festivals to develop so that there would be a network of events happening across the region.
So, just a quick overview there of the situation as it is, and to give you a taste of the opportunities, the challenges, and also the great success of these festivals at the moment. Thank you.
Diolch am ateb mor gynhwysfawr—mae hynny'n eithriadol o ddefnyddiol i ni. Mi wnaf i ofyn i'n tystion, oherwydd roedd lot yn fanna—efallai byddwn ni'n mynd mewn i fwy o fanylder ar rai o'r pynciau hefyd yn ystod y sesiwn—ond os oedd unrhyw beth ychwanegol roedd unrhyw un eisiau dweud sydd ddim wedi cael ei grybwyll, neu unrhyw safbwynt gwahanol ar hynny, mae croeso i unrhyw un ddod i fewn. Osian.
Thank you for that very comprehensive answer—that's very useful to us. I'll ask our witnesses, because there was a great deal included there—and we may go into more detail on some of those issues during the session—but was there anything that anyone wanted to add? Are there any further views or different views? You're welcome to make those comments now. Osian.
Rwy'n credu un peth arall i sôn amdano, yn ogystal â'r digwyddiadau i'r teuluoedd, yw bod y codi ymwybyddiaeth o fewn y trefi a'r ardalodd lle mae'r digwyddiad yn digwydd yn hynod o bwysig. Mae pethau fel hynny yn cynyddu footfall yn y pentref neu'r ddinas neu'r dref lle mae'r digwyddiad yn cael ei gynnal. Mae hynny'n hollbwysig. Wedyn, wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n creu'r bwrlwm ac mae'n codi ymwybyddiaeth a hyder y gweithlu o fewn y trefi yna yn y Gymraeg, yn enwedig yn ein hardalodd ni. Mae sawl un siŵr o fod wedi clywed 'My Welsh isn't good enough'—mae'n frawddeg rŷm ni'n ei glywed yn feunyddiol. Mae digwyddiadau fel hyn yn hollbwysig i bobl ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg sydd gyda nhw, ac mae hynny'n iawn, ac mae hynny'n hollbwysig.
Hefyd, yr unig beth arall yw ein bod ni'n rhoi llwyfan i bobl yn ein cymunedau ni sydd efallai ddim yn teimlo eu bod nhw'n ddigon da i fynd i lwyfannau mwy cenedlaethol, bod yr hyder yna ddim gyda nhw. Rŷm ni'n rhedeg prosiectau gwahanol er mwyn rhoi llwyfan a'r cyfle i bawb. Rydyn ni'n datblygu gweithlu ac artistiaid, a gobeithio rhoi'r cam cyntaf iddyn nhw yn eu milltir sgwar, gan obeithio wedyn eu cefnogi nhw i fynd ymlaen i'r cam nesaf.
Just one thing that I'd like to mention, in addition to the family events, is that raising awareness within towns and areas where the event is staged is very important. Such things increase footfall in the village, the city or town where the event is staged, and that is crucially important. Then, of course, that creates activity and raises confidence within the workforce within those towns in using the Welsh language, particularly in our areas. We've often heard the sentence 'My Welsh isn't good enough'—we hear that every day. These events are crucially important to give people an opportunity to use the Welsh language skills that they have, and for them to know that that is fine, and that's crucially important.
The other thing that I'd like to say is that we provide a platform for people in our communities who perhaps don't feel that they can go to major national events, that they don't have that confidence. We run different projects in order to provide opportunities for everyone. We develop a workforce and artists, and provide them with that first opportunity on their own patch, and then hoping that they can go on to the next stage of their career.
Diolch am hynna. Catherine, roeddech chi'n dweud eich bod chi eisiau dod i mewn, neu a oeddwn i'n dychmygu? Roeddwn i'n dychmygu'ch llaw, sori. Lis.
Thank you for that. Catherine, did you want to come in, or have I imagined that? I thought I'd seen your hand. I apologise. Lis.
Dwi jest eisiau ychwanegu ei bod hi'n bwysig cofio, mewn ardaloedd is fel hyn, mai digwyddiadau Cymraeg yn aml iawn yw'r ffordd y mae pobl yn dechrau newid ymddygiad at yr iaith. Dwi'n gwybod o brofiad personol: roedd fy ngŵr i'n siarad Cymraeg, doeddwn i ddim wedi ei siarad hi ers 17 o flynyddoedd pan nes i gwrdd â fe, ond doeddwn i ddim yn fodlon siarad Cymraeg â fe tan ein bod ni mewn gofod Cymraeg, ble roedd pawb arall yn defnyddio'r iaith. Dŷn ni'n gweithio gyda lot o bobl sydd wedi colli'r iaith ar ôl yr ysgol, neu wedi colli hyder gyda'r iaith ar ôl yr ysgol, ac mae'r digwyddiadau yma yn rhoi rhwydd hynt iddyn nhw ddatblygu eu hiaith a dechrau siarad, a theimlo'n saff.
I just want to add that it's important to remember, in areas with this lower density, that Welsh events quite often are the way that people start to change their behaviour in terms of the language. I know from personal experience: my husband spoke Welsh, I hadn't spoken it for 17 years when I met him, but I wasn't willing to speak Welsh to him until we were in a Welsh space, where everybody else was using the language. We work with many people who have lost the language after school, or have lost their confidence with the language after school, and these events provide them with an opportunity to develop their language and to start speaking, and to feel safe.
Mae hwnna'n bwysig. Roedd Catherine eisiau dod i mewn ar hyn hefyd, dwi'n meddwl.
That's important. Catherine wanted to come in on this as well, I think.
Dwi'n cytuno gyda Lis. Rŷn ni'n dysgu pobl newydd bob wythnos, ac mae cynnal gwyliau yn gyfle iddyn nhw ddefnyddio'r iaith yn gyfforddus, a mynd yno gyda'u ffrindiau ac ati i ymarfer. Achos dyw dysgu iaith ddim yn rhwydd. Roedd cynnal yr Eisteddfod ym Mhontypridd, er enghraifft, jest yn rhoi nod iddyn nhw hefyd—rhywbeth i anelu ato fe i ddefnyddio'r iaith.
I agree with Lis. We teach new people every week, and staging these festivals provides them with an opportunity to use the Welsh language in a comfortable space, and they can attend with friends and practice their skills. Because learning a language isn't easy. Staging the Eisteddfod in Pontypridd, for example, just gave them an objective too—something to aim for to use the language.
Roeddwn i'n mynd i ychwanegu'n sydyn hefyd ei bod hi'n bwysig cofio nad y digwyddiadau'n unig sy'n cynyddu'r defnydd o Gymraeg. Mae'r gweithgarwch o gwmpas, y paratoi, mae o'n creu gweithgarwch cymunedol mwy eang na'r un diwrnod ym mis Gorffennaf, neu pryd bynnag. Mae'r wythnosau o baratoi, o waith ymgysylltu, efo busnesau, efo ysgolion, efo'r gymuned yn ehangach, hefyd yn ychwanegu at y bwrlwm a'r cyfleoedd i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg, hyd yn oed i weld y Gymraeg, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd dwysedd is.
I was just going to add very quickly too that it's important to remember that it's not just events that increase the use of the Welsh language. The activity around them, the preparations, that creates community activity that is broader than the one-day event in July, or whenever. The weeks of preparation, the engagement work, with businesses, with schools, with the community more broadly, also adds to the activity and the opportunities to use the Welsh language, even to see the Welsh language, particularly in areas with a lower density of Welsh speakers.
Diolch am hwnna, Maiwenn. Mae hwnna'n un o'r pynciau dŷn ni eisiau dod nôl ato fe, Osian, os yw hynny'n ocê. Byddwn ni'n dod nôl mewn mwy o ddyfnder mewn ychydig, felly byddwn ni'n awyddus iawn i glywed beth sydd gennych chi i'w ddweud ar hynna hefyd, Osian.
Gaf i ofyn, jest yn gyflym iawn o'm rhan i, cyn symud at yr Aelodau eraill, o ran mesur hynna, pa mor hawdd ydy ei fesur e? Achos mae rhai o'r pethau yma, o ran ymdeimlad pobl tuag at yr iaith Gymraeg, hyd yn oed os nad ydyn nhw'n medru'r Gymraeg eu hunain eto, ond efallai bod ymweld â rhai o'r digwyddiadau yma yn gwneud i bobl deimlo yn fwy positif tuag at yr iaith, yn teimlo mwy o berchnogaeth o'r iaith. Sut mae mesur hynna, neu oes rhai pethau sy'n eithriadol o anodd i'w mesur? Fe wnaf i fynd at Lowri yn gyntaf achos roedd hi fraction of a second o'ch blaen chi, Osian.
Thank you for that, Maiwenn. That's one of the subjects we'd like to return to, Osian, if that's okay. We'll come back in more detail in a little while, so we'd be very keen to hear what you've got to say on that as well, Osian.
May I ask, just quickly for my part, before we move on to the other Members, in terms of measuring that, how easy is it to measure it? Because some of these things, in terms of people's feeling towards the Welsh language, even if they can't speak the language themselves yet, but perhaps attending some of these events makes them feel more positive towards the language, that they feel they have more ownership of the language. How do you measure that, or are there some things that are exceptionally difficult to measure? I'll go to Lowri first, because she was a fraction of a second before you, Osian.
Dwi'n meddwl y byddem ni i gyd yn cytuno ei bod hi'n heriol i fesur ar adegau. Ond beth y byddwn i yn ei ddweud yw bod gyda ni lawer o dystiolaeth o'n digwyddiadau ni o bobl sydd wedi cael profiadau cadarnhaol iawn. Fel mae Lis yn cyfeirio ato, mae e wedi newid agwedd, newid ymddygiad ac wedi cychwyn teithiau i lot o bobl am y tro cyntaf, ar hyd, efallai, dysgu Cymraeg, neu ddod yn ôl at y Gymraeg, neu wedi gwir gwerthfawrogi'r daith y mae eu plant nhw'n ei dilyn o safbwynt y Gymraeg, ac wedi gweld y gwerth mewn defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn gymunedol, nid dim ond o gwmpas yr ysgol. I fynd yn ôl at bwynt Maiwenn hefyd, maen nhw wedi penderfynu wedyn i ymuno mewn mwy o weithgarwch, neu hyd yn oed gychwyn eu gweithgarwch eu hunain hefyd.
Felly, mae gyda ni lwyth o dystiolaeth anecdotaidd. Rŷn ni i gyd yn ymgynghori yn ystod digwyddiadau. Ond byddwn i hefyd yn cytuno bod yna gyfle i wneud mwy o waith gwerthuso a mesur er mwyn wir gallu cofnodi beth yw gwerth y digwyddiadau yma. Mae hynny yn golygu mwy o adnoddau a mwy o gapasiti er mwyn gwneud hynny'n effeithiol. Ond byddem ni fel mentrau yn croesawu'r cyfle i becynnu'r dystiolaeth yma yn fwy effeithiol a'i rannu fe yn ehangach wedyn hefyd.
I think we'd all agree that it is challenging to measure that at times. But what I would say is that we do have a great deal of evidence from our own events of people who have had very positive experiences. As Lis mentioned, it's changed attitudes, changed behaviours, and has started journeys for many people for the first time, into, perhaps, learning Welsh, or returning to the Welsh language, or they've truly appreciated the journeys that their children are taking in relation to the Welsh language, and have seen the value in using the Welsh language at a community level, not just around the school. And to return to Maiwenn's point too, they've then decided to join in more activities, or even establish their own activities too.
So, we do have a great deal of anecdotal evidence. We all gather evidence during events. But I would also agree that there's an opportunity to do more evaluation work in order to truly record the value of these events. That would require more resource and more capacity in order to do that effectively. But as the mentrau, we would welcome the opportunity to actually package this evidence more effectively and to share it more widely then too.
Grêt. Diolch yn fawr iawn ichi am hynna. Osian, oeddech chi eisiau dod i mewn?
Great. Thank you very much for that. Osian, did you want to come in?
I ategu beth roedd Lowri yn ei ddweud, mewn gwirionedd, mae yna dystiolaeth. Gwnaethom ni, yn 2023, gomisiynu cwmni teledu i wneud showreel o Barti Ponty, ac mae yna un dyfyniad gan berson doedd ddim yn siarad Cymraeg yn dweud:
To endorse what Lowri was saying there, there is evidence. In 2023, we commissioned a television company to make a showreel of Parti Ponty, and there's one quote from somebody who doesn't speak Welsh saying:
'I just live down the road in Pontypridd. I don't speak Welsh. This is the best thing you can do to promote the Welsh Language.'
Ac mae'r dyfyniad yna wedi cael ei ddefnyddio sawl gwaith gyda ni. Ond beth mae e'n ei wneud, mae'r digwyddiad am ddim, mae'n cyflwyno'r Gymraeg i bawb ar eu stepen drws nhw, ac efallai fod pobl yn cwympo ar draws y Gymraeg am y tro cyntaf ers cael toriad o bump, 10 mlynedd, efallai, o'r Gymraeg, ac yn cwympo ar ei thraws hi ac yn mynd, 'Ti'n gwybod beth? Mae hwn yn ocê. Dwi'n joio hwn.' Maen nhw'n cael amser da. Mae hwnna mor, mor bwysig. Ac, wrth gwrs, ŷn ni'n mynd â'r iaith i'r bobl am ddim. Does dim angen talu i ddod i'r digwyddiadau. Mae hwnna'n holl, hollbwysig.
Ac efallai y peth pwysig ŷn ni'n ei weld hefyd yw ein bod ni'n dod â phobl sydd ar eu siwrnai ieithyddol sydd yn debyg i'w gilydd, ar lefelau tebyg, ac felly mae'n ryw fath o even playing field, lle, weithiau, efallai rhywun fel fi yw'r person gwaethaf i siarad â rhywun sydd efallai'n dechrau ar ei siwrnai Cymraeg—fy enw i yw Osian; dwi'n dod o deulu Cymraeg, dwi'n siarad Cymraeg yn hyderus. Ond maen nhw'n dod â phobl sydd ar y siwrnai yna sydd yn teimlo efallai bach yn fregus, yn ofnus, ond mae'n dod â nhw at ei gilydd mewn ffordd hamddenol. Does dim pwysau, ac mae hwnna'n holl, hollbwysig. A hefyd maen nhw mewn rhywle, mewn gofod, maen nhw'n teimlo'n gartrefol ynddo fe, ac mae hwnna hefyd yn bwysig iawn.
And that quote has been used many times by us. But what it does do, it's a free event, it presents the Welsh language to people on their doorstep, and perhaps people will come across the Welsh language for the first time after having a break of five to 10 years from the Welsh language, and they come across it and say, 'You know what? This is okay. I'm enjoying this.' They have a good time. That is so important. And, of course, we're taking the language to people for free. They don't have to pay to come to the event. That's crucial.
And perhaps the important thing we're seeing as well is that we're bringing in people who are on their linguistic journey at a similar stage, on the same sort of level, and so there's a level playing field there, whereas perhaps somebody like me is the worst person to speak to somebody who's just starting on their Welsh language journey—my name is Osian; I come from a Welsh speaking family, and I speak Welsh confidently. But it brings people who are on that journey, who feel a little bit vulnerable or scared, it brings them together in a leisurely way. There's no pressure, and that's crucial. And also they're in a space that they feel comfortable in, and that is very important.
Diolch, Osian. Lis.
Thank you, Osian. Lis.
Dŷn ni yn mesur effaith, ac ŷn ni wedi cael cefnogaeth gan y Llywodraeth cyn nawr i gael model o sut i fesur effaith a phethau. Ond mae yna rai pethau mai rhai ohonyn ni wedi'u gwneud sydd yn fwy dwys. Fel enghraifft, ces i astudiaeth effaith gymdeithasol a hefyd economaidd wedi'i gwneud ar Soar ychydig o flynyddoedd yn ôl, ac roeddwn i'n gallu gweld o hwnna faint o les roedd ein cymuned yn ei chael trwyddi hi. Trwy gael y gwasanaeth yma drwy'r Gymraeg, roedd y Gymraeg wedi adfywio'r ardal, ac roeddwn i actually yn gweld bod y ganolfan wedi cyfrannu gwerth £1.3 miliwn at yr economi ehangach yn ystod y flwyddyn yna. So, mae hynny yn digwydd yn flynyddol. So, os yw unrhyw un yn dweud wrthym ni—. Cawsom ni £1.4 miliwn i adnewyddu'r lle, Canolfan Soar, i fod yn theatr a phopeth, ond ŷn ni'n cyfrannu tua £1 filiwn y flwyddyn at yr economi. So, mae mesur effaith yn rili bwysig, nid yn unig o ran iaith, ond o ran lles a hefyd i'r economi.
Un prosiect gwnaethom ni oedd rili wedi gweithio'n dda o ran mesur effaith oedd ein prosiect y Consortiwm Cymraeg, ble roedden ni wedi gweithio gyda theatrau eraill a chwmni Theatr na nÒg, a gwnaethom ni gychwyn y prosiect. Roedd yn brosiect rili da oedd wedi cael ei ariannu gan y cyngor celfyddydau, ac roedden ni'n edrych ar y peth cyn cychwyn ar y daith, yr actual creu'r peth, i feddwl am ba effaith ieithyddol rydyn ni eisiau ei chael mas o hwn. Anaml iawn rwyt ti'n rili cael yr amser i stopio a meddwl weithiau, 'Beth yn union yw'r effaith dŷn ni eisiau ei chreu fan hyn?' A gwnaethom ni weithio gyda dysgwyr a phethau, a gwnes i dracio fe, ysgrifennu papur i'r cyngor celfyddydau ar yr effaith ar ymddygiad iaith. Gwnaethom ni weithio lot gyda dysgwyr cyn y peth i drio deall beth oedd y rhwystrau oedd yn eu hwynebu nhw rhag dod i'r theatr fyw. Ac roedd e'n gwaith rili diddorol sydd wedi gosod sail i sut ydym ni'n gweithredu nawr. A dwi yn teimlo bod gwir angen, yn yr ardaloedd dwysedd is yma, mwy o ymchwil. Mae angen inni rili gweithio ar yr effaith yma i rili deall ble mae angen inni fuddsoddi. Hoffwn i weld ymchwilydd yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â fi yn y menter iaith a'n gweld ni'n mynd trwy'r broses yna.
We do measure impact, and we've had some support from Government in the past to have a model as to how we can do that. But there are certain things that some of us have done that are more intensive. For example, I had a social impact assessment and an economic impact assessment done on Soar some years ago, and I could see from that how much our community benefited through the centre. By having this service through the medium of Welsh, the Welsh language had regenerated the area, and we could actually see that the centre had contributed £1.3 million to the broader local economy during that year. So, that does happen on an annual basis. So, if anyone tells us—. We got £1.4 million to restore the centre to be a theatre and so on, but we contribute around £1 million per annum to the local economy. So, measuring impact is very important, not only in terms of language, but also in terms of well-being and the economy too.
One project that we actually established that really worked well in measuring impact was our y Consortiwm Cymraeg project, where we worked with other theatres and Theatre na nÒg, and we established the project. It was an excellent project that was funded by the arts council, and we looked at it, before starting on the journey of creation, to think about what linguistic impact we wanted to have through the project. Now, very rarely do you have the time to stop and to think, 'Well, what exactly are we trying to achieve here?' And we worked with learners and so on, and I tracked it and wrote a paper for the arts council on the impact on language behaviours. We worked with learners before this was established to try and understand what the barriers were and what prevented them from coming to live theatre. It was very interesting work, which has laid a foundation as to how we operate now. And I do feel that, in the lower density areas, we do need more research. We do need to work on measuring this impact to truly understand where we need to invest. I'd like to see a researcher working with me in the menter iaith and to see us go through that process.
Diolch, Lis. Gwnaf i fynd nôl at Osian—yn gryno, os yn bosib.
Thank you, Lis. I'll go back to Osian—very briefly, if possible.
Efallai un lle arall dylwn i sôn lle ŷn ni'n gallu mesur effaith yw—. Wrth gwrs, ŷn ni'n siarad fan hyn am ein gwyliau mawr ni, mae'r mentrau yn—. Mae gwyliau bach gyda ni trwy'r flwyddyn, boed yn ddigwyddiadau fel Miri Mawr, Nadolig ac yn y blaen. Ond hefyd, beth ŷn ni hefyd yn ei weld sy'n digwydd yw ein bod ni nawr yn cael ein tynnu mewn yn lleol i gynghori digwyddiadau eraill, digwyddiadau sydd efallai fel arfer yn uniaith Saesneg, ond bellach sydd eisiau cynyddu defnydd o'r Gymraeg. A beth ŷn ni'n llwyddo ei wneud yw troi digwyddiadau nawr i fod yn ddwyieithog. Mae gyda ni sawl esiampl. Yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, ŷn ni wedi cydweithio gyda Chyngor Tref Pontypridd, lle, bellach, mae cael cyflwynydd sy'n gallu siarad Cymraeg yn golygu ei fod e'n gallu siarad Saesneg hefyd, ac mae digwyddiad yn ddwyieithog mor syml â hynny.
Rydyn ni'n cefnogi'r Rhondda Arts Festival yn Nhreorci, Gŵyl Morfydd, gwyliau newydd, fel Gŵyl Mabon yn Nhreorci, eisteddfodau lleol ac yn y blaen. Ac rŷn ni i gyd, fel mentrau, yn gweithio ac yn cefnogi ac efallai yn cynghori digwyddiadau eraill. Mae hwnna efallai yn rhywbeth sy'n anodd inni ei ddangos o ran data, ond y ffaith mai atom ni, fel mentrau, mae'r mudiadau sy'n cynnal digwyddiadau efallai sydd fel arfer yn ddigwyddiad lle mae'r posteri yn ddwyieithog, ond efallai dyna i gyd o'r Gymraeg sydd ar gael, yn dod, mae hwnna'n gam positif iawn.
Ac efallai, atom ni, fel mentrau, mae'r mudiadau yma'n dod er mwyn—. Ac maen nhw eisiau cynyddu defnydd o'r Gymraeg—felly dod, gweld beth ŷn ni'n ei wneud, wedi meddwl, 'Dwi wedi cael profiad da,' ac yn hoffi beth maen nhw wedi'i weld. Ac felly, mae hwnna'r rhywbeth, efallai, positif iawn inni sôn amdano o ran yr effaith rydyn ni'n gallu ei chael tu hwnt, efallai, i fwrw teuluoedd ac unigolyn ar lefel ehangach yn y sir.
Perhaps one other area where we can measure impact is—. We're talking here about the large festivals, and the mentrau—. We have small festivals throughout the year, such as Miri Mawr, Christmas and so forth. But also what we're seeing is that we're now being drawn in locally to advise other events perhaps that are English medium only, but now want to increase use of the Welsh language. And what we're succeeding in doing now is turning events into bilingual events. We've got many examples. In Rhondda Cynon Taf, we've worked with Pontypridd Town Council, where, now, they have a presenter who can speak Welsh and English as well, and so the event is bilingual as simply as that.
We support Rhondda Arts Festival in Treorchy, Gŵyl Morfydd, new festivals, such as Gwŷl Mabon in Treorchy, local eisteddfodau et cetera. And, as mentrau, we're supporting and advising these other events. And that, perhaps, is something that's difficult for us to show in terms of data, but the fact that these organisations that host events where maybe the posters are bilingual, but that's all the Welsh there is, are turning to us, as mentrau, for advice, that's a very positive step.
And perhaps these organisations are coming to us, as mentrau, in order to—. And they want to increase use of the Welsh language—so, they come and see what we're doing and think, 'I've had a good experience,' and they like what they see. And therefore, that's something positive that we can talk about in terms of the impact we have beyond, perhaps, families and individuals on a broader level in the county.
Diolch am hynny, Osian. Fe wnawn ni symud at gwestiynau gan Gareth.
Thank you for that, Osian. We'll move to questions from Gareth.
Diolch, Cadeirydd. Bore da, pawb. Prynhawn da, pawb—
Thank you, Chair. Good morning, everyone. Good afternoon, everyone—
—I should say now. With areas of fewer Welsh speakers—we were talking about low density areas—how effective and meaningful is community engagement before—I'm sorry—before a Welsh language and cultural event or festival, in your view, and, obviously, the experience in those communities we spoke about in Pontypridd or Wrexham, for instance? I'll be looking at either Osian or Maiwenn for those answers specifically, I think.
Osian.
O'n profiad ni, cawson ni brofiad positif iawn yn cydweithio. Roedden ni'n un o brif bartneriaid yr Eisteddfod ac mi oedd perthynas agos iawn gyda ni o'r dechrau. Fel mae'n digwydd, fe wnes i ddechrau fy nhrôl i gyda'r menter iaith pan oedd y gwaith yn dechrau yn lleol. Ac, mewn ffordd, mi oedden ni cefnogi'r Eisteddfod i drio ymgysylltu â'r gymuned, y pocedi i edrych amdanyn nhw, rhannu gwybodaeth, cysylltiadau lleol, ac, yn aml, yn gallu cynghori ac ymateb ymholiadau, neu gyfeirio at y cysylltiadau cywir.
Ac efallai'r lle mawr mae'r menter—. Mi oedd y bartneriaeth—. Mi oeddwn i'n teimlo, yn y siwrnai hyd at yr Eisteddfod, efallai mai fi oedd y brawd bach yn y bartneriaeth oherwydd mi oedd yr Eisteddfod yn gallu agor drysau a bwrw gwelydd i lawr efallai nad oedden ni'n gallu ei wneud, fel menter fach, o fewn yr ardal. Ond arnon ni, fel menter, wedyn, mae'r disgwyliad o ran y gwaddol—y gair pwysig yna sydd yn cael ei daflu at ein prif ŵyl ni. Ac aton ni wedyn—. Wrth gwrs, mae'r Eisteddfod yn gorffen ei siwrnai ac maen nhw'n mynd i'r ardal nesaf. A chawson ni sawl digwyddiad llwyddiannus yn Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi'r Eisteddfod. Cawson ni ffair gwirfoddoli i ddiolch i'n gwirfoddolwyr a'u llongyfarch nhw. Hefyd, daeth rhyw 17 o fudiadau, lle roedden nhw eisiau cynyddu defnydd o'r Gymraeg. Efallai nid y Gymraeg oedd prif iaith y mudiadau, ond mi oedden nhw eisiau cynyddu ddefnydd. Ac ŷn ni wedi gweld mudiadau'n bellach yn gwneud y Gymraeg yn weledol—gwisgo lanyards gyda'r gair 'Dysgwr' neu lanyards 'Cymraeg'. Maen nhw jest yn bethau doedd ddim yn digwydd cyn hynny.
Mi oedd lot o waith gyda busnesau. Es i allan gydag un o swyddogion tref Pontypridd a rhoddon ni dros 120 lanyards 'Cymraeg' neu 'Dysgwr' yn nhref Pontypridd yr wythnos cyn yr Eisteddfod, rhywbeth fuasai ddim wedi digwydd 12 mis ynghynt, lle roedden ni eisiau rhedeg y cynllun 'Hapus i Siarad', partneriaeth rhyngom ni a'r ganolfan dysgu Cymraeg ym Mhontypridd, a doedd dim digon o fusnesau. Blwyddyn yn ddiweddarach, mae hynny'n sicr wedi ei newid.
Gwnaethom ni wobrau busnes i ddiolch a llongyfarch busnesau lleol, oedd yn llwyddiannus iawn, a hefyd, rŷn ni wedi datblygu ffair y Gymraeg yn lleol gyda phartneriaid Dysgu Cymraeg Morgannwg, y cyngor, yr Eisteddfod ac Ymbweru Bro i ddangos i bobl y cyfleoedd hynny. Felly, mae pobl wedi dod allan o'u cragen, efallai, ac eisiau cynyddu'r defnydd.
Ond beth ŷn ni hefyd wedi'i weld yw bod—. Yn yr ardaloedd newydd yma, mae'n creu cyswllt newydd rhyngom ni fel menter ac unigolion a chymunedau. Oherwydd mae yna bobl dydyn ni efallai ddim wedi'u gweld nhw cyn bod digwyddiad fel yr Eisteddfod yn dod, ond mae'r diddordeb yna. Fe welson ni hyn gyda chôr yr Eisteddfod. Yn yr ymarfer cyntaf, fe ddaeth dros 400 o bobl a oedd eisiau canu mewn côr yr Eisteddfod, sy'n un o'r pethau mwyaf traddodiadol sydd yn bodoli. Ac roedd siŵr o fod dau draean o'r bobl oedd yn yr ystafell ddim yn siarad Cymraeg—yn ddysgwyr, neu ddim hyd yn oed yn siarad Cymraeg o gwbl—ond hefyd ddim dim ond eisiau bod yn y sioe, eisiau canu yn y gymanfa ganu, eto un o'r pethau mwyaf traddodiadol sydd yn bodoli. Ond mi oedd bod ar y llwyfan yna, yn canu mewn côr, yn rhywbeth oedd yn holl, holl bwysig iddyn nhw. Ac eto, fel menter, maen nhw wedi dod atom ni nawr, maen nhw'n ymgysylltu gyda ni; mae'r bartneriaeth a'r cyswllt yna wedi'i wneud er mwyn i ni barhau â hyn.
Mae rhaid i mi nodi hefyd, er gwaethaf ymdrechion, fod yna dal heriau. Mae yna dalcen caled. Mae angen mwy o gefnogaeth ac adnoddau i ymgysylltu a pharhau â'r bwrlwm ar ôl digwyddiad fel ymweliad y brifwyl. Mae'n straen fawr ar adnoddau yn lleol; mae yna, efallai, duedd taw'r un hen bobl sydd yn gwneud y swmp o waith a swmp o'r gwirfoddoli yn lleol. Er bod yna wynebau newydd, mae yna bwysau cynyddol ar, efallai, yr un gynulleidfa, yn enwedig wrth ymwneud â digwyddiadau Cymraeg a Chymreig cyn y gwyliau.
Ond beth rŷn ni wedi'i weld yw bod yna fudiadau sydd eisiau mwy o gefnogaeth, ac efallai rhywbeth sydd eisiau ei ystyried yw'r gefnogaeth yn y flwyddyn cyn yr Eisteddfod, ond, yn bwysicach, y flwyddyn, dwy neu dair blynedd ar ôl yr Eisteddfod, oherwydd mae'n anodd iawn i barhau. Mae yna gyfnod ar ôl Eisteddfod lle mae yna flinder. Mae pobl, efallai, eisiau toriad bach. Ond, wrth gwrs, y cwestiwn mawr i ni yn Rhondda Cynon Taf yw, 'Beth yw'r digwyddiad torfol mawr nesaf sydd yn mynd i ddod â phobl nôl ar y trên i Bontypridd?' Dyw Pontypridd ddim yn bell rhagor o lefydd fel Caerdydd. Mi oedd e cyn yr haf. Ond mae pobl eisiau dod, mae diddordeb gyda phobl, mae cefnogaeth gyda'r busnesau. Mae pobl eisiau digwyddiadau fel hyn. Ond mae eisiau efallai edrych ar sut mae modd cefnogi hyd at y digwyddiad, ond efallai yn bwysicach, mewn ardaloedd dwysedd is, ar ôl y digwyddiad. Mae hwnna'n holl, holl bwysig.
From our experience, we had a very positive experience collaborating. We were one of the main partners of the Eisteddfod and we had a close relationship from the very outset. As it happens, I started in my role with menter iaith when the work was starting locally. And, in a way, we supported the Eisteddfod in engaging with the community, the pockets to look for, sharing information, local contacts, and, very often, we were able to advise and respond to queries or to refer them to the right place.
And perhaps the major role of the menter—. In the partnership—. I felt, in the journey towards the Eisteddfod, that maybe I was the junior partner in that partnership because the Eisteddfod could hit walls down and open doors that we couldn't open, as a small organisation, in the area. But then the expectation in terms of legacy falls to us, as a menter—and it's an important word that we always use in relation to the National Eisteddfod. And at us, then—. The Eisteddfod, of course, finishes its journey and moves on to the next area. And we had a number of successful events in RCT after the Eisteddfod. We had a volunteering fair to thank our volunteers and to congratulate them. Also, some 17 organisations came , where they wanted to increase the use of the Welsh language. Perhaps Welsh wasn't the main language of those organisations, but they did want to increase its usage. And we have seen organisations now making the Welsh language visible—wearing 'Dysgwr' lanyards or 'Cymraeg' lanyards. These are things that just didn't happen previously.
There was a lot of work done with businesses. I went out with one of the officials in the town of Pontypridd and we handed out over 120 'Welsh' or 'Learner' lanyards in Pontypridd the week before the Eisteddfod, something that wouldn't have happened 12 months earlier, when we wanted to run the 'Hapus i Siarad' campaign, which is a campaign between ourselves and the centre for learning Welsh in Pontypridd, and there weren't enough businesses. A year later, that has definitely changed.
We had business awards to thank and congratulate local businesses, which was very successful, and we've also developed a Welsh language fair locally, working with Learn Welsh Glamorgan, the council, the Eisteddfod and Ymbweru Bro to demonstrate the opportunities to people. So, people have come out of their shells, perhaps, and want to increase use of the Welsh language.
But what we've also seen is that—. In these new areas, it creates a new relationship between ourselves as a menter and individuals and communities. Because there are people that we perhaps hadn't seen before the Eisteddfod, but the interest is there. We saw this with the Eisteddfod choir. In the first rehearsal, over 400 people came and they wanted to sing in the Eisteddfod choir, which is one of the most traditional things in existence. And perhaps two thirds of the people in the room were non-Welsh speaking—they were learners, or didn't speak any Welsh at all—but not only did they want to be involved in the show, but they wanted to sing in the cymanfa ganu too, one of the most traditional things that we have. But being on that stage, singing in a choir, was something that was crucially important to them. And, again, as a menter, they've now come to us, they're engaging with us, and that partnership and that contact has been made, and we can continue with that journey.
We should also note that, despite efforts, there are still challenges. There are some real challenges. We need more resource and support to continue with that buzz after the Eisteddfod. It places a huge strain on resources locally; there is a tendency that it's the familiar faces that do most of the work and most of the volunteering locally. Although there are new faces, there are increasing pressures on the usual suspects, if you like, particularly in relation to Welsh and Welsh language events prior to major events.
But we have seen that organisations need greater support, and one thing that needs to be considered is the support in the year before the Eisteddfod, but, more importantly, perhaps, the one, two or three years after the Eisteddfod, because it's very difficult to maintain that buzz. There's a period after the Eisteddfod where there's fatigue. People want a break. But, of course, the major question for us in RCT is, 'Well, what's the next mass event that will bring people back on the train to Pontypridd?' Pontypridd isn't far from places like Cardiff. It was before the summer, perhaps, in most people's minds. But people want to come, they're interested, there's support among businesses. People want to see these events. But perhaps that's where we need to focus as to how we can support in the run-up to an event, but, more importantly, in the low-density areas, after the event. That's crucially important.
Diolch, Osian. Cyn i ni symud ymlaen, dwi'n meddwl roedd Heledd eisiau gofyn cwestiwn atodol i hwnna.
Thank you, Osian. Before we move on, I think Heledd had a question.
Diolch. Dwi'n ymwybodol o amser hefyd. Efallai dof i nôl o ran gwaddol, ond un o'r pethau rydyn ni'n edrych arno ar y funud ydy cyn digwyddiadau o'r fath. Felly, byddai fo'n dda gwybod oeddech chi'n cael adnodd ychwanegol fel mentrau iaith cyn i ŵyl fawr ddod atoch chi, neu oes disgwyl i chi fod yn gwneud y gwaith hwn ar ben yr hyn rydych chi'n ei wneud fel arfer. Ac oes yna—? Dwi'n meddwl efallai fy mod i'n gwybod bod yna ddim adnodd ychwanegol o'r ymatebion gwyneb; byddai'n dda gwybod. Ond ydych chi'n meddwl bod hyn yn rhywbeth dylid rhoi ystyriaeth iddo fo i sicrhau'r gwaddol mwyaf posib?
Thank you. I am aware of time as well. Perhaps I'll come back in terms of legacy, but one of the things that we're looking at at the moment is before such events. So, it would be beneficial to know did you receive additional resource as mentrau iaith before a large festival or event in your area, or are you expected to do this work on top of what you're doing usually. And is there—? And I think perhaps I know that there isn't additional resource, from the facial expressions, but it would be good to know. But do you think that this is something that should be considered to ensure the greatest possible legacy?
Mae rhai o'r facial expressions yn dweud lot heb i chi orfod dweud rhywbeth mewn geiriau. Fe wnaf i fynd yn gryno at Osian yn gyntaf.
Some of the facial expressions are saying a lot, without you having to say anything in words. I'll go briefly to Osian first.
Na, yn anffodus, doedd dim adnodd ychwanegol i ni fel menter cyn nac ar ôl, yn anffodus, felly roedden ni'n gorfod gwneud hyn ar ben y gwaith o ddydd i ddydd. Mae'n rhaid i ni nodi hefyd, mae'r un peth yn wir am y gwyliau. Mae'r gwaith o ddydd i ddydd yn digwydd, ac rŷn ni'n gorfod bod yn arbenigwyr mewn iechyd, diogelwch, tai bach, ffensys ac yn y blaen ar ben y gwaith o ddydd i ddydd. Felly, mae'n dod i lawr, ac mae'n bwysau ychwanegol ar y tîm. Tîm bach ŷn ni; tîm craidd bach sydd gyda pob menter. Felly, buaswn i wir yn cefnogi gallu cael cefnogaeth cyn, ond, yn fwy pwysig i ni, ar ôl. Dwi'n credu buasai hwnna'n hanfodol, oherwydd mae'n heriol iawn i allu cadw'r momentwm yna. Rŷn ni wedi trio pigo, efallai, y darnau gorau, o beth rŷn ni'n gallu ei wneud, ond, wrth gwrs, mae yna risg uchel iawn o golli pobl yn gyflym iawn wrth i, efallai, fywyd fynd nôl i normal. Mae honno'n frawddeg dwi'n ei chlywed yn aml iawn. Felly, yn sicr, byddai unrhyw adnodd ychwanegol yn help mawr i ni.
Unfortunately, there was no additional resource for us as a menter either before or after the event, so, we were having to do this on top of our day-to-day activities. And we should note too that the same is true of the festivals. The day-to-day work happens, and we have to be specialists in health and safety, toilets, fencing and so on, in addition to our day-to-day activities. So, it's an additional pressure on the team. And we are a small team; every menter has a small core team. So, we would really appreciate having support before the event, but, more importantly for us, after the event. That would be crucial, because it is very challenging to maintain that momentum. We have tried to pick out the most positive impacts that we can have, but there is a very high risk of losing people very quickly as life returns to normal, if you like. That's a sentence I hear very often. So, certainly, any additional resource would be of great assistance to us.
Diolch am hwnna. Fe wnaf i fynd at Catherine ac wedyn at Lis. Catherine.
Thank you for that. I'll go to Catherine and then to Lis. Catherine.
So, cyn Eisteddfod Pontypridd, doedd dim cymorth i ni, ond, ar ôl, roedd y ganolfan dysgu Cymraeg wedi cyflwyno cynllun gwaddol, felly roedd hwnna ar gael i ni ar ôl yr Eisteddfod. Ond, erbyn hyn, mae cymorth ar gael i ddarparwyr, fel yn Wrecsam nawr; roedd cyfle iddyn nhw geisio am arian cyn yr Eisteddfod. So, mae hwnna'n dda.
Before the Eisteddfod in Pontypridd, there was no support for us, but, following the Eisteddfod, the centre for learning Welsh introduced a legacy scheme, so that was available to us after the Eisteddfod. But now there is support available to providers, for example, in Wrexham now, there was an opportunity for them to make a bid for funding before the Eisteddfod. So, that's good.
Diolch am hwnna, Catherine. Lis.
Thank you for that, Catherine. Lis.
Mae canolfan a Theatr Soar fan hyn yn waddol Eisteddfod yr Urdd a oedd wedi dod yma yn 1987. So, oni bai am Eisteddfod yr Urdd, fyddai'r ganolfan Gymraeg fan hyn ddim yn bodoli. So, mae gwaddol yn holl, holl bwysig, achos, ar ddiwedd y dydd, beth mae Eisteddfod yn ei wneud yw mae'n 'motivate-o' pawb; mae'n gwneud i bawb deimlo eu bod nhw'n rhan o rywbeth mawr a'u bod nhw i gyd yn gweithio tuag at yr un peth, ac mae'n ffantastig.
Dwi eisiau jest dweud fan hyn dydw i ddim yn trefnu gwyliau. Dwi wedi dros y blynyddoedd, tua phedair gwaith, ond dydw i ddim yn trefnu gwyliau, oherwydd mae'n ormod o waith ar ben trio rhedeg theatr a phethau. Mae jest yn ormod o waith. Dwi'n gweld y problemau mae pobl eraill o gwmpas y bwrdd fan hyn yn eu cael. Ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, fel menter iaith, mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn arbenigo ym mhopeth, yn cynnwys toiledau ar gyfer gwyliau. So, mae trefnu gwyliau yn llawer iawn o waith ar ben popeth mae'n rhaid i ni ei wneud.
The Soar centre is the legacy of the Urdd Eisteddfod that came here in 1987. So, if it wasn't for the Urdd Eisteddfod, this Welsh language centre here wouldn't exist. So, legacy is crucially important, because, at the end of the day, what the Eisteddfod does is to motivate everyone; it makes everyone feel that they are part of something bigger and that they are all working to the same objective, and it's fantastic.
I just want to say at this point that I don't arrange festivals. I have done around four times in the past, but I don't do so now, because it's too much work in addition to trying to run a theatre and so on. It's just too much. I understand the problems that others around the table have. I have to say that, as a menter iaith, we have to be specialists in everything, including toilets for festivals even. So, arranging festivals is a huge amount of work in addition to everything else that we have to do.
Diolch, Lis. Dydw i ddim yn gweld bod unrhyw un arall eisiau dod i mewn ar hynny ar hyn o bryd, felly mi wnawn ni fynd yn ôl at Gareth ar gyfer ei gwestiwn arall.
Thank you, Lis. I don't see that anyone else has indicated, so we'll go back to Gareth for a further question.
Thanks again, Chair. I want to just explore how the mentrau iaith currently promote their festivals and events and engage with their communities, especially for non-Welsh speakers or those not engaged with their provision as such. So, going into those non-Welsh-speaking communities, how that's promoted and indeed encouraged within some of those low-density areas.
Pwy sydd eisiau mynd yn gyntaf ar hyn? Mi wnaf fynd at Osian yn gyntaf.
Who wants to go first? I'll go to Osian.
Mae yna lot o waith partneriaethol yn digwydd. Rŷn ni’n cydweithio gyda'n partneriaid yn lleol, gyda Dysgu Cymraeg Morgannwg, mae yna swyddog ymbweru bro gyda ni, rŷn ni'n gweithio gydag ysgolion o'r ddau sector. Gyda'n gwyliau ni, mae pob ysgol yn y sir yn cael gwahoddiad i berfformio. Mae Parti Bach Ponty gyda ni wythnos i ddydd Sadwrn. Mae yna fand yn dod o ysgol cyfrwng Saesneg yn Aberpennar i berfformio yn ddwyieithog yn y digwyddiad. Buasem ni byth wedi meddwl y buasai rhywbeth fel yna'n gallu digwydd mewn ardal ddifreintiedig, ardal heriol, ond mae'r grŵp o fyfyrwyr yn mynd i ddod i berfformio. Maen nhw wedi dysgu cân yn Gymraeg fel band, ac felly maen nhw eisiau dod ac ymgysylltu gyda'r digwyddiad. Felly mae hynny'n rhywbeth pwysig iawn.
Mae gyda ni raglen hefyd o weithgareddau sy'n digwydd drwy gydol y flwyddyn, ac mae hynny yn rhywbeth pwysig iawn lle rŷn ni yn ymgysylltu gyda chynulleidfaoedd gwahanol. Mae gyda ni raglen Miri Mawr sy'n targedu rhieni a theuluoedd cyn-ysgol, lle rŷn ni'n dod â'r holl bartneriaid—Dysgu Cymraeg, RhAG, y cyngor lleol, yr Urdd, clwstwr yr ysgolion lleol yn yr ardal—rŷn ni i gyd yn dod at ein gilydd i ddangos taith iaith i deuluoedd, yr holl help ar y siwrne o cyn-ysgol nes byddan nhw gobeithio eisiau mynd i'r coleg, ond hefyd y cymorth i rieni a theuluoedd os maen nhw eisiau dysgu'r iaith gyda'u plant. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth sydd yn bwysig iawn rŷn ni'n trio ei hyrwyddo. Ac rŷn ni'n croesawu pawb. Yn ein holl ddigwyddiadau ni, rŷn ni'n ceisio eu gwneud nhw am ddim ac yn agored i bawb.
Mae yna sawl menter hefyd sy'n berchen ar neu'n cydweithio'n agos iawn gyda gofodau o fewn eu cymunedau. Felly mae yna grwpiau di-Gymraeg a Chymraeg yn dod i'r gofodau hynny, ac, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni wedyn yn gallu ymgysylltu gyda nhw yn y gofodau hynny. Rŷn ni hefyd yn gweithio gyda gwasanaethau gwahanol, gyda chorau lleol ac yn y blaen. Felly rŷn ni'n trio rhoi llwyfan ac agor y drws i gael perthynas gyda nhw. Ac wedyn, wrth gwrs, drwy bethau fel cerddoriaeth, mae hynny'n gallu ysbrydoli pobl i fynd ati i ddysgu Cymraeg neu efallai i gael yr hyder i gymryd cam i fynd i ddigwyddiad Cymraeg y tu allan i'r bubble o normalrwydd, boed e'n wersi ar-lein neu yn yr ystafell ddosbarth, sut i gymryd y cam nesaf i fynd allan o'r bubble saff yna i'r byd mawr y tu allan, sydd yn her.
Mae'r mentrau yn arbenigo mewn cynnal gweithgareddau drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, ond hefyd digwyddiadau dwyieithog. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn onest, mae nifer o'n digwyddiadau yn ddwyieithog. Fel rydych chi wedi clywed, roedd Ffiliffest y penwythnos diwethaf, bydd Parti Bach Ponty mewn pythefnos. Efallai bod y plant yn siarad Cymraeg, ond mae nifer y rhieni a’r teuluoedd sy'n uniaith Gymraeg yn llawer is, ac felly rŷn ni'n gorfod ymgysylltu gyda nhw hefyd yn ddwyieithog. Rŷn ni'n gweld balchder y teuluoedd o weld eu plant yn perfformio neu'n gwneud gweithgareddau, boed e'n grefft neu'n Lego neu'n sgiliau syrcas, drwy'r Gymraeg, ac yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn gymdeithasol drwy hwyl. Mae hynny yn hollbwysig.
Dwi'n cofio, pan wnes i ddechrau, mynd i ysgol Saesneg a siarad am Parti Ponty, a'r neges ges i oedd, 'Oh, it's a Welsh thing for the Welsh schools.' Dwi'n gwybod bod pob menter yn trio torri'r barier yna i lawr. Nid dyna ŷn ni—rydyn ni wir eisiau croesawu pawb i'n digwyddiadau ni, i gymryd y cam cyntaf. Does dim byd gwell na gweld ysgol cyfrwng Saesneg yn perfformio ar yr un llwyfan ag ysgol cyfrwng Cymraeg, a'u bod nhw i gyd yn cefnogi ei gilydd. Ac, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni’n gallu cefnogi pethau fel y siarter iaith, Cymraeg Campus, ac yn y blaen. Felly, o ran yr ysgolion, mae yna fudd iddyn nhw, wrth gwrs, ond eu bod nhw eisiau dod, ac mae hwnna’n bwysig iawn.
There's a lot of partnership working happening. We work with our partners locally, with Dysgu Cymraeg Morgannwg. We have a community empowerment officer, we work with schools from both sectors. With our festivals, every school in the county has an invitation to perform. Parti Bach Ponty is on a week Saturday. There's a band coming from an English-medium school in Mountain Ash to perform bilingually in that event. We never thought something like that would have been able to happen from a disadvantaged area, but a group of students are coming to perform. They've learnt a Welsh song as a band, and they want to come and engage with the event. So that is important.
We also have a programme of activities throughout the year, and that is important, where we do engage with different audiences. We have the Miri Mawr programme that targets pre-school parents and families, where we bring all partners together—learning Welsh, RhAG, the local council, the Urdd, the local cluster of schools—and they all come together, and we show a language journey for those families, and it helps them in that journey before school and helps them also as supporting parents and families if they want to learn Welsh with their families. That's something that's very important that we try and promote. And we welcome everybody. In all our events, we try and ensure that they're free for all.
There are a number of mentrau that own or work closely with spaces within their communities. Non-Welsh-speaking groups and Welsh-speaking groups come to those spaces and we can engage with them then in those settings. And we also work with different service providers, with local choirs and so forth. So we try and provide a platform and open the door to have a relationship with them. And then, of course, through things such as music, that can then inspire people to learn Welsh or perhaps to gain that confidence to take a step to go to a Welsh-speaking event outside of that normal bubble, whether it's online or in the classroom, how to take that next step to get out of that safe bubble to that big wide world outside, which is a challenge.
The mentrau do specialise in holding events through the medium of Welsh, but also bilingual events. We need to be honest that a number of our events are bilingual. You will have heard that Ffiliffest was last week, we'll have Parti Bach Ponty soon. Perhaps the children speak Welsh, but the number of families and parents who are Welsh speaking only are much smaller, so we have to engage with them bilingually as well. We see the pride in families in seeing their children perform through the medium of Welsh or do activities through the medium of Welsh, such as Lego, arts and crafts or circus skills, and then we bring the Welsh language into a social setting in a fun way, and that is crucial.
I remember when I started and I went to an English-medium school and spoke about Parti Ponty, the message I had back was, 'Oh, it's a Welsh language thing, it’s for Welsh schools.’ And that's something I know that every menter is trying to break down in terms of barriers. We really want to welcome everybody to our events, to take that first step. There's nothing better than seeing an English-medium school perform on the same stage as a Welsh-medium school, and they’re all supporting each other. And, of course, we can support the language charter, Cymraeg Campus, and so forth. So, in terms of the schools, there’s a benefit to these schools, of course, and they want to come, and that’s important.
Diolch am hynna. Oedd unrhyw un arall eisiau dod mewn? Maiwenn.
Thank you for that. Was there anybody else who wanted to come in? Maiwenn.
Rôn i’n mynd i ychwanegu—ac mae Osian wedi crybwyll hyn—ein bod ni’n gweithio lot efo partneriaethau newydd, partneriaethau amgen hefyd. Er enghraifft, mae gennym ni’n gŵyl gymunedol ni yn yr Wyddgrug fis nesaf, ac rydyn ni’n gweithio'n agos iawn efo Theatr Clwyd, sy’n golygu ein bod ni’n gallu manteisio ar eu harbenigedd celfyddydol nhw, hyrwyddo ymysg cysylltiadau’n gilydd. Felly, gan fod eu cynulleidfa nhw yn naturiol yn fwy eang efallai, ac yn denu mynychwyr na fyddai fel arfer yn dod i ddigwyddiadau arferol y fenter, mae hynny’n golygu ein bod ni’n gallu ymgysylltu ac ymestyn at fwy o bobl, gan obeithio denu mwy o bobl tuag at y Gymraeg am y tro cyntaf. Dyna’r unig beth rôn i am ei ychwanegu at bwyntiau Osian.
I was just going to add—Osian’s mentioned this—that we do a great deal of work with new partnerships and alternative partnerships. For example, we have our community festival in Mold next month, and we are working with Theatr Clwyd, which means that we can take advantage of their specialism in the arts, and we can promote among each other's contacts. So, as their audience is broader, perhaps, and attracts attendees that wouldn’t perhaps always come to the activities of the menter, that means that we can engage and reach out to more people, and hopefully attract more people to the Welsh language for the first time. That’s the only thing that I wanted to add to Osian’s points.
Diolch, Maiwenn. Mi wnaf i fynd at Lowri, ac wedyn at Lis.
Thank you. I'll go to Lowri, and then Lis.
Diolch. Yn dilyn pwynt Maiwenn mewn gwirionedd, jest pwynt cyffredinol, yn gryno. Rŷn ni wir wedi gwreiddio yn ein cymunedau ni, a’r rhwydweithiau a’r partneriaethau lleol. Pobl leol sy’n eistedd ar ein byrddau, fel cyfarwyddwyr ac ymddiriedolwyr, a’n blaenoriaeth ni, yn gyson wedyn, yw cysylltiadau lleol.
Mae’r berthynas sydd gyda ni gyda rhaglenni trechu tlodi, gyda’r timoedd blynyddoedd cynnar, gyda’r byrddau iechyd, yn agos iawn. Felly, er mwyn cyrraedd y gynulleidfa yna sydd efallai ddim â chyswllt â’r Gymraeg fel arfer, ddim yn teimlo bod y Gymraeg yn berthnasol neu yn hygyrch, mae’r mentrau mewn sefyllfa dda iawn i fod yn sicrhau bod y cyfleoedd diwylliannol yma yn hygyrch ac yn agored i bawb, a bod tlodi a rhwystrau eraill ddim yn mynd i'w hatal nhw wedyn rhag cymryd rhan, neu rhag cael mynediad at y cyfleoedd yma.
Felly, mae’r cysylltiadau yna mor bwysig. Achos ydyn, mae’r cyfleoedd yma ar gyfer siaradwyr Cymraeg, ar gyfer y teuluoedd yna sydd o fewn addysg Gymraeg yn barod, ond, fel mae pawb arall wedi sôn, mae gyda ni gynulleidfa llawer ehangach sydd ddim wedi cael y cyfleoedd yna, ac mae mor bwysig ein bod ni’n parhau i gynnal y cysylltiadau yna gyda’r holl raglenni yna sy’n sicrhau bod y cyfleoedd yma ar gael am ddim wedyn, ac nad oes rhwystrau iddyn nhw. Felly, jest pwynt cyffredinol am y cyswllt cymunedol cryf yna sydd gyda ni.
Thank you. Following on from Maiwenn’s point, really, just a general point, briefly. We are really rooted in our communities, and the networks and the partnerships on a local level. We have local people sitting on our boards, as directors and trustees, and our priority consistently is local links and connections.
The relationships we have with poverty campaigns, early years organisations and health boards are very close. So, in order to reach that audience who perhaps don’t have a link to the Welsh language usually, who feel, perhaps, that the language isn’t relevant to them, or accessible to them, then the mentrau are in a good position to ensure that those cultural opportunities are accessible and open to all, and that poverty and other barriers are not going to prevent them from taking part, or having access to these opportunities.
So, those links are so important. Because, yes, the opportunities are there for Welsh speakers, for those families who are within Welsh-medium education already, but as everybody else has mentioned, we have a much broader audience that hasn’t had that opportunity, and it’s so important that we continue to maintain those links with all those programmes that ensure that these opportunities are available for free, and that there are no barriers. So, just a general point about that strong community link that we have.
Mae’n rhaid i ni gofio, o ran beth mae’r mentrau iaith yn ei wneud, ein bod ni wedi seilio yn ein cymunedau ni. Rŷn ni’n gweithio mewn partneriaeth gyda phawb yn ein cymunedau ni. Ni yw’r glud sydd yn glynu pawb at ei gilydd, achos rŷn ni’n gweithio gyda phob oedran hefyd. Ond mae’n rhaid cofio, yn yr ardaloedd dwysedd isel yma, bod ein cynulleidfa ni yn wahanol iawn i’r mentrau iaith mewn ardaloedd eraill efallai. Ac mae’n rhaid i ni fod yn gynhwysol. Mae’n rhaid i ni dynnu pawb mewn. Y ffordd rŷn ni wedi ei wneud e ym Merthyr—. Dwi’n cofio pan ddechreuon ni ym Merthyr 20 mlynedd yn ôl, roedd pobl yn meddwl ein bod ni jest yn leoliad i siaradwyr Cymraeg, ond mae hynny wedi newid yn llwyr. A’r ffaith yw bod gan bawb groeso mawr i ddod fan hyn. Rŷn ni wedi sefydlu gofod sydd wedi torri lawr rhwystrau rhwng y di-Gymraeg a'r siaradwyr Cymraeg.
Mae pobl yn dod i rywbeth fel côr Saesneg yma, ac maen nhw wedi bod yn dod ers blynyddoedd, yn gweld ac yn clywed y Gymraeg. Mae’r Gymraeg yn dod, yn naturiol wedyn, yn rhan o’u bywydau nhw, ac mae hynny wedi newid iaith y côr. Roedden nhw yn yr Eisteddfod ym Mhontypridd ac mae e'n rili cyfoethogi bywydau pobl wedyn. Rŷn ni’n gadael pawb mewn. A dŷn ni ddim yn ei wneud e trwy orfodi pobl i siarad Cymraeg o gwbl; rŷn ni’n gwneud e trwy ddangos esiampl. Rŷn ni’n dweud, ‘Dyma beth sydd gyda ni. Dyma beth rŷch chi’n gallu bod yn rhan ohono fe, dewch gyda ni.’ Ni yw wyneb croesawgar y Gymraeg yn ein cymunedau ni.
We do have to bear in mind, in terms of what the mentrau iaith do, that we are based in our communities, and we work in partnership with everyone in our communities. We are the glue holding everyone together, because we work with people of all ages too. But we have to bear in mind, in low density areas, that our audience is very different to the mentrau iaith in other areas perhaps. And we do have to be inclusive. We have to attract everyone in. The way that we’ve done it in Merthyr—. I remember when we started in Merthyr 20 years ago, and people thought we were only there for Welsh speakers. But that’s changed entirely. The fact is that everyone is welcome here. We’ve established a space for people where barriers have been broken down between Welsh speakers and non-Welsh speakers.
People come to an English-language choir and they’ve been coming for many years. They see and hear the Welsh language. The Welsh language naturally becomes part of their lives, and that has changed the language of the choir itself. The choir were at the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd performing. So, it really enhances the lives of people. We let everyone in, and we’re not doing it by enforcement. We’re not forcing anyone to speak Welsh; what we’re doing is providing an example. We’re just saying, ‘This is what we have. This is what you can be part of. Come with us on the journey’. We are the welcoming face of the Welsh language within our communities.
Diolch am hynna. Gareth, rwyf i'n ymwybodol bod gennym ni hanner awr ar ôl a thri Aelod. Wyt ti'n hapus os ydyn ni'n symud ymlaen?
Thank you for that. Gareth, we don't have much time left and we have three Members left to go. Are you happy for us to move on?
Yes. No problem. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch am hynna, Gareth. Gwnawn ni symud at Julie.
Thank you, Gareth. We'll move to Julie.
Diolch. I was going to ask questions about legacy, but I think we've covered an awful lot of those already, so I wondered if Osian could expand on the sort of resource that he feels is needed, which is not necessarily funding, but what additional resource after a large event would be helpful, and which sort of organisations should work together. I know you did refer to 17 organisations, Osian, didn't you, that you were working with. So, I wondered if you could expand on that a bit.
Mae'n anodd peidio sôn am gyllido, ond buddsoddiad, efallai, mewn ardal sydd angen ar ôl digwyddiad. Rŷn ni'n ymgysylltu. Mi oedd rhyw 17 o fudiadau lleol oedd eisiau cynyddu'r defnydd gyda gwirfoddolwyr, oedd yn wych, ond wrth gwrs mae'n anodd iawn inni allu tracio a chadw eu cefnogi nhw ar lefel eang yn ychwanegol i'n gwaith o ddydd i ddydd.
Yn yr un modd, gyda'r busnesau yn y dref, pan mae'r Eisteddfod yn dod i ardal, nid dim ond tref yr eisteddfod sy'n elwa. Mi oedd pobl yn teithio ledled y sir. Rŷn ni wedi gweld pobl yn dychwelyd i Dreorci, i Aberdâr, ar ôl yr Eisteddfod hefyd. Mi oedd Gŵyl Mabon ddechrau mis Mai yn Nhreorci, ac roedd pobl oedd wedi dod lan i gefnogi'r ŵyl ac wedi cael profiad da eisiau dod nôl i gefnogi. Mi oedd Eisteddfod y Rhondda. Mi oedd corau o Gaerdydd yn dod i fyny, wedi dod ar y trên, ac yn dod i fyny am y dydd, trip dydd, ac yna taith trên nôl. Ac rŷn ni'n gwybod, o'm profiad i yn cefnogi Clwb y Bont, mae yna bobl yn dod bron bob penwythnos i dref fel Pontypridd, boed e allan am bryd o fwyd, a oedd wedi cael y profiad da yna ac felly yn dod nôl i'r ardaloedd i gefnogi hyn.
Beth sy'n anodd inni wneud yw tracio hynny a gallu cefnogi'r busnesau a sicrhau bod pethau syml iawn fel lanyards Cymraeg neu ddysgwyr o fewn y gweithlu. Rŷn ni'n mynd â nhw o gwmpas, wrth gwrs, mae person yn gwisgo fe ac yn mynd adref, ac wedyn mae'r lanyard wedi mynd, felly mae'n anodd inni gadw ar ben hynny. Ond hefyd cefnogi'r bobl a'r mudiadau sydd efallai yn dechrau eu siwrnai. Rŷn ni'n gwneud lot o waith yn bartneriaethol. Mi oedd Ffair y Gymraeg gyda ni yn brawf o hynny, lle oedd cyfleoedd i bobl i ddefnyddio eu Cymraeg—boed e mewn corau, capeli, grwpiau dawnsio gwerin, grwp gwerin—lle mae pobl yn gallu mynd i ymgysylltu gyda'r Gymraeg. Mae'r buddsoddiad mewn person, neu mewn tîm, i allu helpu i gael yr astudiaethau—. Rŷn ni wedi sôn yn barod o ran fel rŷn ni'n gwerthuso ein digwyddiadau ni ac yn y blaen—ein bod ni'n gallu cael yr amser neu'r adnodd i wneud hynny. Mae hynny yn bwysig iawn.
A hefyd, rhan fawr o'n rôl ni fel mentrau yw arallgyfeirio pobl. Maen nhw'n dod atom ni ac, yn aml iawn, rŷn ni'n dweud, 'Ewch i Dysgu Cymraeg' neu, 'Ewch i'r grŵp yma, ewch i ymuno gyda'r côr yma—ewch.' Felly, maen nhw'n dod atom ni ac rŷn ni'n eu hanfon nhw i ffwrdd i'r lle gorau iddyn nhw o ran lle maen nhw ar eu taith, sydd yn gallu teimlo'n eithaf od weithiau, ein bod ni'n anfon pobl i ffwrdd, ond ein bod ni'n anfon pobl i'r lle cywir i gael y gefnogaeth maen nhw eisiau.
Rŷn ni'n gwneud lot o waith gyda chymunedau busnes, ac yn sicr mae hynna yn rhywle lle mae eisiau lot mwy o gefnogaeth. Mae yna ganran uchel o'r gweithlu yn nhre Pontypridd, er enghraifft, eisiau cyfle i ddefnyddio mwy o'r Gymraeg, ond dydyn ni ddim yn gallu gweithio allan yn iawn ble a phryd yw'r amser cywir i wneud hynny, a dyna lle mae angen y gefnogaeth. Felly, ei fod e mor hawdd ac accessible i bobl â phosib—mae hynna'n rhywbeth. Rŷn ni'n byw mewn oes lle mae pobl eisiau rhywbeth ar blat, felly mae eisiau inni allu cael yr adnodd a'r buddsoddiad er mwyn gallu sicrhau ei fod e mor hawdd a syml i bawb.
It's difficult, perhaps, not to mention funding, but investment, perhaps, in an area is what's required after an event. We engaged about 17 organisations at a local level who wanted to increase their use of language with volunteers, which was excellent, but of course it's very difficult for us to track and keep on supporting them in addition to our daily work.
In the same way, with the businesses in the town, when the Eisteddfod comes to an area, it's not just the Eisteddfod town that benefits. People were travelling all over the county. We've seen people return to Treorchy, to Aberdare, after the eisteddfod as well. Gŵyl Mabon was held at the beginning of May, and people who had come to support the festival and had a good experience wanted to come and support again. There were choirs from Cardiff coming to the Rhondda eisteddfod, coming up for the day and taking the train back. And we know, from my experience supporting Clwb y Bont, that people come nearly every weekend to a town like Pontypridd, whether it's for a meal, and they'd had that good experience and so they come back to the areas to support them.
What's difficult is to track that and be able to support the business and ensure that very simple things such as Welsh lanyards or learner lanyards are with the workforce. We go round with them, of course, and people wear them and then the lanyard goes home, so it's difficult to keep on top of that. But also support for the people and organisations that perhaps are starting on their journey. We are doing a lot on a partnership level. We had the Welsh fair that was a testament to that, where there was an opportunity for people to use the Welsh language—whether they were choirs, chapels, folk dancing groups, folk groups—so people could go there and engage with the Welsh language. The investment in a person and in a team, to get studies—. We have already spoken about how we evaluate events and so on—that we can get that resource and time to do that is very important.
And also, a big part of our work is to refer people to places. People come to us quite often, we say, 'Go to Dysgu Cymraeg' or, 'Go to this group, go to join this choir—go.' So, they come to us and we send them away to the best place in terms of where they are on their journey, which can feel a little bit odd at times, that we send people away, but we're sending people to the correct place to get the support that they need.
We do a lot of work with the business community, and certainly that is something where much more support is needed. There's a high percentage of the workforce in Pontypridd town, for example, who want an opportunity to use more Welsh, but we can't work out exactly where and how is the best time to do that, and perhaps that's where we need the support. So that it's easily accessible to people—that's important. We live in an age where people want things on a plate, so we need the resource and the investment to be able to ensure that it is as easy and as simple as possible for people.
Thank you very much. I suppose one of the really difficult things is to keep the momentum going after a festival, and that is where you need the input to enable that to happen. Have any of you got any comments about that, keeping the momentum going?
Gwnaf i fynd at Maiwenn yn gyntaf, a Catherine, ac wedyn gwnaf i ddod nôl at Osian.
I'll go to Maiwenn first, and Catherine, and then I'll come back to Osian.
Roeddwn i'n mynd i ychwanegu—. Dwi'n siŵr y buasem ni'n gallu ateb y cwestiynau yma'n well ymhen rhyw flwyddyn, ond rydyn ni wedi gallu manteisio er mwyn dod i adnabod rhai cymunedau'n well gan greu cysylltiadau newydd, fel rydyn ni wedi sôn yn barod, ac adeiladu rhyw fath o berthynas gydag unigolion mewn llefydd lle efallai roedd y fenter yn awyddus iawn i wneud cysylltiadau â nhw, a thrwy hynny wedi, efallai, gallu adnabod bylchau mewn darpariaeth neu fylchau mewn ardaloedd hefyd. Felly, yn bendant, mi fuasai cadw momentwm yn yr ardaloedd hynny sydd wedi gweld lot mwy o weithgarwch Cymraeg dros y flwyddyn neu ddwy flynedd diwethaf yn flaenoriaeth i ni ac yn rhywbeth sydd angen, efallai, adnodd ychwanegol a mwy o gefnogaeth.
I was just going to add—. I'm sure that we could answer these questions better in a year's time, but we've been able to take advantage to get to know some communities better and create new contacts, as we've already mentioned, and we've built some sort of relationship with individuals in areas where perhaps the menter was very eager to create those connections, and through that, we've perhaps been able to identify gaps in provision or gaps in particular areas too. So, certainly, maintaining momentum in those areas that have seen much more Welsh language activity over the past year or two would be a priority for us and would be something that would need additional resource and additional support.
Diolch, Maiwenn. Roedd Catherine eisiau dod i mewn ar hwn. Gwnaf i fynd at Catherine, Osian ac at Lis. Dwi'n gwybod bod hwn yn bwnc enfawr, ond os gallaf ofyn am atebion eithaf cryno achos mae yna gymaint o bethau rydyn ni eisiau eu trafod, ond mae popeth rydych chi'n ei ddweud yn ddefnyddiol iawn i ni. Gwnaf i fynd at Catherine nesaf.
Thank you, Maiwenn. Catherine wanted to come in. I'll go to Catherine, Osian and then to Lis. I know that this is such a huge topic, but if I could ask you to be relatively succinct because there are a number of things that we want to discuss, but everything that you're telling us is very useful. I'll go to Catherine next.
Diolch. Gwnaethon ni roi cais i mewn ar gyfer arian i'r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol, ac roedden ni'n ffodus iawn i dderbyn £16,000 i gario ymlaen gyda chyrsiau ychwanegol a sesiynau i ddysgwyr—
Thank you. We put in a bid for funding to the National Centre for Learning Welsh, and we were very fortunate to receive £16,000 to continue with additional courses and sessions for learners—
Rydyn ni wedi colli Catherine, dwi'n meddwl.
I think we've lost Catherine.
Y signal yw e.
It's my signal.
Rydych chi nôl.
You're back.
So, roedden ni'n ffodus iawn i redeg cwpwl o sesiynau wyneb yn wyneb yn y gymuned ar gyfer dysgwyr gyda'r nos, a hefyd sesiynau ymarfer ar-lein, achos maen nhw eisiau cyfle i ymarfer—[Anghlywadwy]—amser i ddod i ddigwyddiadau. So, roedd hi'n beth da bod yr arian gennym ni am flwyddyn i gario ymlaen gyda'r achos.
So, we were very fortunate to run a couple of face-to-face sessions in communities for learners in the evenings, and also practice sessions online, because they want the opportunity to practice—[Inaudible]—time to attend events. So, it was a good thing that we had the funding for a year to continue with the cause.
Diolch, Catherine. Ac Osian.
Thank you, Catherine. And Osian.
Y sefyllfa rydyn ni wedi gweld ein hunain ynddo fe, sydd bach yn od, yw, yn 2023, roedd Parti Ponty gyda ni, a thua 9,000 o bobl yn mynychu'r digwyddiad. Fe benderfynon ni beidio â chynnal y digwyddiad llynedd i gefnogi'r Eisteddfod. Roedd hynny'n benderfyniad ar y cyd rhyngom ni fel menter a'r Eisteddfod. Ond, beth rydyn ni wedi gweld eleni yw bod y cyllid, yn sgil toriadau, wedi mynd, felly mae gennym ni Parti Bach Ponty yn digwydd y penwythnos ar ôl nesaf, ac mae'n teimlo fel ein bod ni wedi mynd i'r cyfeiriad anghywir. Arian y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin rydyn ni wedi ei gael i ariannu'r digwyddiad yma, a hefyd yn ffodus cefnogaeth gan Gyngor Tref Pontypridd. Ond mae'n teimlo fel, lle rydyn ni wedi cael digwyddiad mawr torfol ac eisiau esblygu a thyfu, ac efallai dangos ein bod ni'n gallu ail-greu'r profiad positif y cafodd pobl yn dod i Bontypridd, rydyn ni nawr wedi mynd am yn ôl. Ac efallai beth sy'n anodd yw, mewn ardaloedd dwysedd is, mae eisiau mwy o fuddsoddiad, efallai, am ddigwyddiad sy'n dod â niferoedd llai, yn hytrach na buddsoddiad llai am fwy o bobl. Mae'n anodd i ni gystadlu gyda'r gwyliau mewn ardaloedd mwy traddodiadol Cymreig o ran y niferoedd, ond mae'r impact, rŷn ni'n gwybod, yn llawer, llawer mwy.
The situation that we've found ourselves in, which is slightly odd, is that in 2023 we had Parti Ponty, with 9,000 people attending the event. We decided not to hold an event last year to support the Eisteddfod. That was a decision taken jointly between ourselves as a menter and the Eisteddfod. But, what we've seen this year is that the funding, as a result of cuts, has gone, so we have Parti Bach Ponty happening the weekend after next, and it feels like we're moving in the wrong direction. We've had shared prosperity fund money to fund this event, and fortunately we've had support from Pontypridd Town Council. But it does feel like, where we've had a major event and we want to develop and evolve, and perhaps demonstrate that we can recreate the positive experience that people had in coming to Pontypridd, that we've now moved backwards. And what's difficult is that, in low-density areas, you need more investment for an event that brings in smaller numbers, rather than a smaller investment for more people. It's difficult for us to compete with events in more traditionally Welsh areas in terms of numbers, but we know that the impact is far, far greater.
Y gair olaf ar hwn i—. Heledd, oeddech chi eisiau dod i mewn ar hyn?
A final word on this to—. Heledd, did you want to come in on that point?
Gaf i jest dod mewn yn benodol o ran yr hyn roedd Osian yn ei ddweud? Felly, o ran sicrhau'r gwaddol mwyaf posib, faint o—? Dwi jest eisiau trio deall. Yn amlwg, rydych chi'n cael eich cyfyngu, felly, drwy fethu â chynnal Parti Ponty ac adeiladu ar lwyddiant yr Eisteddfod. Ydych chi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n colli cyfleoedd gan fod y cyllid hwnnw ddim ar gael fel cyllid gwaddol?
Can I just come in specifically regarding what Osian was saying? So, in terms of ensuring the greatest legacy possible, how much—? I just want to try to understand. Obviously, you're restricted then in being unable to have Parti Ponty and build on the success of the Eisteddfod. Do you think that we are missing opportunities because that funding isn't available as legacy funding?
Yn bendant. Yn bendant. Rydyn ni'n cynnig llawer, llawer llai eleni. Rydyn ni'n gorfod mynd i ardal o'r parc sydd ddim reit ar y stepen drws i bobl, ac mae'r rhaglen rydyn ni'n gallu ei chynnig hefyd llawer, llawer yn llai, ac mae hynny'n golygu gweithio gyda phartneriaid, cefnogi partneriaid sydd efallai eisiau cynyddu eu rhaglen waith, fel Technocamps, sydd eisiau cynyddu eu rhaglen yn y Gymraeg. Felly, nid dim ond yn gelfyddydol, ond hefyd trwy feysydd eraill. Felly, yn sicr, mae'n cyfyngu beth rydyn ni'n gallu ei wneud. Rydyn ni'n ymwybodol bod y digwyddiadau yma'n ddrud, ond fel rydyn ni wedi dweud, mae'r impact yn gymaint, gymaint mwy.
Most certainly, yes. Most certainly. We are offering far, far less this year. We are having to go to an area of the park that isn't on people's doorstep, and the programme that we can offer is also much, much more limited, and that means working with partners, supporting partners who want to expand their work programme, like Technocamps, who want to expand their Welsh-medium programme. So, not only working in the arts, but also in other areas. So, certainly it limits what we can do. We are aware that these events are expensive, but as we've said, the impact is so much greater.
Diolch, Osian, a'r gair olaf ar hwn i Lis.
Thank you, Osian, and the final word on this to Lis.
Dwi'n rili falch y gwnes di godi hwnna nawr, Osian, achos roedden ni i gyd yn siomedig iawn bod Parti Ponty ddim yn gallu digwydd yn yr un modd eleni, achos roedd hi'n dipyn bach o damp squib, rili. Mae'n rhaid i fi ddweud bod momentwm yn rili anodd ei gynnal. Mae'n rhaid cynllunio'n well o ran hynny yn bendant.
I'm really pleased that you raised that now, Osian, because we were all very disappointed that Parti Ponty couldn't happen in the same way this year, because it was a little bit of a damp squib, really. I have to say that momentum is very difficult to maintain. You have to plan better for that, definitely.
Diolch am hynna. Julie, a oedd unrhyw beth arall roeddech chi eisiau ei ofyn?
Thank you for that. Julie, was there anything else that you wanted to ask?
No. Diolch.
Na. Grêt, fe wnawn ni fynd at Heledd.
No. Great, we'll move on to Heledd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi. Yn amlwg, mae yna wahaniaeth mawr pan fydd Eisteddfod yn dod, ond dyw rhywun ddim yn cael Eisteddfod i'w hardal yn rheolaidd, felly rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o bwysigrwydd y gwyliau rydych chi'n eu cynnal beth bynnag. Yn amlwg, Lis, mae gennych chi sefyllfa sydd bach yn wahanol gan fod gennych chi ganolfan ac ati. Mae'r heriau'n wahanol, wrth gwrs, efo rhedeg canolfan—yn wahanol i rai'r mentrau iaith. O ran y rhai ohonoch chi sydd yn rhan o wyliau, pa mor heriol ydy hi o ran eu cadw nhw i fynd rŵan? Rydyn ni'n deall efo Parti Ponty, rydych chi newydd sôn am hynna. Oherwydd y cynnydd sydd wedi bod mewn costau—rydyn ni wedi gweld hynny efo'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol ac ati—mae'n rhaid bod hynny'n rhywbeth sydd yn anodd. Ydych chi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n mynd i weld lleihad yn nifer y gwyliau sydd yn cael eu cynnal gan fentrau iaith oherwydd y sefyllfa gyllidol?
Thank you very much. Clearly, there's a big difference when an Eisteddfod comes to an area, but you don't get an Eisteddfod in your area regularly, so I am very aware of the importance of the festivals that you stage otherwise. Clearly, Lis, you have a slightly different situation because you have a centre and so on. The challenges are different there in terms of running a centre—different to those of the mentrau iaith. But in terms of those of you who are involved in festivals, how challenging is it in terms of keeping them going now? We understand about Parti Ponty, which you've just mentioned. Due to the increase in costs—and we've seen that with the National Eisteddfod—that must be difficult for you. Do you think that we're going to see a reduction in the number of festivals staged by the mentrau iaith, because of the funding situation?
Lowri.
Lowri.
Diolch. Mae'n amserol iawn, dy bwynt di, Heledd, achos, fel rhanbarth, ŷn ni wedi bod yn trafod hwn dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, gan ein bod ni'n gweld y manteision, gweld y budd, gweld presenoldeb yn cynyddu yn y digwyddiadau yma, ac yn clywed am yr effaith maent yn eu cael ar fywydau a defnydd ac ymddygiad. Ar yr un pryd, dyw ein cyllid yn gyffredinol ddim yn cynyddu, ond mae costau'r seilwaith sydd ei angen er mwyn cynnal y digwyddiadau yma'n ddiogel yn cynyddu. Felly, dwi'n meddwl bod gennym ni sgyrsiau anodd iawn i'w cael dros y flwyddyn i ddwy flynedd nesaf o ran a ydy e'n bosib parhau gyda rhai o'r digwyddiadau. Rŷn ni'n rhagweithiol iawn yn ystyried beth ŷn ni'n gallu pwrcasu ar y cyd ac y mae'r sgwrs yna'n parhau er mwyn ceisio arbed costau, ond parhau i allu cynnig cyfres o gyfleoedd, yn enwedig yn ystod yr haf, i'r rhanbarth gyfan, i bobl eu mynychu.
Felly, y ddelfryd yw bod pobl yn mynychu Parti Ponty, Ffiliffest, Tafwyl a Gŵyl Newydd ym mis Medi yng Nghasnewydd, ond er mwyn parhau â hynny ac ehangu beth ŷn ni'n ei gynnig yn ystod y digwyddiadau yna, mae angen cyllid digonol fel ein bod ni'n gallu cynnig rhaglen gelfyddydol gref iawn, ond hefyd cynnal y digwyddiadau mewn ffordd ddiogel. A beth ŷn ni'n ei weld yn heriol yn aml yw bod y cyllid sydd ar gael yn lleol yn eithaf prin. Mae SPF wedi bod gyda ni, ond yn amlwg, mae newidiadau ar y gorwel gyda hynny, ac mae'r pwysau ariannol ar awdurdodau lleol yn golygu ei bod hi'n anodd iawn parhau i ddenu cyllid.
Mae gan nifer ohonom ni gyswllt da gyda chyngor y celfyddydau, a cheisiadau'n mynd atyn nhw yn flynyddol, ond dim ond rhan o'r gyllideb yw hynny. Felly, mae ariannu'r seilwaith sydd ei angen yn mynd yn fwy ac yn fwy heriol. Ac, yn bendant, mae gennym ni, fel mentrau, rhaglen drwy gydol y flwyddyn o gyfleoedd llai torfol yn ein cymunedau ni, a dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni i gyd yn teimlo'n gryf ein bod ni'n blaenoriaethu'r rheini hefyd. Ond rydyn ni wedi clywed y bore yma beth yw effaith rhai o'r digwyddiadau mwy torfol yna, a rŷn ni'n wir ddim eisiau eu gweld nhw'n camu nôl, neu ein bod ni'n gorfod meddwl eu gwneud nhw bob yn ail flwyddyn, achos mae cynnal momentwm wedyn yn anodd iawn. Felly, oes, mae heriau mawr o'n blaenau ni, jest ar yr adeg pan rŷn ni'n teimlo bod rhai o'r rhain yn adeiladu momentwm ac yn cael yr ymateb, a lle mae'r gymuned leol yn dechrau eu perchnogi hefyd. Felly, ydy, mae'n heriol iawn.
Thank you. Your point is very timely, Heledd, because, as a region, we've been discussing this over the last few years, as we see the benefits, see the advantages, see the attendance increasing at these events, and hear about the impact that they have on lives and use and behaviour. At the same time, our general funding is not increasing, but the cost of the infrastructure required to hold these events safely is increasing. So, I do think that we're going to have very difficult conversations in the next couple of years in terms of whether we can continue with some of these events. We're very proactive in considering what we can purchase jointly, and that conversation is continuing so that we can save costs, but also continue to offer a series of opportunities, especially in the summer, for the whole region, for people to attend.
So, the ideal situation is that people attend Parti Ponty, Ffiliffest, Tafwyl and Gŵyl Newydd in September in Newport, but in order to continue with that and expand what we're offering during those events, there is a need for sufficient funding so that we can provide a strong arts programme, but also hold the events in a safe manner. And what we see as challenging, quite often, is that the funding available locally is quite scarce. The SPF has been available, but obviously there are changes on the horizon to that, and the financial pressures on local authorities mean that it's very difficult to continue to attract funding.
A number of us have close links with the arts council, with bids going to them on an annual basis, but that's only part of the budget. So, funding the infrastructure required is getting more and more challenging. And, certainly, as mentrau, we have a programme throughout the year of events that are smaller in size in our communities, and I think that we all feel strongly that we prioritise those as well. But we've heard this morning about the impact of some of the more collective events, and we really don't want to see those having to take a step back or for us to have to think about holding them every other year, because maintaining momentum then would be very difficult. So, yes, there are significant challenges facing us, just at the time when we feel that some of these are building momentum and are getting the response, and when the local community are starting to take ownership of them as well. So, yes, it is very challenging.
Diolch am yr ateb cynhwysfawr hwnnw. Roeddwn i'n gweld lot o nodio. Dwi ddim yn gwybod os oes yna bwyntiau ychwanegol, neu ydy pawb yn hapus. Ie, Osian.
Thank you for that comprehensive response. I saw a great deal of nodding. I don't know if there are any additional points, or if everyone is content. Yes, Osian.
Efallai un peth i'w nodi, wrth gwrs, yw, yn ogystal â'r seilwaith a'r costau yna, mae yna gostau staff—mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod hynny—ond hefyd mae risg ariannol i'r fenter os oes gorwariant. Os yw hi'n bwrw glaw, dyw pobl ddim yn dod allan, ac felly mae rhywun yn gallu cynllunio, ond y fenter wedyn sy'n gorfod pigo'r costau yna i fyny, ac mae e jest yn rhoi pob menter mewn sefyllfa hynod, hynod o fregus os ŷn ni eisiau cynyddu a datblygu'n darpariaeth. Yn anffodus, diwedd y gân, ond dyna'r realiti gyda gwyliau, a buaswn i'n meddwl bod y mwyafrif o'r mentrau yn teimlo hynny.
Well, one thing to note, of course, is that, in addition to the infrastructure costs, there are staffing costs—we have to take that into account—but also there's the financial risk to the menter if there is an overspend. If it rains, for example, people won't come out, so one can plan, but it's the menter that has to pick up all of those costs, and it just puts every menter in a very, very precarious position if we want to increase and develop our provision. Unfortunately, it does ultimately come down to money, but that's the reality with festivals, and I would think that that would be the case for most of the mentrau.
Diolch, Osian. Yn amlwg, mae gennych chi fel menter rôl allweddol bwysig o ran y cynlluniau strategol Cymraeg mewn addysg ac o ran y targed o filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg, ond hefyd o ran cynyddu defnydd a normaleiddio'r Gymraeg. Mae nifer o'ch digwyddiadau chi yn rhai sydd yn dod â hwyl, fel bod y Gymraeg ddim yn cael ei gweld fel iaith sydd ddim ond yn y dosbarth yn unig. Ydych chi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n gwneud digon i fod yn manteisio ar yr hyn rydych chi'n ei gyflawni er mwyn cyrraedd targedau strategol y Llywodraeth, neu ydych chi'n teimlo bod yna fwy o bethau strategol y gellid eu gwneud, o safbwynt y Llywodraeth ag ati, a fyddai'n ein galluogi ni i fanteisio i'r eithaf, nid dim ond o ran gwaddol o ran Eisteddfod neu wyliau ag ati, ond o ran yr ystod o waith rydych chi'n ei wneud, gan gynnwys y gwyliau?
Thank you, Osian. Clearly, as mentrau, you have a key role in terms of the Welsh in education strategic plans and in terms of the target of a million Welsh speakers, but also in terms of increasing and normalising the usage of the Welsh language. A number of your events are things that make the language a language of fun, so that Welsh isn't seen as something for the classroom alone. Do you think that we're doing enough to take full advantage of what you deliver in order to reach the Government's strategic targets, or do you think that there is more that could be done strategically, by the Government and so on, that would enable us to take full advantage, not just in terms of legacy in relation to the Eisteddfod or festivals and so on, but in terms of the range of work that you do, including the festivals?
Lowri, ac wedyn Lis. Lowri.
Lowri, and then Lis. Lowri.
Diolch. Ie, yn gyflym, dwi'n meddwl bod hynny'n bwynt pwysig iawn, ac yn gyffredinol, mae'n teimlo ar adegau fod cyfraniad y mentrau o ran cynyddu defnydd, yn enwedig i blant a phobl ifanc, yn cael ei danbrisio, achos yn aml iawn, ni yw'r unig ddarparwyr o'r cyfleoedd yna yn y gymuned, yn gyson, yn ystod gwyliau ysgol ac yn y blaen. Beth rydym ni'n ei weld yw'r cylch dieflig yna: os yw'r cyfleoedd yna ddim yn ddigonol i blant a phobl ifanc, rydym ni'n gweld dirywiad hyder yn y sgiliau iaith Gymraeg.
Felly, o ran deilliant 5 yn y CSCA, lle mae defnydd yn allweddol, mae'n gwaith ni yn hollbwysig, ac yn aml y prif bartner sy'n gyfrifol am hynny, ond fel mae Osian wedi sôn, mae pwysau anferthol arnom ni i geisio gwneud hynny, ac wedyn gwyliau a digwyddiadau torfol ar ben hynny. Felly, yn sicr, mae yna drafodaeth bellach o ran cydnabod y cyfraniad strategol a'r effaith bellgyrhaeddol mae'n gwaith cyson ni o ddydd i ddydd yn ei chael ar ddefnydd plant a phobl ifanc.
Thank you. Yes, quickly, I think that that's an important point, and in general, it does feel at times that the mentrau's contribution in terms of increasing use, especially for children and young people, is being undervalued, because quite often, we are the only providers of those opportunities in the community, on a regular basis and during school holidays and so forth. What we are seeing is that catch-22 situation: if the opportunities aren't sufficient for children and young people, we see a decline in confidence in Welsh language skills.
So, in terms of objective 5 in the WESP, where use is essential, our work is crucial, and often we're the main partner responsible for that, but as Osian has mentioned, there's great pressure on us to try and do that, and then festivals and other collective events on top of that. So, certainly, there needs to be a further discussion in terms of acknowledging the strategic contribution and the far-reaching impact that our day-to-day work is having on usage by children and young people.
Diolch, Lowri. Roedd Lis eisiau dod i mewn. O, sori, Heledd, os oeddech chi eisiau dod nôl. Na? Lis.
Thank you, Lowri. Lis wanted to come in. Oh, sorry, Heledd, if you wanted to come back. No? Lis.
Ie, dwi rili yn cytuno. Dŷn ni'n rhoi lot o ymdrech mewn i'r CSCAau a'r cyfarfodydd a phopeth a thrafod pethau, ond dwi yn teimlo eu bod nhw rili yn tanseilio gwerth y mentrau iaith. Achos yr holl beth yna yn rhan 5, ble mae'n sôn am gynnal pethau tu fas i'r dosbarth, a dyw ysgolion ddim yn cymryd cydweithio yn y gymuned o ddifrif, dwi ddim yn teimlo. Dwi ddim yn gwybod amdanoch chi i gyd, achos ŷch chi'n gwneud gwaith ychydig yn wahanol i fi, ond, ie, dwi'n teimlo bod yna—. Dwi yn meddwl dylai cynghorau fod yn fwy ymwybodol bod angen iddyn nhw gydweithio â'r mentrau iaith, yn fy marn i, anyway.
Yes, I very much agree. We put a great deal of effort into the WESPs and the meetings and so on and having discussions, but I do feel that they really undervalue the mentrau iaith. Because there's that whole section 5 issue, where it talks about holding activities outside of the classroom, and schools don't take community collaboration seriously, in my view. I don't know about the rest of you, because you do work that's slightly different to mine, but, yes, I do feel that there's—. I think that councils should be more aware that they need to collaborate with the mentrau iaith, in my view, anyway.
Roeddwn i'n gweld ambell i wên gan eraill fan yna.
I could see a few smiles from others there.
Osian.
Osian.
Efallai un peth mae eisiau ni ei ystyried yw, yn aml iawn mae menter iaith yn cael ei henwi ar ddogfen, ar adroddiad fel partner, ond beth mae hwnna'n ei olygu mewn gwirionedd, o ran beth yw'r disgwyliad a ble mae'r gefnogaeth wedyn i alluogi hynny? Efallai bod hwnna'n rhywbeth sydd wir angen cael ei edrych arno er mwyn gallu gwireddu beth ŷn ni fel mentrau iaith eisiau ei weld a'i ddatblygu yn ein hardaloedd.
Perhaps one thing that we need to consider is that, very often a menter iaith is identified in a document, in a report as a partner, but what does that actually mean in practice, in terms of what the expectations are and where the support comes from to enable that to happen? Perhaps that is something that needs to be looked at so that we can deliver what we as mentrau iaith want to see and want to develop in our own areas.
Mae Maiwenn eisiau dod mewn hefyd.
Maiwenn wants to come in as well.
Yn sydyn iawn, i ategu'r hyn mae Osian wedi ei ddweud hefyd, dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n gwneud lot o waith o ran llenwi bylchau, cefnogi mudiadau a phartneriaid eraill, efallai, os oes ganddyn nhw ardaloedd lle maen nhw eisiau eu targedu. Rydyn ni'n gweithio'n agos iawn i wireddu eu blaenoriaethau nhw hefyd, ac fel mae pawb wedi dweud yn barod, efallai bod angen tynnu sylw at hynny felly.
Just quickly, to endorse what Osian has just said, I think we do a lot of work in terms of filling the gaps, supporting organisations and other partners, perhaps, if they have areas where they want to target. We work very closely to realise their priorities as well, and as everybody's said already, perhaps we need to draw attention to that.
Diolch, Maiwenn. Heledd.
Thank you, Maiwenn. Heledd.
Dwi'n hapus i symud ymlaen os ydych chi eisiau.
I'm content to move on if you would like to.
Iawn. Ocê, diolch am hynna. Felly, yn olaf, mi wnawn ni droi at Lee.
Okay, thank you for that. So, finally, we will turn to Lee.
I just want to briefly touch on something we've already discussed in the round, the tension between how do you make events sustainable through charging and how do you ensure the widest possible access, which we all know is desirable. That's something I think we've touched on quite a lot, but I just wanted your final reflections on the right balance there.
Diolch, Lee. Rwyf i'n gwybod bod gennych chi i gyd farn ar hyn, so croeso i chi ei mynegi hi. Fe wnaf i fynd at Osian yn gyntaf.
Thank you, Lee. I know you've all got a view on this, so you're welcome to express that view. I'll go to Osian first.
Rwy'n credu mai'r her a beth rŷn ni'n moyn ei wneud fel mentrau iaith yw bod mor hygyrch â phosib a mynd â'r iaith a rhoi'r cyfle i bobl ymgysylltu gyda'r iaith am ddim yn eu hardaloedd, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig. Dydyn ni ddim dim ond yn sôn am y gwyliau mawr, rydyn ni hefyd yn sôn am wyliau lle rŷn ni'n mynd i rywle fel Aberpennar ar fore dydd Sadwrn i ddigwyddiad, i wneud gweithgaredd crefft gyda theuluoedd. Mae gennym ni'r Miri Mawr rŷn ni wedi sôn amdano—rydyn ni'n trefnu bod yna Siôn Corn sy'n gallu siarad Cymraeg mewn digwyddiad fel bod y plant yn clywed y Gymraeg, a ni sydd yn cymryd yr hit ariannol er mwyn galluogi hynny i ddigwydd. Felly, rŷn ni hefyd yn trio trefnu pethau.
Mae'n hollbwysig. Y risg yw buasai codi pris yn golygu buasai fe'n farier i bobl ddim i ddod. Dwi wedi cael sawl ysgol sydd yn dod i berfformio yn Parti Bach Ponty mewn pythefnos yn gofyn oes yn rhaid i'r rhieni dalu i ddod i mewn. Fe fuasai hynny efallai yn golygu bod yr ysgol yna yn dod neu ddim yn dod. Felly, mae e'n bwysig iawn i ni.
Mae hynny hefyd wrth gwrs, rydyn ni'n gwerthfawrogi, yn efallai gosod her ariannol a straen ariannol arnon ni. Does dim ateb cywir i hynny, dwi'n gwybod, dwi'n gwerthfawrogi hynny, ond rŷn ni'n teimlo'n gryf, a byddwn ni'n gweld yn Tafwyl y penwythnos yma ddegau o filoedd o bobl yn mwynhau'r Gymraeg, ac mae'n ffordd o fwynhau'r Gymraeg mewn ffordd dŷn nhw ddim yn gwneud, efallai, yn yr ysgol, yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Mae'n agor llygaid pobl i'r holl gyfleoedd maen nhw'n gallu eu profi drwy'r Gymraeg, ddim dim ond trwy gerddoriaeth, ond yn gymdeithasol, y stondinau, mae yna ddigwyddiadau comedi, mae yna fore coffi i ddysgwyr a siaradwyr newydd—mae yna rywbeth i bawb. Ac mae gallu cynnig hwnna ar blât am ddim i bobl, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd sydd yn fregus ac yn ddifreintiedig, yn hollbwysig.
I think the challenge and what we want to do as mentrau iaith is to be as accessible as possible and give people the opportunity to engage with the language for free in their areas, particularly in disadvantaged areas. We're not just talking about the large events, but also talking about events such as the one in Mountain Ash on Saturday, to a family craft session. We've got Miri Mawr, which we mentioned—we're arranging that there's a Welsh-speaking Father Christmas in an event so that children hear the language, and we take the financial hit then to enable that to happen. So, we're also trying to arrange things.
It's all-important. The risk is that charging people would be a barrier. I've had a number of schools that will be performing in Parti Bach Ponty in a fortnight's time asking whether the parents have to pay to come in, and that, perhaps, would mean that that school would choose to either come or not come. So, it is important for us.
Also, we do appreciate that that does place a financial pressure on us and is a challenge, but there's no correct answer to that. I appreciate that, but we do feel strongly, and we will see in Tafwyl this weekend thousands of people enjoying the Welsh language, and enjoying the Welsh language in a way that perhaps they don't do in the school or classroom. It opens people's eyes to all the opportunities that are available to them through the medium of Welsh, not only through music but socially, and there'll be stalls, comedy gigs, coffee mornings for learners—there's something for everybody. I think being able to offer that on a plate for free, particularly in areas that are fragile and disadvantaged, is crucial.
Diolch, Osian. Roedd Lis eisiau dod i mewn hefyd, dwi'n meddwl.
Thank you, Osian. Lis wanted to come in, I think.
Dŷn ni wedi stopio gwneud rhai pethau achos dŷn ni jest ddim yn gallu gofyn i'n cymuned ni am arian. Dŷn ni'n gwybod nad ydyn nhw'n gallu fforddio. Dŷn ni'n teimlo euogrwydd ofnadwy trwy ofyn i ysgol ddod yma a gofyn iddyn nhw am £7 am docyn i ddod i'r theatr. Os dŷn ni ddim yn gallu cael grant neu rywbeth i gyfro fe, dŷn ni ddim yn gallu ei gynnal e.
Yn enwedig gyda Tafwyl nawr, mae pobl yn mynd o'r Cymoedd i gyd i Tafwyl. Mae fy mhlant i'n mynd nawr a maen nhw'n methu aros. Mae'r ffaith ei fod e am ddim yn gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth—mae e wir yn. Mae'n rhaid i fi ddweud fan hyn, o ran Catherine, fod cost dysgu Cymraeg rili yn rhwystr mawr i bobl ddysgu Cymraeg ym Merthyr. Dyw pobl ddim yn gallu talu i ddysgu Cymraeg, so mae hwnna'n broblem.
We've stopped doing certain things because we simply can't ask our community for money anymore. We know that they can't afford it. We feel terrible guilt when we ask a school to come here and ask them for £7 for a ticket to come to the theatre. If we can't get a grant to cover it, then we can't stage those events.
With Tafwyl in particular, people are travelling from across the Valleys to attend. My children will be going, and they can't wait. The fact that it is free of charge does make such a difference—it truly does. I have to say at this point, in terms of Catherine's comments, that the costs of learning Welsh are a great barrier for people learning in Merthyr. People can't afford to learn Welsh, which is a problem.
Diolch. Fe wnaf i fynd at Lowri.
Thank you. I'll go to Lowri.
Dim ond yn gyflym—ac yn cytuno'n llwyr gydag Osian a Lis—mae cynnal y digwyddiadau yma am ddim yn allweddol, yn flaenoriaeth i ni. Mae'n golygu bod pobl â mynediad at y profiadau yma yn ddwyieithog a thrwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a does dim rhwystrau iddyn nhw. Dwi'n meddwl beth rŷn ni'n dda yn gwneud yw bod mor ddyfeisgar â phosib o ran denu cyllid i mewn, ond hefyd yn cydweithio gyda mudiadau lleol cymunedau sy'n fodlon cefnogi, efallai, a dod i'r digwyddiadau yma heb godi tâl a rhoi'r profiad mwyaf cyfoethog posib i'n cymunedau ni.
Felly, mae e'n heriol dros ben i gadw'r costau ar lefel rŷn ni'n gallu ymdopi â hi, a'n bod ni'n gallu denu cyllid i gwrdd â'r costau yna a pharhau wedyn i sicrhau bod mynediad am ddim. Dyw e ddim yn hawdd o gwbl, a, gan fynd yn ôl at y drafodaeth ynglŷn â'r costau o safbwynt seilwaith yn cynyddu, mae'n mynd yn fwy ac yn fwy anodd. Ond dwi'n meddwl ein bod ni'n teimlo mor gryf ei fod e mor bwysig nad oes dim rhwystrau gan fod gyda ni rai o'r cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru a dydyn ni ddim eisiau gweld tlodi yn rhwystr i bobl rhag cael mynediad at brofiadau yn y Gymraeg.
Dwi'n meddwl bod ein cysylltiadau cymunedol ni yn golygu, ar hyn o bryd, ein bod ni’n llwyddo achos ein bod ni'n gallu dod â phobl at ei gilydd i wneud y profiad mor amrywiol, cyfoethog â phosib. Ond, ie, mae’n heriol, a dŷn ni ddim eisiau bod mewn sefyllfa lle mae rhieni’n gorfod talu i ddod i mewn ac yn gorfod gwneud y penderfyniad i beidio â mynychu, wedyn.
Just quickly—and I completely agree with Osian and Lis—holding these events for free is key and is a priority to us. It means that people have access to these experiences bilingually and through the medium of Welsh and that there are no barriers for them. I think what we're good at doing is to be as innovative as possible in attracting funding, but also collaborating with local community organisations that are willing to support and come to these events, without charging, and to provide the most valuable experience possible to our communities.
So, it's very challenging to keep the costs at a level that we can cope with, and that we can attract funding to meet those costs and then continue to ensure free entry. It's not easy at all, and, going back to that discussion about the infrastructure costs increasing, it's becoming more and more difficult. But I think the reason we feel so strongly that it's so important that there are no barriers is because we have some of the most disadvantaged communities in Wales and we don't want to see poverty being a barrier that stops people having these experiences through the medium of Welsh.
I think our community links mean that, currently, we succeed because we can bring people together to make the experience as diverse and rich as possible. But we don’t want to be in a situation where parents have to pay to come in and have to make the decision not to attend, then.
Diolch. Oherwydd taw dyma’r cwestiwn olaf, dwi jest yn mynd i ofyn—fe wnaf i ddod nôl at Osian, dwi’n addo—os ydy Maiwenn neu Catherine eisiau siarad hefyd. Mae croeso i chi wneud. Fe wnaf i fynd i Maiwenn.
Thank you. Because this is the final question—I’ll come back to Osian, I promise—I’ll just ask if Maiwenn or Catherine want to speak as well. You’re more than welcome to do so. I’ll go to Maiwenn.
Roeddwn i'n mynd i ychwanegu, yn sydyn iawn, roeddwn i'n sôn gynnau am dystiolaeth, a dwi'n meddwl bod gan y rhan fwyaf o'r mentrau sylwadau anecdotaidd, storïau a sgyrsiau maen nhw wedi’u cael gan bobl sydd wedi, efallai, dod ar y diwrnod. Yn ein gŵyl ni y llynedd, roedd o’n agored, ar ddiwrnod marchnad yng nghanol y dref, efo lot o berfformwyr ar hyd y stryd fawr, felly roedd yna bobl a oedd wedi digwydd dod i'r dref ar y diwrnod ac wedi aros tan ddiwedd y dydd. Petai'r ŵyl ddim yn agored, ddim yn hygyrch, ddim yn cael ei ddarlledu o flaen cynulleidfa ddwyieithog—Cymraeg, Saesneg—fuasai’r bobl hynny ddim wedi meddwl dod a ddim wedi meddwl parhau i fynychu gweithgareddau Cymraeg neu ddwyieithog ar ôl hynny chwaith. Felly, dyna’r unig beth roeddwn i'n mynd i ychwanegu.
I was just going to add very briefly, we were talking earlier about evidence, and I think most of the mentrau would have anecdotal comments and conversations that they've had with people who have perhaps just attended on a whim. In our festival last year, it was open, on market day in the middle of town, with a number of performers on the high street, so there were people there who just happened to have come to the town on that day and had stayed until the end of the day because of the event. And if that hadn't been an open, accessible festival delivered to a bilingual audience, then those people wouldn't have thought of attending and wouldn't have continued to attend Welsh-medium events in the future after that. So, that's the only thing that I wanted to add.
Diolch, Maiwenn. Fe wnaf i fynd at Catherine ac wedyn at Osian yn olaf. Felly, Catherine.
Thank you, Maiwenn. I'll go to Catherine and then Osian.
Jest i ymateb i Lis, o ran y costau i ddysgu Cymraeg, rŷn ni'n cadw ein costau mor isel ag y gallwn ni, ac mae yna gyrsiau am ddim erbyn hyn hefyd, ac, wrth gwrs, i bobl sy'n derbyn budd-daliadau, mae gostyngiadau ar gael a rhai am ddim hefyd, felly rŷn ni'n awyddus i groesawu pawb i'n gwersi ni. A dŷn ni’n rhedeg pob peth atodol am ddim, a'r stwff cefnogi dysgwyr am ddim hefyd, felly.
Just to respond to Lis, in terms of costs of learning Welsh, we keep our costs as low as possible, and there are free courses available now, and, of course, for people who receive benefits, there are reductions available and some free courses available, so we are keen to welcome everybody to our lessons. And we run supplementary activities for free, and also resources to support learners are free as well.
Diolch, Catherine. Mae hynny'n ddefnyddiol. A'r gair olaf, felly, i Osian.
Thank you, Catherine. That's useful. And the final word, therefore, to Osian.
Jest o ran pam mae hi’n bwysig ein bod ni'n cadw'r rhain am ddim hefyd, mae'n rhaid i ni feddwl am y gystadleuaeth sydd gyda ni. Hefyd, ein digwyddiadau ni, fel arfer, yw'r unig ddigwyddiad mewn calendr blwyddyn o ddigwyddiadau y mae awdurdod yn trefnu yn y sir ble mae'r Gymraeg yn brif iaith ac sy'n dathlu'r Gymraeg. Felly, y cwbl rŷn ni’n gofyn yw bod yna un digwyddiad mewn calendr lle mae'r Gymraeg yn cael y llwyfan hynny. Rŷn ni i gyd eisiau gweld y filiwn erbyn 2050, a heb y digwyddiadau yma, mae'n anodd iawn. Mi oedd Ffiliffest y penwythnos diwethaf, ac mi oedd yna beach party yn Risca ar yr un diwrnod gan y cyngor. Mae'r un peth gyda ni’r penwythnos nesaf—mae yna ddigwyddiadau eraill yn digwydd yn y sir. Mae yna wastad gystadleuaeth, felly mae'n rhaid i ni wneud y digwyddiadau yma am ddim, fel bod yr apêl yna i bobl ad nad oes yna rwystr i’w hatal nhw, neu i wneud iddyn nhw ailfeddwl, 'Ai hwnna dwi eisiau gwario fy arian arno, neu awn ni i rywbeth arall?'
Just as to why it's important that we keep these events free, we have to think about the competition that we have. Our events are usually the only events in an annual calendar of events that are arranged within an authority where the Welsh language is the main language and is celebrated. Therefore, all we're asking is that there is one event in the calendar where the Welsh language is given that platform. We all want to see a million Welsh speakers by 2050, and without these events, then it will be very difficult, and there is competition. We had Ffiliffest last week and we had a beach party in Risca held by the council on the same day. We face the same thing next weekend—there are other events happening within the county. There's always competition, so we have to ensure that these events are available free of charge so that people do come and that it appeals to people, without having a barrier that prevents them from attending or to make them think, 'Well, do I want to spend my money there or shall we go elsewhere?'
Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi i gyd. Diolch yn fawr iawn am y dystiolaeth y prynhawn yma, a hefyd am y gwaith dŷch chi i gyd yn ei wneud yn yr ardaloedd hynny. Mae e mor, mor bwysig i’n hiaith ac i’n cymunedau ni, felly diolch yn fawr iawn am y gwaith rŷch chi'n ei wneud.
Bydd transgript o'r hyn sydd wedi cael ei ddweud yn cael ei ddanfon atoch chi i gyd i wirio ei fod yn gofnod teg o beth sydd wedi cael ei ddweud. Dwi’n gwybod ei’n bod ni wedi bod yn brin o amser, ond os oes yna bethau ychwynegol roeddech chi wedi gobeithio codi sydd ddim wedi efallai codi yn ystod y sesiwn, mae croeso i chi ddanfon y rheini atom ni hefyd. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, unwaith eto, am y dystiolaeth.
Thank you very much to you all. Thank you for your evidence this afternoon and for the work that you all do in your areas. It is so very important for our language and our communities, so thank you very much.
A transcript of what's been said will be sent to you so you can check that it's a fair reflection of what's been said. I know we've been short of time, but if there are any additional comments that you would have hoped to have made that you haven't had an opportunity to cover during the session, you can send that information to us. So, thank you, once again, for your evidence.
Cynnig:
bod y pwyllgor yn penderfynu gwahardd y cyhoedd o eitem 6 y cyfarfod yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.42(ix).
Motion:
that the committee resolves to exclude the public from item 6 of the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 17.42(ix).
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Aelodau, fe wnawn ni gymryd yr egwyl ginio nawr. Fe wnawn ni aros i glywed ein bod ni'n breifat. Diolch yn fawr iawn i'n tystion unwaith eto.
Members, we'll take a break for lunch and we'll wait to hear that we're in private session. Thank you, once again, to our witnesses.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig.
Daeth rhan gyhoeddus y cyfarfod i ben am 12:49.
Motion agreed.
The public part of the meeting ended at 12:49.
Ailymgynullodd y pwyllgor yn gyhoeddus am 13:44.
The committee reconvened in public at 13:44.
[Anghlywadwy.]—gyflwyno eu hunain ar gyfer y Record. Fe wnaf i fynd at Betsan yn gyntaf.
[Inaudible.] I'll ask witnesses to introduce themselves. I'll go to Betsan first.
Fy enw i yw Betsan Moses, a fi yw prif weithredwr yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol.
My name is Betsan Moses, I am the chief executive of the National Eisteddfod.
Diolch, Betsan. Llio.
Llio Maddocks ydw i, cyfarwyddwr celfyddydol Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
Llio Maddocks. I am the director of the arts for Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
Mae croeso mawr i'r ddwy ohonoch chi. Fe wnawn ni fynd yn syth mewn i gwestiynau, os ydy hynny'n iawn gyda chi. Yn amlwg, y prynhawn yma, rydyn ni'n edrych ar effaith gwyliau mawr a digwyddiadau iaith Gymraeg o ran y budd sydd yn dod ohonyn nhw ar gyfer rhai o'r ardaloedd hynny sydd gyda dwysedd is o siaradwyr Cymraeg. Felly, o ran y rheini, beth ydych chi'n meddwl ydy rôl y gwyliau neu'r digwyddiadau mawr yna? Pwy sydd eisiau mynd yn gyntaf? Fe wnaf i fynd at Betsan yn gyntaf.
A warm welcome to you both. We'll go straight into questions, if that's okay with you. Clearly, this afternoon, we're looking at the impact of large Welsh language cultural festivals and events, in terms of the benefits that arise for some of those areas that have a lower density of Welsh speakers. In that regard, what do you think is the role of those large festivals and events? Who'd like to go first? Betsan, first.
Buaswn i'n dweud bod rôl hollbwysig i ŵyl, oherwydd mae'n rhoi profiad i rywun o iaith ddeinamig, ac, i mi, y peth bwysig yw bod yr Eisteddfod yn gallu bod ar eu stepen drws a'u bod nhw'n cael y profiad yma sy'n cymharu â phrif wyliau'r byd, a bod hynny drwy'r Gymraeg. Felly, mae'n normaleiddio'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg, ond hefyd oherwydd bod y profiad yna yn brofiad mor arobryn, un fydd wedi'i selio ac ar gof am ddegawdau, mae'n hollbwysig.
Ond, wrth gwrs, mae'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn fwy na gŵyl wyth niwrnod. Yr Eisteddfod yw'r prosiect cymunedol mwyaf o'i fath yng Nghymru. Yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw bod gweithio o fewn ardal am ddwy flynedd yn arwain at yr ŵyl, ac mae sicrhau bod yna waddol yn dilyn cyn bwysiced. Felly, i fi, mae angen sicrhau bod cymuned yn pwrcasu gŵyl, bod y gymuned yn teimlo eu bod nhw'n rhan, a bod yna gyfleoedd ar hyd y daith yn arwain at yr Eisteddfod er mwyn iddyn nhw allu defnyddio'r Gymraeg sydd gyda nhw, neu dod i ddigwyddiad os nad ydyn nhw'n gallu siarad Cymraeg ond eu bod nhw'n teimlo ein bod ni'n cael gwared ar unrhyw rhwystr, lle mae rhywun yn teimlo perchnogaeth o'r iaith.
Felly, i fi, mae'r holl bethau yna—y prosiectau micro sy'n digwydd mewn ardal, y prosiectau lleol a rhanbarthol, y cyfleoedd yna, a hefyd y gwaith gwaddol a sicrhau bod ein partneriaethau ni ar lawr gwlad wedyn yn gallu parhau ac yn gallu defnyddio'r chwistrelliad ddaeth yr Eisteddfod i'r ardal—ar gyfer sicrhau bod y Gymraeg yn cael ei dyfnhau yn y blynyddoedd wedi i ni adael.
I would say that they have a crucial role, because they provide one with an experience of a dynamic language, and, for me, the important thing is that the Eisteddfod can be on their doorstep and they have an experience that compares with the major festivals around the globe, and that's held through the medium of Welsh. So, it normalises the use of the Welsh language, but also the fact that the experience is such a memorable one, one that will remain with those people for decades to come. It's crucially important.
But, of course, the National Eisteddfod is more than an eight-day festival. It's the largest community project of its kind in Wales. What's important is that there's working within an area in the two years in the run-up to that festival, and ensuring that there is a legacy is just as important. So, for me, we need to ensure that a community buys into a festival, that they feel that they are part of that festival, and that there are opportunities along the way in the run-up to the Eisteddfod so they can use the Welsh language skills that they have, or to attend an event as non-Welsh speakers, but that they feel that we are removing any barriers, where one can feel ownership of the language.
For me, all of those things—the micro-projects that happen in an area, the local and regional projects, the opportunities, and then, of course, there's the legacy work in ensuring that our grass-roots partnerships can continue and can use the injection provided by the Eisteddfod in their area—contribute to ensuring that the Welsh language becomes more deeply rooted in those areas once we've left.
Diolch, Betsan. Llio.
Diolch. Dwi'n meddwl y byddai'n ddefnyddiol rhoi trosolwg o beth ydy Eisteddfod yr Urdd heddiw yma, a gyda diolch i chi i ddechrau hefyd am y gefnogaeth i'r ŵyl ac am ymweld â'r digwyddiad, ond hefyd yn ehangach i holl ddigwyddiadau a gweithgareddau'r Urdd dros y flwyddyn o fewn ein cymunedau ni.
Dwi'n meddwl bod y ddelwedd o Eisteddfod yr Urdd, i'r rheini sydd heb fynychu yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, yn gallu bod yn un traddodiadol, o bosib. Ond mae realiti'r sefyllfa yn gwbl wahanol erbyn hyn, yn enwedig ers cyfnod COVID. Mae'r Eisteddfod wedi datblygu'n fawr er mwyn gallu ehangu ac apelio at gynulleidfaoedd newydd, a nifer o'r rheini, wrth gwrs, yn ddysgwyr neu'n gwbl newydd i'r iaith. Mae hynny hefyd o dan arweiniad ein pobl ifanc ni. Mae barn ein pobl ifanc ni a'r ffordd y maen nhw'n llywio gweithgareddau’r Urdd yn hollbwysig i rediad y mudiad, yn enwedig efo datblygiadau fel Cwiar na Nog ar gyfer y gymuned LHDTC+ ifanc, i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n teimlo teimlad o berthyn drwy'r iaith Gymraeg yn ogystal â'u hunaniaeth cwiar nhw; Nant Caredig, ein hardal dawel ni ar gyfer plant neurodiverse; ein hystafelloedd gweddi ni; Gŵyl Triban, er enghraifft—rhoi profiad i bobl ifanc ar hyd y daith o allu trefnu gŵyl.
Ond, yn benodol ar gyfer yr ardaloedd dwysedd isel o siaradwyr, dwi'n meddwl mai effaith gŵyl deithiol ydy'r peth pwysicaf sydd gennym ni. Mae'r gwahaniaeth rydym ni'n gallu gwneud i gymunedau drwy gael digwyddiad fel Eisteddfod yr Urdd, yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, a rhoi, fel roedd Betsan yn dweud, y chwistrelliad yna o Gymreictod i fewn i gymuned yn un sy'n gallu gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr. Rydym ni'n ymweld â chymunedau er mwyn iddyn nhw allu teimlo'r effaith o ddefnydd iaith.
Eleni, o ymweld efo ardal Castell-nedd Port Talbot ac Abertawe, mi wnaethon ni weld cynnydd sylweddol yn y dysgwyr a'r rheini sy'n newydd i'r iaith yn cymryd rhan—cynnydd o 42 y cant yn ein cystadleuwyr ni. Nid yn unig y maen nhw'n dod wedyn i gael y profiad eisteddfodol yna, ond mae eu rhieni nhw hefyd yn dod ac yn teimlo ymdeimlad o falchder mewn cymryd rhan yn yr iaith Gymraeg. Mae dros 70 y cant o'n haelodau ni yn yr Urdd hefyd o aelwydydd di-Gymraeg, ac rydym ni wedi gweld cynnydd mawr yn nifer y cystadleuwyr sydd yn cymryd rhan yn yr Eisteddfod dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, efo dros 119,000 yn cystadlu eleni, sydd jest yn syfrdanol ac yn dangos yr awch yna i gymryd rhan yn y celfyddydau yn benodol drwy'r iaith Gymraeg.
Rydyn ni wedi bod yn ffodus hefyd dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf i allu ymestyn allan i gymunedau newydd drwy gynnig tocynnau mynediad incwm isel am ddim, ac mae hynny wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol yn y cymunedau rydyn ni'n gallu eu cyrraedd, a'r rheini sydd yn gallu dod a phrofi'r Eisteddfod am y tro cyntaf un—lot o rieni fuasai ddim yn gallu dod i'r Eisteddfod a'i gweld yn gwbl amhosib i ddod heb y gefnogaeth yna drwy Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae hwnna wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr. Hefyd, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cyd-fynd efo strategaeth yr Urdd, 'Urdd i bawb', rydyn ni wedi buddsoddi lot yn hygyrchedd y maes hefyd, i sicrhau bod y maes yn lle croesawgar.
Fel roedd Betsan yn dweud hefyd, dydy o ddim yn wythnos o waith, Eisteddfod yr Urdd; mae o'n benllanw gwaith dwy flynedd a hanner efo'r gymuned, weithiau efo partneriaid yn lleol, yr awdurdod lleol, ond hefyd rwydwaith o wirfoddolwyr a phobl ifanc hefyd sydd yn rhan o drefnu'r ŵyl, sydd hefyd yn gwneud gwaith codi arian a hyrwyddo hefyd ar ein rhan ni. Ond hefyd, efo Eisteddfod yr Urdd, mae o'n benllanw taith yn y genedlaethol o fis Ionawr i fis Mai, trwy fynd trwy eisteddfod y cylch a'r rhanbarth, a chynnal dros 200 o ddigwyddiadau sydd yn creu gofal diogel ar gyfer y Gymraeg o fewn y cymunedau yna. Felly, ie, dim jest wythnos ydy o, ond mae o'n benllanw nifer o flynyddoedd o waith yn cynyddu'r brwdfrydedd yna yn y Gymraeg.
Thank you. I think it would be useful to provide you with an overview of what Eisteddfod yr Urdd is today, and thank you for your support to the festival and also for visiting, but also more broadly to all Urdd activities in our communities.
I think that the image of the Urdd Eisteddfod, for those who haven't attended in the last few years, is quite a traditional one. But the reality of the situation is completely different now, particularly since the COVID period. The Eisteddfod has developed in order to broaden its appeal to new audiences, and a number of those are learners or completely new to the language. And that was under the leadership of our young people.The views of our young people and how they steer the Urdd's activities is important to the running of the organisation, particularly with developments such as Cwiar na Nog for the young LGBTQ+ community, to ensure that they feel a sense of belonging through the medium of Welsh as well as through their queer identity; Nant Caredig, which is a quiet area for neurodiverse children; our prayer rooms; and the Triban Festival, for example—providing young people with an experience along the journey of being able to organise a festival.
But, in those areas where there's a low density of Welsh speakers, I think the impact of a travelling event is the most important aspect. The difference that we can make to communities in holding events such as the Urdd Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod, and providing that injection of Welsh, as Betsan said, into a community can make a great difference. We visit communities so that they can feel the impact of language use.
This year, in visiting the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea area, we saw a significant increase in the number of learners and those who are new to the language taking part—an increase of 42 per cent in the number of competitors. Not only do they come to have that eisteddfod experience, but their parents come and have a feeling of pride in taking part in the Welsh language. Over 70 per cent of our members come from non-Welsh-speaking households, and we've seen a significant increase in the number of competitors taking part in the Eisteddfod, with over 119,000 applications this year, which is amazing and shows that keenness and desire to take part in cultural activities through the medium of Welsh.
We've been fortunate in the last few years to reach out to new communities by providing free-entry tickets for those on low incomes, and that has made a substantial difference in the communities we can reach and to those who can come and experience the Eisteddfod for the first time—many parents who wouldn't be able to come to the Eisteddfod without that support from the Welsh Government. That has made a big difference. Also, to ensure that we align with the Urdd's strategy of 'Urdd for all', we've also developed the accessibility of the maes, to make sure it's a welcoming place.
As Betsan said, it's not a week's work, it's the end of two and a half year's work with the local community, working with local partners, the local authority, and also a network of volunteers and young people who are part of organising the festival, and also raise money and do promotion work. But also, with the Urdd Eisteddfod, it's the end of a journey from January on to May, going through the regional and local eisteddfodau, and over 200 activities that provide a safe space for the Welsh language within those communities. So, it's not just a week, it's the end of a number of years of work in increasing that enthusiasm in the Welsh language.
Diolch am hwnna, y ddwy ohonoch chi. Gyda llaw, rôn i mor awyddus i glywed eich tystiolaeth chi, fe es i'n syth i mewn i'r peth. Dylwn i wedi dweud ar y dechrau ein bod ni wedi derbyn ymddiheuriadau ar gyfer y sesiwn yma oddi wrth Lee Waters a Mick Antoniw, ac mae Julie Morgan yn parhau i fod gyda ni yn lle Mick Antoniw. Dylwn i wedi dweud hwnnw ar y cychwyn, ond, fel rôn i'n dweud, rôn i jest mor awyddus i glywed beth oedd gyda chi i'w ddweud.
A gaf i siecio hefyd, felly—? Mae'n amlwg bod y gwyliau yma a'r digwyddiadau mawr yn dod—. Mae e'n amlwg inni fel pwyllgor bod cymaint o fudd ohonyn nhw yn rhai o'r ardaloedd hynny sydd ddim gyda dwysedd uchel iawn o'r Gymraeg. Ond sut mae gallu gwerthuso hynna? Oes yna rai pethau sydd yn amhosibl neu'n anodd iawn i'w mesur? Ym mha ffyrdd ydych chi yn gallu gwerthuso hynny, plis? Fe wnaf i fynd at Llio yn gyntaf, wedyn fe wnaf i ddod yn ôl at Betsan. Fe wnaf i fynd at Llio yn gyntaf ar hyn.
Thank you for that, both. We were so keen to hear your evidence, I went straight into it. I should have said at the beginning that we've received apologies from Lee Waters and Mick Antoniw for this session, and Julie Morgan continues to be with us in place of Mick Antoniw. I should have said that at the beginning, but, as I said, I was so keen to hear what you both had to say.
May I check as well, therefore—? Clearly, these festivals and these events—. It's clear to us as a committee that they're very beneficial in some of those areas that don't have a high density of Welsh speakers. How can you evaluate that? Are there some things that are impossible or very difficult to measure? In what ways can you evaluate that, please? I'll go to Llio first, and then I'll come back to Betsan. Llio first.
Rydym ni'n gwerthuso'r ŵyl bob blwyddyn ar y diwedd, ac yn broses rŵan o wneud hynny ar gyfer Castell Nedd Port Talbot ac Abertawe. Rydym ni'n asesu'r ŵyl yn economaidd, bob tua phum mlynedd, i weld y gwahaniaethau a'r trends. Mae'r Urdd yn dod â buddsoddiad o £16 miliwn i mewn i economi Cymru ar ei gyfan, a thua hanner hwnnw'n benodol i'r ardal sy'n ei chymryd hi.
Mae gwerthuso cymdeithasol a chelfyddydol yn rhywbeth efallai sydd ychydig bach yn wahanol, ond mi ydym ni hefyd yn gwerthuso'r effaith mae'r wŷl yn ei chael, ac yn gwerthuso'r effaith mae'n ei chael ar y defnydd o'r Gymraeg hefyd, yn ogystal. Mae tua 90 y cant o'n hymwelwyr ni yn dweud bod cymryd rhan yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn eu gwneud nhw'n fwy hyderus, ond hefyd yn eu gwneud nhw'n fwy balch o'r iaith a threftadaeth Cymru. Mae dros 80 y cant o'r rheini sydd yn ddysgwyr ac yn newydd i'r iaith hefyd yn dweud ei bod yn sbardun iddyn nhw fynd ar eu siwrnai dysgu Cymru, ac mae'r rheini'n niferoedd rydym ni'n falch iawn ohonyn nhw ac yn gallu tystio bod yr Eisteddfod wedyn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth i brofiad rhywun o'r iaith ac i'w ymfalchïad nhw yn yr iaith honno.
Mi ydym ni hefyd yn cydweithio efo'r awdurdodau lleol ac wedi cael cais arian grant i gael swyddogion prosiect penodol yn gwneud gwaith ymgysylltu yn yr ardal leol drwy arian gan yr WLGA, ac mae hwnna wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth o ran yr ymgysylltiad ymlaen llaw, ond hefyd o ran y gwerthuso wedi'r Eisteddfod. Wrth gwrs, mae'r Urdd efo rhwydwaith gryf o staff ym mhob rhanbarth, sydd wedyn, ar ôl i'r ŵyl ddod i ben, yn gallu sicrhau bod yna waddol a bod y rheini oedd wedi dangos diddordeb ac wedi cymryd rhan yn yr Eisteddfod am y tro cyntaf yn gallu parhau wedyn ar eu taith efo'r Urdd, ond hefyd efo'r iaith Gymraeg, y celfyddydau, y digwyddiadau cymunedol yna sydd yn dal i barhau o fewn y cymunedau ar ôl i ni fel gŵyl ymadael. Mae'r Urdd yn dal i barhau i weithio yn agos iawn efo'r cymunedau yna hyd yn oed ar ôl wythnos yr Eisteddfod.
We do evaluate the festival annually at the end of the festival, and are in the process of doing that now for Neath, Port Talbot and Swansea. We assess the festival in terms of its economic impact every five years to see the differences and trends. The Urdd brings an investment of around £16 million into the Welsh economy as a whole, and around half of that is specifically in the area where the Eisteddfod is held.
Social and arts evaluation is slightly different, but we do evaluate the impact that the festival has, and the impact that it has on the use of the Welsh language too. Around 90 per cent of our visitors say that participating in the Urdd Eisteddfod makes them more confident, but also makes them more proud of the language and heritage of Wales. Over 80 per cent of those who are learners or new to the language also say that it encourages them to continue with their Welsh-learning journey, and we're very proud of those numbers, and we can then demonstrate that the Eisteddfod is making a difference to someone's experience of the language and their pride in that language.
We also work with local authorities and have had grant funding to have particular project officers doing engagement work in the locality through WLGA funding, and that's made a difference in terms of engagement before the event, but also in terms of the post-Eisteddfod evaluation. And, of course, the Urdd has a strong network of staff in all regions, so, once the festival is over, they can ensure that there is a legacy and that those who've shown an interest and participated in the Eisteddfod for the first time can continue with their journey with the Urdd, but also with the Welsh language, the arts and those community events that continue within those communities once we as a festival have perhaps left. The Urdd continues to work very closely with those communities even after the Eisteddfod week.
Diolch am hwnna, Llio. A Betsan.
Thank you, Llio. Betsan.
Yn debyg i Llio, mae yna werthuso'n digwydd ar ddiwedd pob gŵyl, a hefyd mae yna werthuso'n digwydd ar gyfer pob un o'r prosiectau rŷn ni'n ymwneud â nhw. Felly, er enghraifft, mi oedd yna werthuso sylweddol o ran y gwaith cymunedol a wnaed yn Rhondda Cynon Taf. Un o'r pethau pwysig hefyd yw bod yna grwpiau ffocws ar gyfer pobl efallai a fyddai wedi dod i'r Eisteddfod am y tro cyntaf, er mwyn inni allu cael eu hadborth nhw o ran beth oedd eu profiad nhw, ond hefyd newid agwedd, a sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu bwydo hefyd beth yw eu hanghenion nhw'n symud ymlaen, fel bod yna fodd wedyn i fwydo hynny i mewn i weithdrefnau'r sefydliadau sy'n bodoli yno.
Dwi'n credu mai'r peth pwysig i ni yw, pan fydden ni'n cychwyn prosiect mewn ardal, ein bod ni'n dod â phartneriaid at ei gilydd ac rŷn ni'n gofyn y cwestiwn, 'Beth ydych chi eisiau ei weld mewn dwy flynedd ar ôl i Eisteddfod fod yma?' a, 'Beth ydych chi eisiau ei weld ar ôl pum mlynedd?', oherwydd, mewn gwirionedd, mae cynlluniau gwaith pawb, a'n cynlluniau ni—ac rŷn ni'n defnyddio, wrth gwrs, cyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr, felly 'Cymraeg 2050', fel y strategaeth rŷn ni'n anelu ar ei chyfer—. Ond rŷn ni'n gofyn i bobl, 'Beth yw'r ymyraethau mae'r Eisteddfod yn gallu eu cynorthwyo i wneud gwahaniaeth hirdymor ar gyfer y defnydd o'r Gymraeg mewn ardal?’ Felly, mae hyn yn hollbwysig, ein bod ni’n dod â phartneriaethau, fel eu bod nhw, boed y mentrau iaith, boed yr awdurdod lleol, yn gallu edrych ar eu polisi o ran y Gymraeg, o ran yr ochr addysg, o ran yr ochr gymdeithasol, a’n bod ni’n gallu dweud, ‘Fel allwn ni wneud y gwahaniaeth?’ ac fel gallai fe hefyd ddod yn rhan o’r gwaddol. Ac mi fyddwn ni—mi fyddwn ni’n trafod ymhen blwyddyn beth sy’n parhau, beth yw’r newidiadau fydd eu hangen ar gyfer Rhondda Cynon Taf. Wrth gwrs, does dim gennym ni’r capasiti fel bod gennym bobl ar lawr wlad. Yn ddelfrydol, fe fyddai gennym ni. Ond, i fi, yr hyn sy’n bwysig yw bod y gwerthuso yn cychwyn o’r cychwyn, oherwydd, cyn i wneud y darn cyntaf o waith, mae’n rhaid i ni ofyn a diogelu ein bod ni'n glir o ran beth yw'r gwaith sydd angen ei wneud, a beth yw'r blaenoriaethau rydym ni'n rhoi ar lawr gwlad ar gyfer ei wireddu fe.
Wrth gwrs, o ran edrych ar yr effaith economaidd, mae'r Eisteddfod yn un o'r gwyliau mwyaf a gewch chi, felly wrth gwrs mae effaith yr wyth diwrnod yn £20 miliwn. Ond, wrth gwrs, un o'r pethau pwysig sydd eisiau edrych arnyn nhw yw effaith economaidd y ddwy flynedd ac ychydig yn hwy mewn ardal, achos, pan fyddech chi’n meddwl amdano fe, mae dros 2,000 o oriau o ddigwyddiadau yn digwydd mewn blwyddyn yn enw'r Eisteddfod, sy'n golygu bod yna ryw 80,000 yn cymryd rhan yn y rheini mewn ardal, sy'n anferthol. Felly, o feddwl, mae yna fwytai, mae yna dafarndai, mae yna gapeli, mae yna festrïoedd, mae yna neuaddau, mae yna effaith gwirioneddol, nid jest effaith economaidd, ond cymdeithasol. I fi, un o'r pethau pwysig yw'r ymbweru cymunedol sy'n digwydd drwy'r Eisteddfod, achos, yn fwy ers COVID, mae pobl yn dweud bod yr Eisteddfod yn gwneud gwahaniaeth wrth ddod â chymunedau yn ôl at ei gilydd, o rywbeth sy'n agos atoch chi, sy'n cynorthwyo ailgydio ynddo fe. Ond, pan fyddech chi'n edrych yn ôl ac yn meddwl am sir Fynwy, maen nhw'n dal i ddweud mi oedd yr Eisteddfod yn gatalydd ar gyfer, yn wirioneddol, cymunedau yn dod at ei gilydd, a'u bod nhw'n parhau i wneud digwyddiadau.
Mi oeddwn i mewn cyfarfod pwyllgor gwaith nos Lun, a'r cwestiwn mawr yn Wrecsam oedd, 'Fel rŷn ni'n sicrhau'—mae pawb yn gofyn—'fel mae'r digwyddiadau yma yn parhau wedi i chi adael?' Felly, mae hwn yn rhan o'r llif gwaith. Mae hynny'n rhoi pwysau ar sefydliadau sydd yn yr ardal, dwi'n cydnabod hynny, ond hefyd mae yna nifer o wirfoddolwyr yn dyheu am barhau. I ni hefyd, un o'r pethau pwysicaf yw normaleiddio'r Gymraeg a bod dwyieithrwydd yn mynd yn fwy normal mewn sefydliadau eraill. Felly, mi oedd y gwaith roedden ni'n ei wneud gyda Interlink yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, y gwaith rŷn ni'n ei wneud gyda strategaeth Cynon, yn hollbwysig, achos roedden nhw'n gweld bod angen defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn eu gwaith pob dydd, felly, sefydliadau sy'n wirioneddol wedi'u gwreiddio i mewn i'r gymuned ond efallai sydd ddim wedi sylweddoli’r budd o ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg yn y sefydliad yna'n ddyddiol. Felly, i fi, mae hynny'n hollbwysig, hefyd, ein bod ni'n trafod gyda phartneriaid sydd ar lawr gwlad sydd efallai ddim yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg.
Felly, mae'n prosiect ni o ran gwirfoddolwyr yn hollbwysig, oherwydd rŷn ni’n eu ymbweru nhw, yn rhoi sgiliau, yn rhoi iechyd a diogelwch a phob dim, ond wedyn, ar y diwedd, rŷn ni'n gofyn iddyn nhw, ‘Nawr, allwch chi barhau? Allwch chi helpu sefydliadau eraill?’—sefydliadau sy'n defnyddio'r Gymraeg, efallai sydd ddim yn defnyddio cymaint—er mwyn sicrhau bod y Gymraeg i'w chlywed ar draws y sir wedi inni adael. Ond wythnos diwethaf, mi wnaethon ni ddanfon at y gwirfoddolwyr yn gofyn, ‘Mae yna sefydliad gennym ni sydd eisiau cymorth. Oes rhywun yn fodlon i ddod yno i’w helpu nhw?’ Felly, rwy'n credu bod trafodaeth a sicrhau bod pob un o'r partneriaid yn glir o ran beth rŷn ni eisiau ei weld fel y newid o fewn blwyddyn a phum mlynedd, a’n bod ni'n cadw cael y drafodaeth yna ar hyd y daith i sicrhau ein bod ni'n defnyddio pob peth i'r eithaf.
Similar to Llio, evaluation happens at the end of every festival, and evaluation happens with each one of the projects that we're involved in. For example, there was significant evaluation in terms of the community work in Rhondda Cynon Taf. One of the other important things as well is focus groups for people who perhaps will come to the Eisteddfod for the first time, so that we can have their feedback in terms of what their experience was, but also change of attitude, and ensure that we can also feed their needs into the system, so that we can then feed that into the procedures for the organisations that exist there.
I think the important thing for us, when we start a project in an area, is that we bring partners together and we ask the question, 'What do you want to see in two years after the Eisteddfod has been?' and, 'What do you want to see after five years?', because, in reality, people's work programmes, and our programmes and plans—we use 'Cymraeg 2050' as the strategy that we're aiming for—. But we ask people, 'What are the interventions that the Eisteddfod can assist with to make a difference long term for the use of the Welsh language in an area?' So, this is crucial, that we bring partners, so that, be they the mentrau iaith or a local authority, they are able to look at their policy in terms of Welsh language, education and social aspects, and that we can say, ‘How can we make a difference?’ and so that it can be part of the legacy. And we will do—we will be discussing in a year what continues, what changes will be required in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Of course, we haven’t got the capacity to have people at grass-roots level. Ideally, we would. But, to me, what's important is that evaluation starts right at the beginning, because, before we do any work, we have to ask and ensure that we're clear about what work is needed, and what our priorities are for what we put in place at grass-roots level to realise that.
In terms of looking at the economic impact, the Eisteddfod is one of the biggest events you can have, so the impact of the eight days is £20 million. But, of course, one of the most important things is to look at the economic impact after two years and more in an area, because, when you think about it, there are over 2,000 hours’ worth of events happening in the name of the Eisteddfod in the run-up to an Eisteddfod, so there are some 80,000 people taking part in those, which is huge. So, thinking about it, there are restaurants, pubs, chapels, vestries, halls, there is a real impact, not just an economic impact, but also a social impact. For me, one of the most important things is that empowering of communities that happens through the Eisteddfod, because, more so since COVID, people say that the Eisteddfod makes a difference by bringing communities back together, bringing people close together and joining in together again. But, when you look back and think of Monmouthshire, they still say that the Eisteddfod was a catalyst for communities to come together, and that they continue to hold events.
I was in a steering committee meeting on Monday, and the big question from Wrexham was, 'How do we ensure that these events continue after you've left?’ So, that is part of the workflow. It puts pressure on organisations in those areas, I admit that, but there are a number of volunteers who wish to continue with this work. One of the most important things for us is to normalise the Welsh language, so that bilingualism is more normal in other organisations. So, the work that we were doing with Interlink in Rhondda Cynon Taf, the work that we're doing with other strategies, was important, because they could see that they needed to use the language in their everyday work, these organisations that are truly rooted in the community, but that perhaps hadn't realised the benefit of using the Welsh language in that organisation on a daily basis. So, to me, that is crucial as well, that we discuss with partners who are at the grass-roots level who are perhaps not using the Welsh language, but could do so.
Our project in terms of volunteering is crucial, because we empower them, provide them with skills, health and safety and so forth, and then at the end we ask them, ‘Now, can you continue? Can you help other organisations?’—organisations who use the Welsh language or organisations who don't use it much—to ensure that the Welsh language is heard across the county after we've left. Only last week we got in touch with volunteers saying, ‘There's an organisation here that needs help. Is there anybody available to help them?’ So, I think there is discussion and ensuring that all partners are clear about what we want to see in terms of change in a year, and five years, and that we continue to have that discussion along the journey to ensure that we use everything to the greatest extent.
Diolch. Mae Heledd eisiau dod mewn.
Thank you. Heledd wants to come in.
Ie, diolch yn fawr iawn am hynny. Os caf i ofyn—. Yn amlwg, mae yna wahaniaeth mawr o ran strwythur y dau sefydliad. Fel rydych chi'n amlinellu, Llio, yn amlwg, rydych chi'n fwy na Eisteddfod o ran y rhwydwaith swyddfeydd ac ati. Gaf i ofyn Betsan yn benodol? Jest o ran yr hyn roeddwn i'n ei glywed yn y sesiwn flaenorol, yn amlwg, mae'r mentrau iaith yn eithriadol o gefnogol ac yn bartner bwysig o ran yr Urdd a'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. Ond un o'r pethau roedden nhw'n ei nodi oedd mewn rhai awdurdodau lleol mae'r arian yn dod o ran paratoi ymlaen llaw, ac mae'n bosib cael arian ychwanegol iddyn nhw allu cydweithio yn effeithiol efo chi, ond ym Mhontypridd eleni, er enghraifft, does yna dim Parti Ponty sy'n mynd i fod, a'u bod nhw'n methu cael yr un fath o adnodd ac ati. Ydych chi'n credu bod yna rôl i Lywodraeth neu yn fwy cenedlaethol i edrych ar y syniad yma o baratoi a gwaddol ac ati, yn lle ei fod o'n ddibynnol ar 22 o awdurdodau lleol sydd efallai'n mynd i fod yn cymryd ymagwedd wahanol i hynny, ac adnodd gwahanol?
Yes, thank you very much for that. If I could ask—. Clearly there's a great difference in terms of the structure of both organisations. As you've outlined, Llio, clearly you're more than simply an Eisteddfod; you have a network of offices and so on. So, could I ask Betsan specifically? Just in terms of what we heard in our previous session, the mentrau iaith are very supportive and they're a keen partner for the Urdd and the National Eisteddfod. But one of the things that they noted was that in some local authorities funding is provided for preparation for an Eisteddfod, and it's possible to access additional funding and they can work effectively with you, but in Pontypridd this year, for example, there's not going to be a Parti Ponty, because they can't get the same resource for that. So, do you think that there's a role for Government or a more national role in looking at this idea of preparing for an Eisteddfod and an Eisteddfod's legacy, rather than it being reliant on 22 local authorities who perhaps will take different approaches to that, and will provide different resources for it?
Betsan.
Dwi'n wirioneddol yn credu ei fod e'n sgwrs o ran y Llywodraeth, achos un o'r pethau dŷn ni'n ei wneud, ŷn ni'n trafod gyda'r Llywodraeth yn edrych ar y gwahanol beuoedd lle mi allwn ni wneud gwir wahaniaeth mewn ardal, yn lle ein bod ni'n edrych—. Er enghraifft, yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, mi oedd pobl wedi mynd trwy addysg ond roedden nhw wedi colli eu Cymraeg, ac felly â llai o berthynas gyda'r iaith. [Anghlywadwy.]—yn mynd i mewn i golegau trydyddol ac yn dangos hyfywedd iaith drwy rywbeth fel Maes B a defnyddio Katie Chroma ar gyfer hynny, lle maen nhw'n gallu gweld iaith ddeinamig, ond hefyd ein bod ni'n mynd at y teuluoedd hynny efallai sydd ddim yn ei defnyddio ac yn rhoi'r hyder yna yn ôl iddyn nhw.
I mi, mi oedd y sgwrs yna o ran, gyda'r partneriaid, yn edrych ar ble mae'r ardaloedd rŷn ni'n gwybod y gallai wneud gwahaniaeth, a gwahaniaeth hirdymor, yn hollbwysig, ond hefyd mae angen edrych ar, pan fydden ni'n gadael, beth sy'n dod ar ei ôl. Wrth gwrs, mae honno'n bartneriaeth rhwng Llywodraeth, awdurdodau lleol a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru a phob dim, ac mae'n rhaid edrych ar hynny, onid oes e, oherwydd, i mi, mae'n rhaid inni gymryd—. Mae gwaddol yn bwysig i ni. Ond, wrth gwrs, does dim gyda ni'r adnoddau i allu ariannu yn hwy na beth rŷm ni'n ei wneud ar hyn o bryd, ond rwy'n credu bod ymbweru ardal er mwyn parhau yn bwysig. Dwi'n credu hefyd fod yna fodd i fentrau gydweithio a sicrhau—. Mi all Tafwyl fynd ar hyd y Taf yn ei chyfanrwydd, oni allai fe? Byddai hynny yn hyfryd o beth i'w weld.
I really think that it is a conversation in terms of the Government, because one of the things we do is discuss with the Government, looking at the different areas where we can make a real difference in an area, instead of looking—. For example, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, people had gone through the education system but they'd lost the Welsh language, and therefore had less of a relationship with the language. So, we were going into tertiary colleges and showing the viability of the language through things such as Maes B and using Katie Chroma for that, so they could see a dynamic language, but also we went to those families who perhaps don't use the language and gave them back that confidence.
So, for me, that conversation with partners, looking at where are those areas that it could make a difference, and a long-term difference, is crucially important, but also we need to look at, when we leave, what comes after the event. Of course, that's a partnership between Government, local authorities and the Arts Council of Wales and everybody, and there's a need to look at that, because, to me, we have to—. Legacy is important to us. But we don't have the resources to fund more than what we're doing now, but I think empowering an area to continue is important. I also think also there's a way for the mentrau iaith to work together and ensure—. Tafwyl could go all the way up the Taff, couldn't it? That would be lovely to see.
Diolch. Roeddwn i'n gweld bod Llio eisiau dod i mewn.
Thank you. I could see that Llio wanted to come in.
Diolch, Heledd, a dwi'n meddwl bod hwn yn gwestiwn pwysig iawn, yn enwedig yn sgil bob dim sydd wedi cael ei drafod y bore yma hefyd. Mae'r Urdd, fel roeddet ti'n sôn, efo strwythur eithaf gwahanol ac efo'r staff o fewn y cymunedau, ond dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n werth cofio hefyd mai un aelod o staff sydd gennym ni ym mhob rhanbarth, a dydy rhanbarthau'r Urdd weithiau ddim yn cyd-fynd efo'r awdurdodau lleol. Felly, mae yna un aelod o staff fel arfer pan nad ydy hi'n amser Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn gweithio ar draws gorllewin Morgannwg—so, Abertawe a Castell-nedd Port Talbot—sy'n ardal anferth o ran ymwneud â phoblogaeth, a maen nhw'n cyfro tua 170 o ysgolion, sy'n dasg enfawr.
Wedyn, pan fyddet ti'n gweld y cynnydd rydym ni wedi'i weld—cynnydd aruthrol yn y cystadlu yn yr ardal yna, yn enwedig eleni—mae o wedi bod yn gymaint o help cael swyddogion project ymgysylltu i fynd efo'r cynnydd yna. Ond rŵan mae'r cytundebau a'r arian project yna yn dod i ben—beth sy'n digwydd wedyn? Dwi'n meddwl mai fanna mae'r buddsoddiad roeddet ti'n sôn amdano fo, Heledd, yn bwysig, er mwyn gallu i barhau i wneud y gwaith yna drwy'r Urdd. Yr Urdd ydy'r arbenigwyr o ran pobl ifanc a phlant drwy'r Gymraeg yng Nghymru. Dyna lle mae'r gwaddol angen parhau hefyd i ni allu magu'r berthynas yna efo'r ysgolion, a gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n parhau ar y daith, hyd yn oed pan fydd yr Eisteddfod yn symud ac yn teithio i ardal arall, yn enwedig i'r gogledd, a'i bod hi'n daith hirdymor i'r ysgolion yna yn hytrach na one-off.
Dwi'n meddwl bod yna rôl allweddol i ni fod yn chwarae mewn partneriaeth efo'r mentrau iaith a'r Eisteddfod Gen, a'i bod yn rôl strategol efallai y gallai'r Llywodraeth fuddsoddi ynddi o ran projectau gwaddol i sicrhau bod y partneriaid i gyd yn cydweithio ar yr hyn sy'n bwysig o ran cynnal y rhwydweithiau yna wedyn, a'r mentrau iaith o bosibl efo'u harbenigedd nhw o ran busnesau a defnydd o'r Gymraeg, oedolion, partneriaid o fewn y cymunedau, ond bod yr Urdd yn cymryd y rhan flaenllaw o ran y gwaddol i blant a phobl ifanc, achos mae gennym ni gymaint o'r cysylltiadau yna a'r rhwydweithiau yna o fewn addysg. Mae'n bwysig eu bod nhw wedyn yn gallu parhau i weithio efo'r Urdd i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gwybod am y cyfleoedd sydd ar gael iddyn nhw, hyd yn oed pan fydd yr Eisteddfod wedi mynd, achos dim one-off rydym ni eisiau bod, na Betsan chwaith yn yr Eisteddfod Gen. Rydym ni eisiau sicrhau ein bod ni'n rhan o'r daith yna ac yn cadw pawb efo ni, hyd yn oed pan fydd yr Eisteddfod wedi symud lleoliad.
Mae yna storîs hyfryd o ysgolion sydd wedi bod yn cydweithio efo ni, rhai am y tro cyntaf eleni. Fe gawsom ni 36 ysgol newydd sbon, y rheini i gyd yn ail iaith, o'r ardal leol jest o orllewin Morgannwg yn cystadlu am y tro cyntaf eleni. Mae o mor bwysig i ni eu bod nhw wedyn yn gallu parhau efo ni'r flwyddyn nesaf—Ysgol Bae Baglan, er enghraifft, ysgol Sant Joseff yn Abertawe, ysgolion sydd yn aml-ddiwylliannol efo lot o ddiwylliant gwahanol yn rhan o'u hysgol nhw, ond yn teimlo bod y Gymraeg hefyd yn gallu plethu i fewn i hynny, a lot ohono fo oherwydd bod y disgyblion yma yn amlieithog. Maen nhw wedi arfer siarad mwy nag un iaith, felly dydy dysgu'r Gymraeg ddim yn gymaint o rwystr ag mae pobl yn ei feddwl. Mae o mor bwysig ein bod ni'n gallu parhau wedyn i gynnig y gefnogaeth yna iddyn nhw.
Mae yna athro yn sir Fynwy o'r enw Jonny Small. Mi wnaeth o ddysgu Cymraeg ei hun bedair blynedd yn ôl ar ôl symud i Gymru. Mae o'n ysbrydoledig, ac mi wnaeth o ddod â chriw o blant o sir Fynwy i gystadlu am y tro cyntaf y llynedd efo ni ym Maldwyn, rhyw 20 ohonyn nhw, 25. Roedd o'n gweld
Roedd o'n gweld sut roedd y Gymraeg wedi newid ei fywyd o, ac wedyn wedi gallu agor drysau iddo fo. Roedd o eisiau gallu rhoi'r un profiadau wedyn i'w blant o yn yr ysgol, ac mae o wir wedi newid eu bywydau nhw, wedi newid eu hagwedd nhw'n llwyr tuag at yr iaith. Mae'r unigolion yma yn crucial o ran ein gwaith ni, ac mae eisiau i ni wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gallu parhau'r cysylltiad efo nhw ar ôl i ni fynd i ffwrdd.
Thank you, Heledd, and I think this is a very important question, especially given everything that's been discussed already this morning. The Urdd, as you mentioned, has quite a different structure and has staff within our communities, but I think it's worth bearing in mind that we only have one member of staff in every region, and those regions don't always correspond with the local authority boundaries. So, there's usually one member of staff, when it's not the Eisteddfod, working across west Glamorgan—so that's Swansea and Neath Port Talbot—which is a huge area in terms of engagement with the population, and they cover around 170 schools, which is a massive task.
When you see the progress that we've seen and the huge increase in the number of people competing from that area, particularly this year, it's been so much help to have those engagement project officers to coincide with that increase. But now that project funding is coming to an end, as are the contracts—what happens then? I think that's where the investment you mentioned is important, Heledd, so that we can continue to do that work through the Urdd. The Urdd are the specialists in terms of children and young people working in Welsh in Wales. That's where the legacy needs to continue, so that we can develop those relationships with our schools, and ensure that they continue on that journey even when the Eisteddfod moves on to another area, particularly to north Wales, and ensure that it's a long-term journey for those schools rather than a one-off.
I think that there is a key role for us to play in partnership with the mentrau iaith and the National Eisteddfod, and that it's a strategic role that perhaps the Government could invest in in terms of legacy projects to ensure that all the partners can work together on what's important in terms of maintaining those networks, and the mentrau iaith in terms of their expertise with businesses and the use of the Welsh language, adults, partners in the communities, but that the Urdd could take a prominent role in the legacy for children and young people, because we have so many networks within education. It is important that they can then continue to work with the Urdd to ensure that they are aware of the opportunities available to them, even when the Eisteddfod has left, because we don't want to be a one-off, and neither does the National Eisteddfod. We want to ensure that we're part of that journey and bring everyone with us, even when the Eisteddfod has moved on.
There are wonderful stories of schools that have been working with us, some for the first time this year. We had 36 brand-new schools, all second language schools in the locality in west Glamorgan competing for the first time this year. It's so important for us that they can then continue with us into next year—Ysgol Bae Baglan, for example, St Joseph's in Swansea, schools that are multicultural with a lot of different cultures as part of their school, but who feel that the Welsh language can also dovetail with all of that, and these pupils are multilingual. They're used to speaking more than one language, so learning Welsh isn't as much of a barrier as people might think. It's so important that we can continue to provide that support to them.
There is a teacher in Monmouthshire called Jonny Small. He learnt Welsh himself four years ago, having moved to Wales. He is an inspiration, and he brought a group of children from Monmouthshire to compete for the first time last year in Maldwyn; there were some 20 or 25 of them.
He saw how the Welsh language had changed his life, and had then opened doors for him. He wanted to give the same experiences then to his pupils in school, and it truly has changed their lives, changed their attitudes towards the language completely. These individuals are essential to our work, and we need to ensure that we can continue with our contact with them once the Eisteddfod has moved on.
Diolch am hwnna. Fe wnawn ni symud ymlaen at gwestiynau gan Gareth.
Thank you for that. We'll move on to questions from Gareth.
Thank you very much, Chair. Good afternoon, everybody. I want to focus on engagement for my set of questions, if possible. With areas of fewer Welsh speakers, in lower density areas, how effective and meaningful do you think community engagement is before a Welsh language cultural event, in your view? Because responses to the committee's consultation suggested that large cultural events don't always explain what festivals are about and don't effectively engage with non-Welsh speakers, with people saying that there are communities who might not know exactly what an Eisteddfod is. So, what would be your response to that, and how effective and meaningful is community engagement in terms of enhancing awareness of Welsh language events and how those communities can engage with them most effectively?
Mae'n hollbwysig. Mewn gwirionedd, dyna pam mae'n gwaith ni'n digwydd. Rŷn ni'n lansio ein digwyddiadau ni yng nghalon cymuned. Felly, er enghraifft, gyda Rhondda Cynon Taf, roedd e yn y Lion yn Nhreorci. Dydyn ni ddim yn parasiwtio digwyddiadau i mewn i ardal—rŷn ni'n cydweithio â phobl i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu rhoi stamp lleol ar rywbeth sy'n genedlaethol ac yn rhyngwladol.
Rwy'n credu mai'r peth mawr i ni yw'r prosiectau meicro yna, megis gweithio yn ystad Penrhys gyda gofalwyr ifanc, yn trafod beth yw eu hiaith a beth yw eu hardal drwy brosiect ffotograffiaeth, cydweithio â phobl fel People First, gyda phobl ag anghenion dysgu arbennig, fel eu bod nhw'n gallu ei berchnogi fe a'u bod nhw'n ymwybodol o'u lle nhw a sut y gallan nhw fod yn perfformio yn yr Eisteddfod a phob dim. Ond hefyd mae yna fintai o wirfoddolwyr yn gweithio ar lawr gwlad gyda ni, i sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu deall mai eu heisteddfod nhw yw hi, eu bod nhw'n rhan ohoni hi o'r cychwyn.
Ro'n i'n siarad gydag un person a oedd wedi byw yn yr un stryd ers iddo fe gael ei eni; roedd e'n 64 oed. Mi wnaeth e ddweud wrthyf fi, 'Ro'n i'n meddwl fy mod i'n adnabod fy nghymuned, ond ro'n i'n adnabod cylchoedd ro'n i'n rhan ohonyn nhw. Ond, bellach, gyda'r Eisteddfod yn dod, a chyda'r rhychwant o bethau gwahanol dwi wedi bod iddyn nhw, o gymanfa ganu, i Elvis a bingo, dwi bellach yn gallu dweud fy mod i'n adnabod fy nghymuned a dwi'n adnabod y bobl—dwi'n adnabod pawb ar fy stryd.'
Dyna beth mae'r Eisteddfod yn gallu ei wneud—mae'n torri'r bariers yna mae pobl yn eu teimlo. Mae lot yn gweld yr Eisteddfod fel rhywbeth traddodiadol. Wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i ni barchu'r traddodiad, ac mae e yn ddathliad o'n diwylliant a'n traddodiadau ni, ond mae'n fwy na hynny. Mae'n rhan o hyfywedd ein diwylliant ni. Ac felly mae'r ffaith eu bod nhw'n gallu gwneud y pethau gwahanol, wacky yma yn eu milltir sgwâr, a'i wneud e drwy glywed y Gymraeg, neu ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg sydd gyda nhw, yn hollbwysig. Felly, i fi, mae'r ffaith, o'r cychwyn, bod rhywun yn sylweddoli, 'Fy Eisteddfod i yw hi, fe allaf fi roi fy stamp arni hi, mi allaf fi weithio gyda phobl'. Yn yr un modd, pan rŷn ni'n gwneud rhaglen artistig, rŷn ni'n gofyn i unrhyw un ddod, i daflu unrhyw syniad i'r pair, ac mi wnawn ni weithio gyda phawb i weld sut y gallwn ni ei wireddu e.
Un o'r pethau mawr yw inni greu Mas ar y Maes. Mi roedd yna ymdeimlad bod yna bobl cwiar yn teimlo, 'Ydy'r Eisteddfod yn rhywbeth i fi?' Wrth gwrs, mae hwnna bellach wedi tanio, ac mae hyd yn oed Pride yn dweud bod Mas ar y Maes yn un o'r pethau pwysicaf sydd wedi digwydd yn y ddegawd a mwy ddiwethaf o ran sicrhau bod pobl yn teimlo perchnogaeth. Felly, yn yr un modd, mae angen i ni gyrraedd yr holl gynulleidfaoedd anghyfarwydd, ein bod ni'n trafod gyda ac yn edrych ar gymunedau ethnig eraill, a'u bod nhw'n teimlo, 'Dwi'n rhan o hwn'. Rŷn ni'n gweithio ar y foment yn Wrecsam i sicrhau ein bod ni'n defnyddio dawns Indiaidd a dawnsio gwerin. Felly, bod pobl yn gallu dweud, 'Efallai nad ydw i'n siarad Cymraeg ar hyn o bryd, ond dwi'n mynd i fod yn rhan o hwn, ac mae yna le i fi yna', ond, hefyd, ein bod ni'n gallu dathlu diwylliant Cymraeg, a'u bod nhw'n gallu cael y profiad bythgofiadwy yma, lle maen nhw'n gallu dweud, 'Mae hwn yn perthyn i fi'.
Felly, mae hynny'n hollbwysig. Ond mae'r gwaith ymwneud cymunedol yna yn hollbwysig. Mae'r miloedd o oriau sy'n digwydd, a hefyd y sgiliau yna ŷn ni'n eu rhannu drwy wirfoddoli a phob dim, yn rhywbeth, yn arf, ar gyfer y gymuned i'r dyfodol yn hollbwysig. Felly, dwi'n credu mae yna newid wedi bod, achos mae pob un ohonom ni dros y ddegawd ddiwethaf yn edrych yn wahanol o ran fel ŷn ni'n gwireddu, ond, i fi, yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw mai'r gymuned sy'n berchen ar yr Eisteddfod, ac mae'r gymuned yn sicr â llais hollbwysig. Ac mae'r gymuned yna yn golygu pawb sy'n rhan o'r gymuned.
Er enghraifft, rŷn ni, ar hyn o bryd, yn gweddnewid Maes B, achos mae pobl ifanc ar hyd Cymru yn edrych ar beth ŷn ni eisiau ei weld fel yr ŵyl yma, achos, iddyn nhw, dyna'r ŵyl bwysicaf o ran gŵyl sydd ar eu cyfer nhw o ran datblygu'r diwylliant o ran cerddoriaeth. Ond hefyd, ŷn ni'n dod ag elfennau gwahanol o ddiwylliant i mewn i Maes B nawr, felly mi fydd hwnna'n chwa o awyr iach. Ac, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni'n datblygu. Mae Hwyrnos wedi dod oherwydd y galw. Mae pobl yn dweud, 'Mae eisiau lle arnom ni ar gyfer y 25 plws'. Achos yr hyn sy'n hyfryd am yr Eisteddfod yw bod ein cynulleidfa ni o'r crud i'r bedd, i bob pwrpas, onid yw hi? Mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu diwallu anghenion pob un ohonyn nhw.
Felly, gyda Maes B, mae gennym ni arf hollbwysig. I ddefnyddio gair sydd ddim yn cŵl, ond mae e'n hynod o berthnasol, mae pobl yn gweld bod Maes B yn frand sy'n golygu bod pobl ifanc yn gallu anghofio am iaith yr ystafell ddosbarth ac yn gallu gweld diwylliant byw. Felly, i fi, mae'r holl haenau yna, a'n bod ni'n eu cyflwyno nhw, sicrhau bod pobl yn deall beth yw'r Eisteddfod, a'u bod nhw hefyd yn dod ar y daith gyda ni, yn hollbwysig.
It's crucial, and, in reality, that's why our work is happening. We launch our events at the heart of a community. For example, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, it was in the Lion in Treorchy. We don't parachute events into an area—we work with people to ensure that we can put a local stamp on something that is national and international.
I think the big thing for us is those micro projects, such as working on the Penrhys estate with young carers, discussing what is their language and what is their area through a photography project, working with people such as People First, with people who have additional learning needs, so that they can own it and that they're aware of how they could be performing in the Eisteddfod and so forth. But also, there are armies of volunteers working at grass-roots level with us, ensuring that people can understand that it's their eisteddfod, that they're part of it from the beginning.
I was talking to somebody who'd lived in the same street since he had been born; he was 64 years of age. He told me, 'I thought I knew my community, but I knew circles that I was part of. But now, with the Eisteddfod in the area, and with the events that I've been to, from a cymanfa ganu, to Elvis and bingo, I can now say that I know my community and I know the people—I know everybody on my street.'
That's what the Eisteddfod can do—it breaks down those barriers that people feel. Many people see the Eisteddfod as something that's traditional. Of course, we have to respect tradition, and it is a celebration of our culture and our traditions, but it's more than that. It's part of the viability of our culture. And, therefore, the fact that they can do these different, wacky things in their area, and do that hearing the Welsh language, or using the Welsh that they have, is vital. So, for me, it's the fact that, from the beginning, somebody realises, 'It's my Eisteddfod, I can put my stamp on it, I can work with people'. It's the same when we do an artistic programme—we ask anybody to come in, to throw any sort of idea into the pool, and we look at all ideas and see how we can realise it.
One of the big things we created was Mas ar y Maes. There was a feeling that queer people felt, 'Is the Eisteddfod something for me?' Of course, that now has sparked something, and even Pride are saying that Mas ar y Maes is one of the most important things that's happened in the last decade in terms of people feeling an ownership. So, in the same way, we need to reach all these unfamiliar audiences, that we discuss with them and look at other ethnic communities, and that they feel, 'I'm part of this'. We're working at the moment in Wrexham to ensure that we use Indian dance and folk dancing. So, people can say, 'Perhaps I don't speak Welsh at the moment, but I'm going to be part of this, and there is room for me there', but, also, that we can celebrate Welsh culture, and that they can have that memorable experience, where they can say, 'This belongs to me'.
So, that is crucial. But that community engagement work is vital. The thousands of hours of community involvement, and those skills that we share through volunteering and so forth is a tool for the community in the future, and all of that is important. So, I think there's been a change, because each one of us over the last decade looks different, but, to me, the community owns the Eisteddfod, and that's important. The community has a vital voice, and that community means everybody who's part of the community.
For example, we're changing Maes B, because there are young people all over Wales looking at what they want from the festival. Certainly, it's a festival for them, and in terms of looking at developing culture in terms of music. But also we're bringing different elements of culture into Maes B now. So, that will be a breath of fresh air. And, of course, we're developing. Hwyrnos has evolved because people have been saying, 'We need room for people who are 25 plus'. And the great thing about the Eisteddfod is that our audience is from the cradle to the grave, and we need to be able to meet the needs of everybody.
So, with Maes B, we've got a vital tool. To use a word that's not cool, but it's very relevant, people see that Maes B is a brand that means that young people can forget about the language of the classroom and see living culture. For me, all those elements, and that we introduce them and make sure that people understand what the Eisteddfod is, and that they come on the journey with us, are vital.
Diolch, Betsan. Llio, oedd unrhyw beth roeddech chi eisiau ei ddweud ar hyn?
Thank you, Betsan. Llio, was there anything you'd like to say?
Dwi'n meddwl lle rydym ni'n ffodus fel Eisteddfod ydy ei bod hi yn ddiweddglo i dair blynedd o waith caled efo'r gymuned, a dyna lle mae'r gwaith ymgysylltu mor bwysig. Rydym ni newydd gyhoeddi ein lleoliad ni ar gyfer 2028, felly bydd y gwaith cymunedol yna'n digwydd rŵan. Mae Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn ei hanfod yn ŵyl gystadleuol. Mae'n ŵyl ddiwylliannol—amlddiwylliannol—ond crux y peth ydy'r cystadlu. Ac mae hi'n broses sy'n gallu bod yn gymhleth, yn enwedig i'r rheini sydd erioed wedi cymryd rhan ynddi hi o'r blaen, neu sydd heb dyfu fyny efo proses Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Mae trio esbonio beth ydy hi yn gallu bod yn fwystfil ynddi ei hun, ond mae hwnna'n cymryd lot o ofal a lot o waith caled hefyd. Ac mae o'n rhywbeth rydym ni'n ei wneud fel staff o ran staff yr adran Eisteddfod, ond hefyd yn gymunedol, ac efo'n rhwydwaith ni o wirfoddolwyr cryf.
Rydym ni'n ffodus iawn bod gennym ni bwyllgor rhanbarth o oedolion sy'n wirfoddolwyr ym mhob rhanbarth yng Nghymru, ond hefyd fforwm ieuenctid o bobl ifanc sydd yn gwirfoddoli efo ni drwy gydol y flwyddyn, i'n helpu ni efo'r cymorth yna pan rydym ni'n gwneud y gwaith ymgysylltu. Rydym ni'n gallu mynd i mewn i ysgolion, grwpiau cymunedol, rhwydweithiau celfyddydol sydd yn bodoli yn barod, er mwyn dangos iddyn nhw sut mae cymryd rhan. Mae hwnna mor bwysig i ni: esbonio'r drefn, egluro sut mae cymryd rhan. A dydy o ddim yn gyd-ddigwyddiad, wedyn, bod ein niferoedd cystadlu ni wedi bod yn cynyddu dros y blynyddoedd ers inni wneud y gwaith ymgysylltu mwy dwys yma. Mae hwnna'n destun balchder i ni, ein bod ni yn gallu apelio at gynulleidfaoedd newydd bob blwyddyn.
Rydym ni hefyd wedi bod yn gwneud nifer o brosiectau ymgysylltu ychwanegol fel Prosiect Plethu, sydd yn cyfuno arddulliau diwylliannau gwahanol efo'r diwylliant traddodiadol Cymreig, ac yn dangos bod yna le i bawb o fewn gwead y draddodiad Gymreig. Gwnaethom ni weithio efo 50 o ffoaduriaid ifanc yn ardal Abertawe eleni, a daethon nhw wedyn i faes yr Eisteddfod am ddim, drwy docynnau incwm isel, am y tro cyntaf erioed, a gweld eu bod nhw'n perthyn i ddiwylliant Cymru, a chymryd rhan ym mhrosiect Nwy yn y Nen, yn ailddehongli cân enwog Dewi Pws. Felly, roedden nhw wir yn teimlo eu bod eu celfyddyd nhw yn rhan rŵan, erbyn hyn, o gelfyddyd Cymru ar ei hyd, a'r clytwaith yna sy'n ein gwneud ni yn wlad mor ddiwylliannol gryf.
Mae sicrhau bod y cymunedau newydd yna yn rhan o hwnnw yn greiddiol i ni, fel roedd sefydlu Cwiar na Nog ddwy flynedd yn ôl ar gyfer aelodau ifanc LHDTC+. Roedd nifer o aelodau ifanc yn dod atom ni yn flaenorol yn dweud nad oedden nhw'n teimlo bod eu hunaniaeth cwiar nhw yn perthyn i'w hunaniaeth Gymraeg nhw, a doedd ganddyn nhw ddim yr iaith chwaith i egluro eu hunaniaeth nhw drwy'r Gymraeg. Roedden nhw'n mynd at y Saesneg wastad pan roedden nhw eisiau egluro beth roedden nhw'n ei deimlo. A hefyd yn teimlo eu bod nhw'n gorfod mynd dros y ffin yn aml iawn i gael y diwylliant cwiar yna.
Ond erbyn hyn, mae Cwiar na Nog yn rhaglen o weithgareddau drwy gydol y flwyddyn. Rydym ni'n mynd â grŵp o bobl ifanc allan i Pride Amsterdam ar ddiwedd mis Gorffennaf er mwyn agor eu llygaid nhw at sut mae gwlad arall yn dathlu eu hunaniaeth nhw. Yna byddwn ni'n dod â nhw nôl ac yn gweithio efo nhw i guradu beth ydy'r rhaglen Cwiar na Nog yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd, ond hefyd dros y flwyddyn, a'u datblygu nhw i mewn i guraduron ifanc o fewn y gymuned LHDTC+ yna. Felly, mae ymbweru'r rheini sy'n newydd inni hefyd i weithredu o fewn eu cymunedau nhw ac i fod yn ddinasyddion cyflawn o fewn eu cymunedau nhw, yn llysgenhadon o fewn eu cymunedau nhw, yn rhan bwysig o'u taith nhw efo ni yn Eisteddfod yr Urdd.
I think where we're fortunate as an Eisteddfod is that it's the culmination of three years' hard work with the community, and that's where the engagement work is so very important. We've just announced our location for 2028, so that community work will start now. The Urdd Eisteddfod, essentially, is a competitive festival. It's a multicultural festival, but the crux of it is competition. And it's a process that can be complex, particularly for those who've never participated before, or who haven't grown up in that culture. Trying to explain what it is can be a barrier in and of itself, but that takes a great deal of care and hard work too. And it's something that we as staff do in terms of the Eisteddfod department, but also at a community level and with our network of volunteers.
We're very fortunate to have a regional committee of adults who are volunteers in every region in Wales, but also a youth forum who volunteer throughout the year to help us provide that support with our engagement work. We can go into schools, community groups, arts networks that already exist, in order to show them how they can participate. That's very important to us. We explain how things work and how they can compete. And it's no coincidence that our competitor numbers have been going up since we've been doing this more intensive engagement work. That's a cause of pride for us, that we can appeal to new audiences on an annual basis.
We've also been undertaking a number of engagement projects, such as Prosiect Plethu, which brings together different cultural approaches with traditional Welsh culture and shows that there is room for everyone within the Welsh tradition. We worked with 50 young refugees in the Swansea area this year, and then they came to the Eisteddfod field free of charge, through the low-income free ticket offers, and they understand that they were involved in Welsh culture and belong to it. They were part of the Nwy yn y Nen project, where they reinterpreted a famous song by Dewi Pws. So, they truly felt that their culture was part of that patchwork of Welsh culture, which makes us such a strong cultural nation.
Ensuring that those new communities are part of that is crucially important to us, such as the establishment of Cwiar na Nog for LGBTQ+ young people. A number of young people had come to us previously and felt that they didn't feel that their queer identity was related to their Welsh identity or the Welsh language, and didn't have the language to explain their identity through the medium of Welsh. So, they always turned to English when they were trying to explain their feelings. They also felt that they had to go over the border very often to get that queer culture.
But now, Cwiar na Nog is a programme of events throughout the year. We're taking a group of young people out to Pride in Amsterdam. We're doing that at the end of July to open their eyes as to how other countries celebrate their identity. And then we'll bring them back and we'll work with them to actually curate the Cwiar na Nog programme in the Urdd Eisteddfod, and across the year, and then they'll become curators within the LGBTQ+ community. So, we empower people who are new to us to operate within their communities and to become full citizens within those communities, and to become ambassadors, and it's an important part of their journey within the Urdd.
Diolch am yr ymateb.
Thank you for the response.
I just want to understand how the Urdd and National Eisteddfod ensure that steering groups and fundraisers are inclusive of the whole community, because one individual suggested that the work of raising money to support the Eisteddfod could be construed as exclusive, noting that there were plenty of fundraisers, but that they were aimed at, or appear to be aimed at, Welsh speakers rather than Welsh learners. Again, a similar question: what would be your response to that? And what efforts are being made by the Urdd and National Eisteddfod to make sure that such fundraisers are inclusive of the whole community, and that such things can't be construed as perhaps something that they're not—to perhaps dispel that myth, if it's not true?
Pwy sydd eisiau mynd yn gyntaf ar hyn? Llio.
Who would like to go first? Llio.
Mae'n bwynt dilys o ran y ffaith bod lot o weithgareddau y mae'r pwyllgorau apêl yn eu cynnal dros y ddwy flynedd neu dair blynedd cyn yr Eisteddfod yn digwydd drwy'r iaith Gymraeg, ond mae o hefyd, dwi'n meddwl, yn bwysig o ran y chwistrelliad yna o'r Gymraeg rydyn ni'n rhoi i mewn i'r cymunedau, bod yna weithgareddau cymunedol, codi arian a chodi hwyl hefyd, yn digwydd drwy'r iaith Gymraeg, a'u bod nhw'n ofodau diogel i ddefnyddio'r iaith Gymraeg, lle efallai does yna ddim nifer uchel o ddigwyddiadau celfyddydol drwy'r Gymraeg yn digwydd heb fod yna reswm fel Eisteddfod er mwyn codi arian.
Ond mae'n dibynnu ar y cymunedau hefyd. Mae yna nifer o weithgareddau codi arian. Mae targedau codi arian y pwyllgorau apêl yn ofnadwy o uchel, ac mi fuasai'n amhosib ei gyrraedd o jest o fewn y cymunedau sy'n siarad Cymraeg, felly mae yna nifer o ddigwyddiadau hefyd yn digwydd yn ddwyieithog neu drwy'r iaith Saesneg hefyd er mwyn apelio at gynulleidfa ehangach. Achos bwriad y digwyddiadau codi arian ydy, ie, i godi arian i helpu cynnal yr Eisteddfod, ond hefyd i godi ymwybyddiaeth fod yr Eisteddfod yn dod. Ni fyddai'r Eisteddfod ddim yn bosib heb ymestyn allan at y cymunedau newydd yna, ac maen nhw'r un mor greiddiol i apelio atyn nhw yn y digwyddiadau pwyllgorau apêl ag ydyn nhw ar gyfer wythnos yr Eisteddfod ei hun.
Rydyn ni'n defnyddio nifer o rwydweithiau i sefydlu'r pwyllgorau apêl a phwyllgorau testun, ac maen nhw'n agored i bawb. Mae yna nifer o ddysgwyr neu'r rheini sydd ddim wedi dod ar draws yr iaith o'r blaen o gwbl yn defnyddio hwn fel esgus i ddysgu ac yn ymuno efo'r pwyllgorau. Rydyn ni'n defnyddio rhwydweithiau mewnol yr Urdd, ond hefyd yr awdurdodau lleol, partneriaid celfyddydol sy'n bodoli yn y cymunedau, mentrau iaith, er enghraifft, er mwyn sicrhau bod gennym ni drawstoriad eang o bobl ar y pwyllgorau llywio.
Ond hefyd, dwi'n meddwl beth sy'n bwysig ydy maen nhw'n gallu adnabod lle mae eu gwendidau nhw; maen nhw'n adnabod lle mae'r gaps ar y pwyllgorau, a dyna lle rydyn ni wedyn fel adran yn gallu dylunio prosiectau cymryd rhan i dargedu'r cymunedau yna'n benodol a thynnu nhw i mewn i'r gweithgaredd, efallai ddim trwy'r pwyllgorau apêl a'r pwyllgorau llywio, ond sicrhau bod eu llais nhw'n cael ei glywed ac yn rhan greiddiol o'r Eisteddfod drwy benderfyniadau artistig, prosiectau celfyddydol, cydweithio efo partneriaid penodol er mwyn sicrhau ein bod ni'n cyrraedd pob cymuned posib, a sicrhau eu bod nhw'n rhan o'r Eisteddfod hefyd.
I think it's a valid point in terms of the fact that the local appeal committees hold a number of events two or three years before the event happens through the medium of Welsh. But I think it's important, in terms of that injection of Welsh into communities, that there are community events, fundraisers and fun events, happening through the medium of Welsh, and that they are safe spaces to use the Welsh language where, perhaps, there's not a high number of cultural events through the medium of Welsh happening without there being a reason such as the Eisteddfod to raise funds.
But it depends on the communities. There are a number of activities and fundraisers where targets for fundraising are very high, and it would be impossible to raise them just within the Welsh-speaking communities. So, there are number of activities also happening bilingually or through the medium of English as well in order to appeal to a broader audience. Because the intention of the fundraisers is, yes, to help to raise funds, but also to raise awareness that the Eisteddfod is coming to an area. The Eisteddfod wouldn't be possible without reaching out to those new communities, and they're as core in the fundraising events as they are during the Eisteddfod week.
We use many networks to set up the fundraising committees, and they are open to all—people who have learnt the language or those who have never come across the language and use this as an excuse to learn Welsh, and they join the committees. We use the Urdd's internal networks, also local authorities and cultural organisations, the mentrau iaith, to ensure that we have a wide cross-section of people on the steering committees.
But also, I think what's important is that they can recognise where their weaknesses are; they know where the gaps are on the committees, and that's where we as a department then can decide on projects to target those communities and draw them into those activities, perhaps not through the steering committee, but to ensure that their voices are heard and are a core part of the Eisteddfod through artistic decisions, arts projects, working with partners, so that we ensure that we get to every community and ensure that they're a part of the Eisteddfod as well.
Mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw bod pawb yn teimlo bod yna le a pherchnogaeth, ond hefyd eu bod nhw'n defnyddio'r iaith sydd ganddyn nhw. Mae'r digwyddiadau'n digwydd yn bennaf drwy'r Gymraeg, ond, wrth gwrs, mae nifer o'n pwyllgorau apêl ni hefyd yn defnyddio cyfieithu neu'n ddwyieithog er mwyn sicrhau bod pawb yn gallu bod yn rhan o'r profiad.
Ond yr hyn sy'n arbennig hefyd o ran dysgwyr, wrth gwrs, yw bod gennym ni bwyllgor penodol yn edrych ar gyfleoedd yn arwain at yr ŵyl er mwyn sicrhau bod yna gyfleoedd ychwanegol ar gyfer dysgu a phob dim. Ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn ystod wythnos yr Eisteddfod, mae gennym ni Maes D, sy'n adnodd anhygoel oherwydd mae gennych chi raglen gelfyddydol anhygoel ar gyfer dysgwyr drwy'r wythnos, ond hefyd rŷn ni'n cydweithio efo'r Llywodraeth ac mae yna gyfleoedd i bobl i gael deall mwy o ran fel maen nhw'n gallu cychwyn neu fel maen nhw'n mynd ymlaen ar eu taith yn dysgu Cymraeg. Ac mae hynny hefyd yn rhoi adborth i ni o ran beth yw effaith yr Eisteddfod, mewn gwirionedd, ar ardal, oherwydd gallai'r ganolfan ddysgu ddweud, 'Mi fuodd yna gynnydd yn y niferoedd oedd yn moyn dysgu.' Mae Nant Gwrtheyrn yn rhan o Faes D lle maen nhw'n dweud bod yna gynnydd sylweddol yn dilyn Eisteddfod o ran pobl yn dod ar gyrsiau.
Felly, mewn gwirionedd, beth sydd ei angen? Mae yna deilwra digwyddiadau yn digwydd ar hyd y ddwy flynedd i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n benodol. Mae yna ddigwyddiadau penodol ar gyfer dysgwyr fel eu bod nhw'n gallu cynorthwyo datblygiad eu hiaith nhw. Ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid sicrhau bod unrhyw ddigwyddiad yn agored i unrhyw un i ddod, ac, wrth gwrs, gyda chelfyddyd, dyw iaith ddim yn rhwystr oherwydd mae yna bobl yn mynd i weld diwylliant mewn aml iaith. Ond y profiad yna sy'n bwysig. Ond yr hyn sy'n bwysig, o ran sicrhau bod pobl yn teimlo eu bod nhw'n gallu mynd, yw bod y croeso yna yn un gofalgar a'n bod ni'n gallu siarad nhw drwy beth sydd ei angen a bod yna gymorth hefyd os oes angen unrhyw gyfieithu a phob dim. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, rŷn ni'n edrych ar y gwahanol haenau o gymorth i ardal.
A hefyd, wrth gwrs, un o'r pethau eraill yw ein bod ni'n sicrhau bod pobl yn talu beth allan nhw ei fforddio ac nad yw gât yn rhwystraeth hefyd, ac mae hynny'n hollbwysig, achos mewn digwyddiadau codi arian, rŷn ni wedi bod yn edrych ar a ŷn ni'n rhoi ffi benodol neu ŷn ni'n dweud, 'Talwch beth allwch chi', achos yr hyn sy'n bwysig mewn ardal yw eu bod nhw ddim yn colli allan oherwydd eu bod nhw'n teimlo bod e'n faich ariannol arnyn nhw.
I think what's important is that everyone feels that they have a place and ownership, and also that they use the language skills that they have. The events do happen mainly through the medium of Welsh, but of course, many of our appeals committees also use interpretation or are held bilingually in order to ensure that everyone can participate in that experience.
But what's also important for learners is that we do have a particular committee looking at opportunities in the lead-up to the festival to ensure that there are additional opportunities to learn the language. But also, during the Eisteddfod week, we have Maes D, which is an incredible resource because you have an incredible arts programme for learners throughout the week, but we also work with the Government, and there are opportunities for people to discuss how they can start their journey in learning Welsh, or continue with that journey, and that, too, provides us with feedback as to the impact of the Eisteddfod in a particular area, because the learning centre could say, 'Well, there was an increase in the number of learners.' Nant Gwrtheyrn are involved in Maes D, and they say that they see a significant increase in people coming on courses following an Eisteddfod.
So, in reality, what do we need? We do tailor events across the two years to ensure that they are particularly there for certain groups. So, there are specific events for learners to ensure that they can develop their skills. But also, we have to ensure that any event is open to anyone and everyone, and, of course, with the arts, language isn't a barrier because people would view culture in multiple languages. It's the experience that's important. But what's important in ensuring that people feel that they can participate is that the welcome is meaningful and that we can talk them through what's required and that there is support if they need interpretation or anything else. So, in reality, we're looking at the various kinds of support needed in any area.
And one of the other things is that we ensure that people pay what they can afford and that the entry fee isn't a barrier too, and that's crucial, because in fundraisers, we have been looking at whether we do charge a particular fee or do we say, 'Well, pay what you can', because what's important in the area is that people don't miss out because they feel that it's a financial burden on them.
Diolch am hynny. Oherwydd pwysau amser, dwi'n meddwl bydd yn rhaid i ni symud ymlaen, a diolch yn fawr. Ydych chi'n hapus, Gareth, os ydyn ni'n symud ymlaen?
Thank you for that. Given time pressures I think that we'll have to move on, and thank you very much. Are you happy for us to move on, Gareth?
Yes, fine. Thank you.
Ocê, diolch am hynny. Mi wnawn ni symud at Julie.
Thank you for that. We'll move on to Julie.
Prynhawn da. You have actually covered this a bit already, but we did have some consultation responses that said that the impact of Welsh cultural festivals and events on Welsh language use is minimal in the long term. So, I wondered if you could give us some evidence to show that a festival or an event in an area with fewer Welsh speakers has an impact in the longer term on the promotion and use of the Welsh language locally. Have you got any sort of evidence for that?
Wel, mi allwch chi edrych o ran taith yr Eisteddfod dros y cyfnodau diwethaf, felly mi allwch edrych ar fel bod yr Eisteddfod ym Mynwy wedi golygu datblygiad addysg Gymraeg yn sir Fynwy. Yn yr un modd, mi allwch chi edrych ar fel oedd yr Eisteddfod yng Nghasnewydd wedi yn wirioneddol ymbweru'r gofyn am ysgolion ychwanegol. Felly mae hynny. Ond, wrth gwrs, hefyd, mae'r cysylltiad yna gyda'r ganolfan ddysgu o ran edrych ar fel mae yna dwf yn y niferoedd sy'n gofyn i ddysgu.
Mae'n rhaid i ni gofio hefyd fod yna gyfnod lle mae yna dwf cyn bod yr Eisteddfod yn dod, felly mae yna gyfleoedd ar gyfer yr awdurdodau lleol a phobl lle mae pobl yn gallu dysgu yn arwain at yr Eisteddfod. Rwy'n credu yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw edrych ar y gwaddol ac edrych ar y strategaethau yna, edrych ar y pum mlynedd ar ôl, i ddiogelu ein bod ni'n parhau, ein bod ni'n gallu gweld y twf yna. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae yna nifer o rai anecdotaidd yn dilyn Pontypridd lle roedd pobl yn dweud wrthyf fi, 'Dwi newydd sylweddoli y dylwn i fod wedi bod yn edrych ar addysg Gymraeg ar gyfer fy mhlentyn i.' Nid un stori oedd honno; mi oedd yna ddegau o straeon. Felly, mae hynny'n digwydd drwyddi draw.
Ond dwi'n credu, i mi, a rhywbeth sy'n anoddach i chi ei fapio, yw eich bod chi’n gallu gweld lle mae rhywun yn rhan o ŵyl, ac yn profi gŵyl, ac yna'n edrych ar ailystyried eu defnydd. Ac mae hynny'n holl bwysig, defnydd o'r iaith, nid jest rhywun yn cychwyn arni, ond eu bod nhw'n sylweddoli bod yr iaith yn berthnasol ar gyfer eu hymwneud yn y gymuned a phob dim, a bod pobl yn ailgydio mewn iaith. Mae hynny'n digwydd fwyfwy o weithio mewn ardal am ddwy flynedd. A'r bobl sydd efallai’n ofni defnyddio'r Gymraeg sydd ganddyn nhw, efallai eu bod nhw wedi colli lot ohoni hi, ac wedyn yn sylweddoli, 'Mi ddefnyddia i beth sydd gyda fi, does dim angen i fi boeni mwyach.' Ac mae hynny yn rhywbeth hollbwysig mae'r Eisteddfod yn gallu ei wneud, sef dod a dweud wrth bobl, 'Peidiwch â phoeni, does dim gwahaniaeth os ŷn ni'n mynd o un iaith i'r llall, ond ein bod ni'n ddigon hyderus i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg sydd gyda ni.' Felly, i fi, wrth fapio taith Eisteddfod, mi allwch weld fel mae yna newid.
Ond hefyd ein rôl ni o drafod gydag awdurdodau lleol a sicrhau bod eu strategaeth nhw am y pum mlynedd nesaf yn newid, fel eu bod nhw’n gallu gweld y budd o ychwanegu cyfleoedd pellach yn y Gymraeg, a hefyd bod rhaglen waith drwyddi draw cyngor yn newid, fel bod yna, pan fydd yna ddigwyddiadau, normaleiddio bod yna stondinau Cymraeg yn digwydd yn y rheini, achos beth rŷch chi'n gallu gweld yw yn anaml iawn y gwelwch chi rywbeth Cymraeg o fewn digwyddiadau. Efallai y bydd y croeso yn ddwyieithog, ond efallai bod yr arlwy yn llai. Felly mae sicrhau normaleiddio'r cysyniad yna ein bod ni'n gallu cael arlwy amlieithog yn hollbwysig, yn ogystal ag edrych ar y rôl o fel mae hwn yn mynd i newid y byd addysg, ac fel mae e’n mynd i newid yr elfen gymdeithasol, a hefyd gwasanaethau, achos mae hwnna cyn bwysiced hefyd, bod pobl yn gallu cael y gwasanaeth maen nhw’n ei ddymuno yn eu dewis iaith.
Well, if you look in terms of the Eisteddfod's journey over recent years, you can look at how the Eisteddfod in Monmouthshire has meant the development of Welsh-medium education in Monmouthshire. In the same way, you can look at how the Eisteddfod in Newport really empowered people to ask for additional schools. So there’s that. But also there's that link with the National Centre for Learning Welsh in looking at the growth in the number of people who want to learn Welsh.
We also need to remember that there is a period of time when there's a growth before the Eisteddfod arrives, so there are opportunities for local authorities and people where people can learn Welsh leading up to the Eisteddfod. I think what's important is looking at the legacy and looking at those strategies, in five-year period afterwards, to ensure that we continue and that we can see that growth. Of course, there are a number of anecdotal comments following Pontypridd where people were telling me, 'I've just realised I should have been looking at Welsh-medium education for my child.’ And that wasn't just one story; I heard tens of stories like that. So, that is happening throughout.
But I think, for me, and perhaps it's something that's more difficult for you to map, is that you can see where somebody is part of a festival, experiences it, and then looks at reconsidering their use of the language. And that's crucial, the use of language, not just someone starting to learn, but that they realise the language is relevant to their involvement in the community and so on, and that people reconnect with the language. That's happening increasingly having worked in an area for two years. And the people who are scared of using the Welsh they have, perhaps they've lost a lot of it, and then realise, 'Well, I'll use what I've got, there's no need for me to worry any more.' And that is vital. That's something crucial that the Eisteddfod can do, which is to tell people, 'Don't worry, it doesn't matter if we go from one language to another, just that we're confident enough to use the Welsh that we've got.' So, for me, in mapping the journey of the Eisteddfod, you can see how there's a change.
But also our role of discussing with local authorities and ensuring that their strategy for the next five years changes, so that they can see the benefit of adding further opportunities through the medium of Welsh, and also that the whole programme of work of an authority changes, so that when there are events, they normalise the fact that there are Welsh-medium stalls there, because what you might see is that it's not often that you'll see something Welsh at an event. Perhaps the welcome will be bilingual, but perhaps what's on offer is much less. So, ensuring the normalisation of the concept of having a multilingual offer is important, as well as looking at the role of how this is going to change the education sector, and the social sector, and also services, because that is as important as well, that people have the services they want in their language of choice.
Diolch am hynna. Mi wnaf i fynd at Llio. Gyda llaw, mae gennym ni ryw 20 munud ar ôl ac mae yna sawl pwnc arall dŷn ni’n gobeithio eu codi, felly mae hyn oll mor ddefnyddiol i ni, ond os gallaf i erfyn arnoch chi am atebion bach yn fwy cryno. Mae’n flin gen i, dwi’n gwybod bod cymaint o’r pethau dŷch chi’n eu dweud mor bwysig, ond mi wnaf i fynd at Llio.
Thank you for that. I'll go to Llio. By the way, we’ve got about 20 minutes left and there are a number of other areas that we hope to cover, so this is all very useful to us, but if I could ask you for slightly briefer answers. I'm sorry, I know that so much of what you're saying is very important, but I will go to Llio.
Byddem ni'n gallu siarad am hyn drwy'r dydd, dwi'n siŵr. Na, mi wnaf fod yn gryno.
Dwi'n meddwl bod yna ffeithiau hanesyddol o effaith Eisteddfod yr Urdd ar yr iaith Gymraeg. Roedd Lis yn tystio yn y sgwrs flaenorol efo mentrau iaith Cymru fod Menter Iaith Merthyr a'r ganolfan Gymraeg ym Merthyr wedi eu datblygu yn sgil cynnal Eisteddfod yr Urdd, a'r awydd yna i weld parhad ieithyddol ar ôl yr ŵyl. A hefyd mentrau iaith yn gyffredinol, roedd y fenter iaith gyntaf erioed wedi cael ei sefydlu oherwydd bod Eisteddfod yr Urdd wedi ymweld ag ardal, ac eisiau sicrhau wedyn fod pobl yn gallu defnyddio'r iaith Gymraeg yn eu cymunedau nhw yn dilyn yr ŵyl.
Ond dwi'n meddwl hefyd bod yna effeithiau hirdymor yn parhau i fod. Rydyn ni’n gwneud case studies bob blwyddyn, ac mae nifer o’n henillwyr ar gyfer medal y dysgwyr, sydd wrthi’n gadael addysg Gymraeg, yn newid eu dewis o golegau oherwydd eu bod nhw wedi cael cydnabyddiaeth am eu defnydd o’r iaith. Ac yn hytrach na mynd dros y ffin i astudio drwy’r Saesneg, yn penderfynu mynd i Fangor neu Aberystwyth, er mwyn cael profiad cwbl Gymreig a datblygu eu sgiliau ieithyddol nhw—rhywbeth fuasen nhw byth wedi'i wneud heb iddynt ymweld â’r Eisteddfod a chymryd rhan yn y cystadlu.
A dwi’n meddwl ein bod ni fel gŵyl yn sicrhau bod pobl yn aros o fewn ffiniau Cymru. Mae’r effaith rydyn ni’n gallu ei gael, fel digwyddiad high profile hefyd, yn aruthrol. Mae yna dros 1,000 o ysgolion yn ymwneud efo’r Urdd bob blwyddyn, ond mae hwnna’n cynyddu oherwydd yr ymwneud â’r ysgolion ail iaith yna, oherwydd eu bod nhw’n gallu cymryd rhan mewn gŵyl fel Eisteddfod yr Urdd pan fydd hi ar eu stepen drws nhw, ac wedyn yn gweld y budd o hwnnw ac yn parhau efo’r iaith, efo’u taith ieithyddol nhw.
Felly, dwi ddim yn meddwl mai cyd-ddigwyddiad ydy o fod hyn i gyd yn digwydd; dwi’n meddwl bod o’n ffaith bod gwyliau proffil uchel a mawr, cenedlaethol, fel Eisteddfod yr Urdd a’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, wir yn cael effaith ar y defnydd o iaith, a hynny am amser hir iawn.
Yes, we could discuss this all day, I'm sure. No, I will be succinct.
I think there are historical examples of the impact of the Urdd Eisteddfod on the Welsh language. Lis mentioned in your previous conversation with the mentrau iaith that Menter Iaith Merthyr and the Welsh language centre in Merthyr were developed as a result of staging the Urdd Eisteddfod, and that desire to see legacy following that festival. And the mentrau iaith generally, the first menter iaith was established because the Urdd Eisteddfod had visited a particular area, and they then wanted to ensure that people could use the Welsh language in their communities following the festival.
But I do think that there are long-term impacts that continue. We carry out case studies every year, and many of our winners of the learners medal, who are leaving Welsh-medium education, change their choice of college because they’ve received that recognition for their use of the language. And rather than going over the border to study through the medium of English, they decide to go to Aberystwyth or Bangor, to have that Welsh experience at university and to develop their language skills—something that they would never have done if they hadn't visited the Eisteddfod and participated in the competition.
And I do think that we as a festival ensure that people remain within Wales. The impact that we can have, as a high-profile event, is huge. Over 1,000 schools engage with the Urdd every year, and that’s increasing because of our engagement with those second-language schools, because they can participate in a festival like the Urdd Eisteddfod when it’s on their doorstep, and then they see the benefits of that and continue with the language, on their linguistic journey.
So, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all of this happens; I think it’s a fact that high-profile, major national festivals, such as the Urdd Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod, truly do have an impact on language use, and for a very long time.
Diolch.
Diolch, Llio. Julie, oedd unrhyw beth arall oeddech chi eisiau gofyn?
Thank you, Llio. Julie, was there anything else you wanted to ask?
I suppose, really: what can you do to establish a lasting legacy in the area you visited without additional resources and funding? Betsan, do you want to go first?
Buaswn i’n dweud cynllunio gyda phartneriaid sydd ar lawr gwlad ac a fydd yno, i ddiogelu bod pob dim rŷn ni’n ei wneud yn bwydo’r weledigaeth yna. Felly, pan fyddwn ni’n gadael, ein strategaeth gadael ni yw bod pob un ohonyn nhw yn ymwybodol o ran beth yw eu rôl nhw, ond hefyd sicrhau bod pawb yn rhannu’r weledigaeth yna ac yn cynorthwyo ei gilydd. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, i fi, y cynllunio sy’n hollbwysig ar gyfer gwireddu hynny.
I would say planning with partners who are at grass-roots levels and who will be there, just to ensure that everything we do feeds into that vision. So, when we leave, our exit strategy is that everybody is aware of what their role is, but we also ensure that everybody shares that vision and supports each other. So, really, for me, the planning is crucial in terms of realising that.
Llio.
Llio.
Thank you. Diolch.
Os gallwn ni 'ddad-mute-io' Llio.
If we could unmute Llio.
Ie, cytuno efo Betsan o ran y cydweithio yna. Mae angen strategaeth i sicrhau bod y gwaddol yn digwydd mewn nifer o bocedi a chymunedau yng Nghymru ar yr un pryd, oherwydd, yn amlwg, rydyn ni’n ymweld â chymunedau gwahanol bob blwyddyn, ni a’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. Felly, mi fuasai cydweithio a strategaeth benodol ar gyfer y gwaddol wir yn gwneud gwahaniaeth.
Ond dwi hefyd yn meddwl bod pawb yn gweithio o fewn eu capasiti ar hyn o bryd. O ran Eisteddfod yr Urdd, mae’n tîm ni yna i gynnal yr ŵyl. Mae’n staff ni yna i gynnal digwyddiadau cymunedol o fewn y cymunedau. Mae staff yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yna i gynnal yr ŵyl. Fel roedd criw y mentrau iaith yn sôn yn gynharach, maen nhw yna, maen nhw’n gwneud y gwaith yma ar ben eu gwaith arferol nhw. Felly, dwi’n meddwl bod cynyddu capasiti a thrio sicrhau gwaddol yn rhywbeth rydyn ni’n ei wneud oherwydd rydyn ni’n teimlo’n falch iawn ohono fo, ac rydyn ni’n teimlo yn gryf iawn dros allu sicrhau gwaddol o fewn y cymunedau ar ôl i ni adael fel gŵyl, ond dwi hefyd yn meddwl, er mwyn gallu sicrhau y mwyaf ohono fo, fod angen adnoddau ychwanegol i gael eu buddsoddi i mewn iddo fo, neu bydd o jest ddim yn digwydd, a bydd o ddim yn digwydd ar y lefel gorau posib y byddai'n gallu digwydd. A dwi’n meddwl, er mwyn sicrhau hynna, buddsoddiad, adnoddau a phobl sydd eu hangen, er mwyn sicrhau bod y gwaith yn cael ei gyflawni.
Yes, I agree with Betsan on collaboration. You need a strategy to ensure that that legacy is in place in many pockets and communities across Wales simultaneously, because, obviously, we visit different communities every year, us and the National Eisteddfod. So, co-operation and having a particular legacy strategy would make a real difference.
But I also think that everyone is working within their capacity at the moment. In terms of the Urdd Eisteddfod, our team is there to stage the festival. Our staff are there to hold community events within communities. The National Eisteddfod staff are there to stage the festival. As the mentrau iaith crew mentioned earlier, they are there, they are doing this work in addition to their day-to-day activities. So, I think that increasing capacity and securing a legacy is something that we do because we feel very proud of it, and we feel very strongly that we should ensure a legacy within these communities once we’ve left as a festival, but I also think that in order to make the most of that legacy, we do need additional resources invested into it, or it simply won’t happen, or it won’t happen at the optimum level. And, in order to ensure that, we do need investment, resources and people, in order to ensure that that work is delivered.
Thank you. Diolch.
Diolch, Julie. Mi wnawn ni symud at Heledd.
Thank you, Julie. We'll move on to Heledd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gadeirydd. Yn amlwg, o ran y ddwy Eisteddfod, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi o ran mynediad am ddim i deuluoedd incwm isel yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf yma. Pa mor bwysig ydy hwnna i chi? Ydych chi'n credu bod tâl mynediad, sydd yn parhau i nifer o bobl, yn parhau i fod yn rhwystr? Oes yna fwy y byddech chi'n hoffi ei weld yn digwydd? Er enghraifft, mi gafodd yr Urdd Eisteddfod am ddim yn llwyr, i gyd-fynd efo'ch canmlwyddiant. Beth fyddai'r ddelfryd o ran eich dau sefydliad chi?
Thank you very much, Chair. Clearly, in terms of both Eisteddfods, Welsh Government has invested in terms of free entry for low-income families in recent years. How important is that to you? Do you think that the entry fee, which remains for a number of people, continues to be a barrier? Is there more that you would like to see happening? For example, the Urdd had a completely free Eisteddfod to coincide with your centenary. What would be the ideal situation in terms of both of your organisations?
Pwy sydd eisiau—?
Who would like to—?
Mewn byd delfrydol, yn sicr, dwi wirioneddol yn credu y dylai fod yna ŵyl genedlaethol ble nad oes yna dâl mynediad iddo fe. Dwi'n credu bod dathlu'r gorau o'r iaith a'n diwylliant yn hollbwysig. Mae gennym ni amgueddfa genedlaethol ac mae'n rhad i fynd iddi; pam nid gŵyl, buaswn i'n dadlau. Ond, wrth gwrs, rydyn ni'n ymwybodol iawn yn yr hinsawdd economaidd sydd ohoni fod yn rhaid i ni edrych ar fel y gallwn ni wireddu hynny. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r gât i ni yn anferth ar gyfer y cynllun busnes. Felly, mi fyddai angen arian sylweddol ar gyfer gwireddu gŵyl rad ac am ddim, ond byddai effaith gŵyl rad ac am ddim yn anferthol. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod effaith Eisteddfod Caerdydd yn parhau, ac felly nid ar chwarae bach y dylid anghofio effaith gallu gwireddu hynny, achos i fi, mae rhywun yn gallu gweld y diwylliant yna, sy'n hollbwysig. Felly, mi fyddai hynny'n uchelgais.
Ond dwi'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig o ran pecynnau ar gyfer teuluoedd incwm isel—ac, wrth gwrs, gyda ni nid jest y tocyn yw e, mae'n becyn yn fwy na hwnna, rydych chi'n cael taleb bwyd ar gyfer y plant hefyd fel ei fod e'n brofiad cyfannol—dwi'n credu bod hwnna wedi talu ar ei ganfed oherwydd mae e wirioneddol yn rhoi cyfle i rywun i flasu ar y stepen drws. Ac os ydyn ni jest yn sôn am Rhondda Cynon Taf, beth gawsom ni oedd teuluoedd yn dod ar y penwythnos cyntaf, ac mi ddaethon nhw nôl. Mi wnaethon nhw roi opsiwn i'r plant o ran beth roedden nhw eisiau, 'Ydych chi eisiau mynd i'r sinema dros yr haf, neu ydych chi eisiau mynd i gael pryd o fwyd dros yr haf?' ac mi ddaethon nhw nôl. Gwnaeth un teulu ddod nôl deirgwaith ar ôl hynny oherwydd roedden nhw'n dweud er bod yna gost, bod profiad rwyt ti'n ei gael a'r hyn rwyt ti'n ei gael am dy arian yn anhygoel. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, i fi, colli cyfle fyddem ni petai hynny ddim yn bodoli, oherwydd mae'r ffaith bod rhywun yn gallu dod i flasu a chael y profiad yna yn anhygoel, ond hefyd mae newid agwedd at iaith yn hollbwysig oherwydd beth rydych chi'n ei gael. A beth sydd wedi digwydd bob tro rydyn ni wedi gwneud hwnna yw bod pobl yn dod yn disgwyl, efallai, rhywbeth cwbl wahanol i beth maen nhw wedi ei gael, ond yn cael y profiad anhygoel yna a sylweddoli perchnogaeth iaith. Felly, i fi, mae'n amhrisiadwy.
Well, in an ideal world, certainly, I truly believe that there should be a national festival where there is no charge. I think that celebrating the best of our language and culture is crucially important. We have a national museum where entry is free; why not a festival, I would argue. But, of course, we're very aware that in the current economic climate we have to look at how we can deliver that. And, of course, our take at the gate is crucially important to our business plan. So, we would need significant funding in order to deliver a free festival, but the impact of a free festival would be huge. I must say that the impact of the Eisteddfod in Cardiff is ongoing, so we must not forget the impact of delivering that, because for me, one can see the culture in action, and that's crucially important. So, that would be an ambition of ours.
But I think that what's important in terms of the package for low-income families—and, of course, with us, it's not just the ticket, the package is more than that, you get a food voucher for the children too, so it's a complete experience—I think that's really paid off because it truly provides an opportunity to experience that on your doorstep. And if we're just talking about Rhondda Cynon Taf, what we saw were families coming on the first weekend and they returned. They provided an option to their children, 'What do you want to do? Do you want to go to the cinema in the summer or do you want to go out for a meal?' and they came back. One family came back three times after that because they said that although there was a cost, the experience and what you got for your money was incredible. So, for me, we would be missing an opportunity if that didn't exist, because the fact that one can have that taster and have that experience is truly incredible, but also there's a change of attitude to the language, which is crucially important, because of what you've had. And what's always happened when we've done this is that people have come expecting something very different to what they get, but they have this incredible experience and realise that they have ownership of the language too. So, for me, it is invaluable.
Diolch. Llio.
Thank you. Llio.
Ie, yr un fath. Mewn byd delfrydol buaswn i ddim yn dweud 'na' i gael mynediad am ddim i bawb—buasai'n hyfryd, oni fuasai—ond dwi'n meddwl mai realiti'r peth ydy bod Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn costio £2.7 miliwn i'w chynnal am yr wythnos, ac mae canran eithaf bach o hwnna, tua 10 y cant, yn dod o fuddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru a chymdeithas y llywodraethau lleol, ac wedyn mae'r gweddill yn dod drwy incwm tocynnau, incwm darlledu, stondinwyr, carafannau ac yn y blaen, ond mae nawdd corfforaethol hefyd yn darged mawr i ni.
Ac mae lot o fuddsoddiad staff yn mynd i mewn i sicrhau bod pris mynediad ddim yn codi yn aruthrol a'n bod ni ddim yn sybsideiddio cost yr Eisteddfod trwy brisiau tocynnau. Dydyn ni ddim wedi codi pris tocynnau cystadleuwyr ers tua 2018 er mwyn sicrhau ei bod o yn fforddiadwy, yn parhau i fod yn fforddiadwy, er bod costau cynnal yr ŵyl wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol ers cyfnod COVID. Mae wedi cynyddu gan ryw £1 miliwn. Rydyn ni'n sicrhau ein bod ni fel staff yn mynd ar ôl grantiau a nawdd ychwanegol er mwyn gallu cadw prisiau'r tocynnau mor rhad â phosib. A dwi'n meddwl, o gymharu efo dyddiau allan eraill i'r teulu o ran twristiaeth, ein bod ni'n dal i barhau i fod yn gystadleuol o ran yr arlwy sydd ar gael ar y maes yn ystod yr wythnos.
Mae'r grant mynediad am ddim wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr i ni—gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae'n sicrhau bod rhieni yn gallu dod i mewn i wylio eu plant yn cystadlu, bod plant o deuluoedd incwm is yn gallu dod i mewn am ddim. Mae tua 47 y cant o'r rheini sy'n hawlio tocynnau am ddim yn dod i'r Eisteddfod am y tro cyntaf erioed, sy'n sicrhau ein bod ni'n ymestyn allan at gynulleidfaoedd newydd. Mae rhyw 13 y cant o'r rhai sy'n hawlio'r tocynnau yn dweud y buasen nhw ddim yn gallu dod i'r Eisteddfod o gwbl, y buasai'n gwbl amhosib heb y gefnogaeth yna.
Dwi'n cofio adeg, cyn COVID, lle roedd yna rieni yn dod at y bwth tocynnau ac yn penderfynu pa un oedd yn gallu mynd i mewn achos dim ond un roedden nhw'n gallu talu amdano fo, ac yn penderfynu, na, mae'r llall yn gorfod aros yn y maes parcio ac eistedd yn y car trwy'r dydd yn hytrach na dod i mewn i weld y cystadleuwyr. Dwi'n cofio staff yr Urdd yn talu am docyn i rai pobl achos eu bod nhw jest methu â fforddio fo. Felly, dwi'n meddwl y bydd yr effaith y mae'r grant yma'n ei chael yn gwneud gwahaniaethau mawr ar lefel gwbl bersonol a chymunedol hefyd i bobl, ac yn sicrhau nad oes dim rhwystr iddyn nhw ddod a phrofi'r iaith Gymraeg a'r celfyddydau o fewn eu cymunedau nhw a'u bod nhw'n gallu rhoi'r gefnogaeth ychwanegol i'w plant nhw.
Yes, the same. In an ideal world I wouldn't say 'no' to free entry for everybody—it would be great, wouldn't it—but the reality is that the Urdd Eisteddfod costs £2.7 million to stage for a week, and quite a small percentage of that, about 10 per cent, comes from Welsh Government investment and the local government association, and then the rest comes from ticket income, broadcasting income, stall holders, caravans and so forth, and corporate sponsorship is a big target for us.
There's a lot of staff investment in ensuring that the ticket price doesn't go up significantly and that we don't subsidise the cost of the Eisteddfod through the ticket cost. We haven't increased the price of competitors' tickets since about 2018 to ensure that it is affordable, and that it continues to be affordable, even though the costs of holding the festival have increased greatly since COVID. They've increased by about £1 million. We ensure that we, as staff, go after grants and additional sponsorship in order to keep ticket prices as low as possible. And I think, compared with other days out for families in terms of tourism, that we still continue to be competitive in terms of what's on offer on the maes during the week.
The grant in terms of free entry has made a huge difference for us—from the Welsh Government. It ensures that parents can come in and see their children compete, and that children from low-income families can come in for free. About 47 per cent of those who claim free tickets are coming to the Eisteddfod for the first time, which ensures that we are reaching out to new audiences. About 13 per cent of those who claim free tickets say that they wouldn't be able to come to the Eisteddfod at all, it would be completely impossible without that support.
And I remember a time, pre COVID, when parents would come to the ticket booth and decide who could go in because they could only afford for one of them to go in, and deciding that, no, the other would have to stay in the car park and sit in the car all day rather than coming in to see the competitors. I remember Urdd staff paying for some people's tickets because they couldn't afford it. So, I think the impact that this grant has will make a huge difference, at a wholly personal and community level, to people and ensures that there is no barrier to them enjoying the arts through the medium of Welsh and in their own communities and that they are able to give their children additional support.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n gadarn iawn—bod eisiau parhau i ariannu teuluoedd incwm isel felly. Diolch i chi'ch dwy.
O ran, wedyn, yr effaith economaidd, yn amlwg mae yna effaith economaidd anferthol bob tro mae yna Eisteddod yr Urdd ac Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. Rydych chi wedi darparu tystiolaeth amryw o weithiau i ni fel pwyllgor ar hynny. Ydych chi'n meddwl bod hynny'n cael ei ddeall yn ddigonol gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a'ch bod chi'n cael eich gweld fel gwyliau ryngwladol o bwys yn hytrach na gwyliau ar gyfer y Gymraeg i bobl o Gymru, oherwydd mae gennych chi bobl ryngwladol, onid oes, sy'n dod i'r eisteddodau? A allwn ni fod yn gwneud mwy i gefnogi'r Eisteddod, neu'r ddwy Eisteddod, a lle maen nhw o ran strategaeth economaidd Cymru?
Thank you very much. I think that's very robust evidence that we need to continue to fund low-income families. So, thank you to you both.
In terms of the economic impact, clearly, there's a huge economic impact every time an Urdd Eisteddfod or a National Eisteddfod is held. You've provided evidence to us as a committee many times on that. Do you think that that is fully understood by the Welsh Government and that you are seen as important international festivals rather than simply Welsh language festivals for people from Wales, because you have an international audience, don't you, coming to your eisteddfodau? Could we be doing more to support the Eisteddfod, or both Eisteddfods, and where they are in terms of the economic strategy for Wales?
Mae Betsan yn sicr eisiau dod i mewn ar hyn, rwy'n gweld.
Betsan certainly wants to come in on this point.
Dwi'n credu y gwnaeth Ian Gwyn Hughes ddweud wrthych chi'n gynt, onid do, lle roedd e'n dweud mi oedd yna brofiad ble roedd e'n teimlo'n fwy cyfforddus yn ei hunaniaeth mewn gwlad arall. A'r hyn sydd yn fy nhristáu i yw, pan fyddaf i'n siarad—. Rŷn ni wedi cael nifer o bobl ryngwladol yn dod i'r Eisteddod—ac mae gennym ni wyliau—yn dod yn flynyddol, ac maen nhw'n dweud, 'Hwn yw un o'r arfau pwysicaf fyddai gan wlad ar gyfer gwneud pŵer tawel, pŵer meddal, ac eto i gyd, pam ŷn ni wedi cael y gwahoddiad drwoch chi yn hytrach nag, efallai, ein bod ni'n ymwybodol o hyn?' Dwi'n ofni weithiau ein bod ni'n ofn mentro a nodi bod gennym ni un o brif wyliau diwylliannol y byd oherwydd ei bod hi drwy iaith leiafrifol, a dwi ddim yn gallu deall, oherwydd, mewn gwirionedd, pan fyddwch chi'n edrych ar yr arlwy sydd gennym ni—. Ac, yn rhyfedd, mae yna bobl wedi dweud wrthyf i—pobl ddaeth yn rhyngwladol a phobl ddaeth hefyd ar gyfer Eisteddfod Caerdydd, ac wedi hynny—'Dwi wedi cael y profiad celfyddydol gorau dwi erioed wedi'i gael, hyd yn oed mewn gwyliau lle rwy'n talu £150 y diwrnod i fynd iddyn nhw, yma.' Mae'n rhaid inni ei ddathlu e ac mae'n rhaid inni sylweddoli'r adnodd sydd gyda ni.
Ac felly, buaswn i'n dweud, oes, mae angen inni fod yn fwy eofn i ddweud, 'Mae gennym ni ŵyl arobryn yn fan hyn ac mae'n rhaid inni ei dathlu hi. Mae nifer o'n prosiectau ni, megis Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig, yn rhan o'r pŵer tawel, yn gweithio gyda'r Ewros ac yn y blaen. Mae gennym ni TwmpDaith, y gwnaethon ni ei chreu gyda Menter Maldwyn, sydd wedi bod yn rhan o hynny. Ond rŷn ni'n anghofio bod gennym ni un o'r gwyliau, byddwn i'n dweud, gorau yn y byd yma ar ein stepen drws ni, ac mae angen inni barchu a dathlu hynny. Ac rwy'n credu bod angen inni ddefnyddio hynny'n fwyfwy, oherwydd, o ran twristiaeth, un o'r pethau pwysicaf mae pobl yn ei ddweud yw beth sy'n unigryw am wlad, ac mae gennych chi yn fan hyn rywbeth sy'n gwbl unigryw ac mae gennych chi'r artistiaid arobryn sy'n rhan ohono.
Buaswn i'n dweud mai un o'r profiadau hyfrytaf dwi erioed wedi'i gael yw eistedd yn Nhregaron yn edrych ar waith syrcas—un o'r goreuon dwi wedi'i weld, ac rwy wedi bod i weld nifer o syrcasau drwy Brydain a thu hwnt—ac mi oedd e'n digwydd yn fanna. Mae gennym ni sbectacl anhygoel yn digwydd yn ddyddiol yn yr Eisteddfod, a dwi'n credu bod rhaid inni ddathlu hynny ac mae'n rhaid inni fod yn hyderus wrth nodi hynny.
I think that Ian Gwyn Hughes told you earlier, didn't he, about an experience where he felt more comfortable in his identity in another country. And what saddens me is that, when I talk about this—. We've had a number of international visitors to the Eisteddfod—and we have annual festivals—and they say, 'This is one of the most important tools a country could have in terms of soft power, and so why did we get the invitation through you rather than perhaps us being aware of this?' I fear that, sometimes, we're afraid to take the risk and point out that we have one of the main cultural festivals in the world because it is through the medium of a minority language, and I don't understand, because when you look at what we have to offer—. And, curiously, there have been people—international visitors and people who then came to Cardiff's Eisteddfod—who have told me, 'I've had the best cultural experience ever here, even compared with festivals where I pay £150 a day to attend.' And we need to celebrate that, and we need to realise the resource that we have.
And so, I would say that, yes, we need to be more confident and say that we've got a fantastic festival here, and we need to celebrate it. A number of our projects, such as Merched yn Gwneud Miwsig, are part of this soft power initiative, working with the Euros and so on. We've also got TwmpDaith, which we created with Menter Maldwyn, as part of that. But we must remember that we have, I would say, one of the best festivals in the world here on our doorstep, and we need to respect and celebrate that. And I think we need to use that more, because, in terms of tourism, one of the most important things that people say is what's unique about a country, and you have something here that's completely unique and you have these fantastic artists who are a part of it.
I would say that one of the greatest experiences I've ever had is sitting Tregaron, looking at a circus act—and I've seen circus acts throughout Britain and beyond—and it was happening there in Tregaron. We have a fantastic spectacle happening on a daily basis at the Eisteddfod, and I think we need to celebrate that and we need to be confident in pointing that out.
Diolch.
Llio.
Llio.
Ie, yn yr un ffordd, Eisteddfod yr Urdd ydy'r ŵyl fwyaf ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc yn Ewrop, os nad y byd. Ac fel roedd Betsan yn dweud, mae brand 'eisteddfod', y traddodiad eisteddfodol, yn rhywbeth cwbl, cwbl unigryw i Gymru. A dwi'n meddwl ei fod o'n rhywbeth y dylem ni fod yn gweiddi amdano ac yn ei ddathlu lot yn fwy y tu hwnt i'n sefydliadau ni, felly—fel Llywodraeth, fel bwrdd twristiaeth. Mae'r ffaith bod yna rai cymunedau di-Gymraeg sydd efallai'n dal ddim yn siŵr beth ydy eisteddfod yn siom, â dweud y gwir, achos mi ddylem ni fod yn ymfalchïo ynddi hi fel cenedl ac yn y ffaith bod hon yn gwbl unigryw o ran gwyliau aml-ddiwylliannol.
Mae ein criw iechyd a diogelwch yn dweud wrthym ni bob blwyddyn mai ni ydy'r ŵyl fwyaf sy'n digwydd yr wythnos yna yn Ewrop. Mae sgêl y peth yn anferth pan fyddwch chi'n ei gymharu fo efo gwledydd eraill. Ond ddim jyst sgêl y peth fel gŵyl sy'n dathlu diwylliant cyffredinol, fel gŵyl gerddorol, ond sgêl rhywbeth sy'n dathlu diwylliant amlgyfrwng drwy gydol yr wythnos. Mae'n rhywbeth y dylen ni ei roi ar dop ein blaenoriaethau ni wrth fuddsoddi yn ein treftadaeth a'n diwylliannau ni, dwi'n meddwl, ac yn dangos i weddill y byd beth rydyn ni'n gallu ei wneud.
Ac ar ben hynny, dwi'n meddwl, mae gwarchod y ddwy Eisteddfod fel rhywbeth sydd yn rhoi cyfleoedd perfformio traddodiadol hefyd o fewn y diwylliant gwerinol. Does na ddim lot o lefydd sydd efo llwyfan cenedlaethol i allu gwneud hynny, heblaw amdanom ni a'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, a hynny ar ddwy lefel wahanol, o ran plant a phobl ifanc a'r boblogaeth gyfan. Dwi'n meddwl bod rheini'n bethau arbennig iawn i'w cadw, a heb eu dathlu, a heb rannu'r negeseuon pwysig yma am beth sy'n ein gwneud ni'n unigryw, dim ond eu colli nhw wnawn ni.
Yes, likewise, the Urdd Eisteddfod is the largest festival for children and young people in Europe, if not the world. And, as Betsan said, the eisteddfod brand and the eisteddfod tradition is something that is entirely unique to Wales. And I think it's something that we should be shouting about and celebrating far more, beyond our own organisations, as a Government and as a tourist board. The fact that there are some non-Welsh-speaking communities that still aren't quite sure what an eisteddfod is is a disappointment, because we should be taking pride in this as a nation and in the fact that this makes us unique in terms of multicultural events.
Our health and safety crew tell us every year that we're the biggest festival happening in Europe during that week. The scale is huge when you compare it to other nations, but not just the scale of it as a festival celebrating general culture, such as a musical festival, but something that actually celebrates culture in all its forms throughout the week. It's something that we should be putting at the top of our priority list when we invest in our heritage and culture and when we show the rest of the world what we can do.
And we need to protect both Eisteddfods as something that provide traditional performance opportunities too, as part of our folk culture. There aren't many places where you have a national platform to do that, apart from at the Urdd and the National Eisteddfod, and that's at two different levels, in terms of children and young people and the general population. I think these are important things to nurture and protect, and if we don't celebrate and share these important messages about what makes us unique, then we will only lose them.
Diolch am yr atebion hynny. Yn amlwg, mae gennym ni fel pwyllgor hefyd gyfrifoldeb o ran craffu ar faterion rhyngwladol, felly mae'r rhain yn siŵr o fod yn bethau y byddem ni'n gallu craffu arnyn nhw hefyd efo'r Gweinidogion perthnasol.
O ran yr ymchwil sy'n cael ei wneud, o ran deall effaith economaidd, yn amlwg, rydych chi, fel dau sefydliad, yn gwneud gwaith ymchwil. Oes yna bethau pellach, ydych chi'n credu, a fyddai o gymorth i ddeall yr effaith? Yn amlwg, mae rhai pethau anecdotaidd, fel rydych chi wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw o ran teimlad, ac ati. Oes yna ffyrdd eraill, ydych chi'n meddwl, fyddai'n fuddiol i gasglu data er mwyn profi effaith?
Thank you for those responses. Clearly, we as a committee also have a responsibility in terms of scrutinising international affairs, so these are, I'm sure, things that we could scrutinise with the relevant Ministers.
In terms of the research done in understanding the economic impact, clearly, you, as two organisations, do research on this. Is there anything further that you think would assist in understanding this impact? Clearly, there are certain anecdotal things that you've already mentioned in terms of people's feelings, but are there other ways that you think could help with gathering data to actually assess the impact of the festivals?
Os gallaf i ofyn am atebion cryno, plis, achos mae gennym ni bedair munud ar ôl o'n sesiwn. Fe wnaf i fynd at Llio yn gyntaf.
If I could ask for very brief answers, because we have just four minutes left of our session. I'll go to Llio first.
Dwi'n meddwl, o'n rhan ni, mae effaith yr Eisteddfod genedlaethol fel gŵyl yn cael ei fesur, ond hefyd rydym ni'n mesur yr effaith mae dros 200 o eisteddfodau cymunedol yn ei chael ar y cymunedau yna'n lleol, a dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n rhywbeth, efallai, sydd yn cael ei anghofio weithiau—yr effaith economaidd, ond hefyd yr effaith gymunedol a diwylliannol, yn y cymunedau. Felly, yn sicr, rydym ni'n casglu data ar hwnnw, ac mae'n rhywbeth rydym ni'n fwy na hapus i'w rannu.
I think, on our part, the impact of the national Eisteddfod as a festival is measured, but also we measure the impact that over 200 community eisteddfods have on those communities at a local level, and I think that's something that, perhaps, is sometimes forgotten—that economic impact, but also the community impact and cultural impact within those communities. So, certainly, we collect data on that point, and it's something that we're quite prepared to share.
Diolch.
Thank you.
Betsan.
Betsan.
Yn yr un modd, mewn gwirionedd, mae'n hwy na effaith economaidd yn unig; mae'n effaith cymunedol, cymdeithasol, ac mae hefyd yn effaith ieithyddol. Ac felly, i fi, mae'r holl haenau yna, a hefyd y digidol, oherwydd mae yna rôl hollbwysig gyda ni ar gyfer datblygu'r elfen yna. Felly, mae angen edrych arno fo'n gyfannol oherwydd, pan fyddwch chi'n gweld y pecyn yna yn ei gyfanrwydd, mae'n anhygoel beth sy'n cael ei wireddu.
Likewise, in reality, it's more than just an economic impact; it's a community impact, it's a social impact, and it's a linguistic impact. And, for me, all of those levels are there, and also the digital, because there's a crucial role for us in developing that element. So, you need to look at it holistically because, when you see that in its entirety, what's being delivered is incredible.
Diolch.
Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r ddwy ohonoch chi. A gaf i ddiolch i chi yn gyntaf am fod mor barod i roi'r amser i ni prynhawn yma i roi tystiolaeth? A hefyd, o dan gyfyngiadau amser, rydych chi wedi rhoi lot fawr iawn o wybodaeth i ni ac rydyn ni'n wir mor ddiolchgar i glywed eich profiad, achos bydd hwnna wir yn cyfoethogi ein tystiolaeth a'r ymchwiliad yma. Felly, diolch yn fawr iawn i'r ddwy ohonoch chi am yr amser ac am roi cymaint o dystiolaeth i ni.
Bydd transgript o'r hyn sydd wedi cael ei ddweud yn cael ei ddanfon atoch chi i wirio ei fod e'n gofnod teg. Diolch gymaint i chi unwaith eto am y dystiolaeth y prynhawn yma.
Thank you to both of you. May I thank you first of all for being so willing to give of your time this afternoon to give evidence? Also, despite the restrictions on time, you have given us a lot of information and we are very grateful for hearing from your experience, because that will enrich our evidence and this inquiry. So, thank you very much to you both for your time and for providing so much evidence.
A transcript of what's been said will be sent to you to check that it's a fair record, and thank you again for the evidence this afternoon.
Diolch i chi.
Thank you.
Diolch eto. Aelodau, rydyn ni'n symud ymlaen, ond mi wnawn ni ddiolch eto i'n tystion am y dystiolaeth ac am fod gyda ni. Diolch eto iddyn nhw.
Members, we'll move on, but we'll thank our witnesses again for the evidence and for being with us this afternoon. Thank you.
Aelodau, rydyn ni'n symud ymlaen at eitem 8, sef papurau i'w nodi. Dim ond un papur sydd gyda ni ar gyfer y sesiwn heddiw, felly fe wnaf i ofyn os ydych chi'n fodlon nodi'r papur yna.
Members, we move on to item 8, namely papers to note. There's only one paper to note for this session, so I'll ask if you're content to note that paper.
Hapus i nodi.
Happy to note.
Gret. Ocê.
Great. Okay.
Cynnig:
bod y pwyllgor yn penderfynu gwahardd y cyhoedd o weddill y cyfarfod hwn ac o ddechrau'r cyfarfod ar 18 Mehefin 2025, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.42(ix).
Motion:
that the committee resolves to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting and from the start of the meeting on 18 June 2025, in accordance with Standing Order 17.42(ix).
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Felly, o dan Reol Sefydlog 17.42, rwy'n cynnig ein bod ni'n gwahardd y cyhoedd o weddill ein cyfarfod heddiw. Ydych chi'n fodlon i ni wneud?
Therefore, in accordance with Standing Order 17.42, I move a motion to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting. Are you content?
Hapus, Gadeirydd.
Yes, happy.
Ocê. Fe wnawn ni aros i glywed ein bod ni'n breifat.
Okay. We'll wait to hear that we are in private session.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig.
Daeth rhan gyhoeddus y cyfarfod i ben am 14:44.
Motion agreed.
The public part of the meeting ended at 14:44.