It’s August, which can only mean one thing in Wales! The National Eisteddfod. Pontypridd will be brimming with competitors, stalls, volunteers and visitors this week. Whether you’re young or old, a professional Eisteddfodwr or visiting for the first time, whether you speak Welsh, Wenglish or any other language, Pontypridd and Rhondda Cynon Taf are sure to provide a warm welcome to this friendly festival.

The National Lottery Community Fund is proud to support Welsh-medium communities and projects and to offer a completely bilingual service to our customers. From the very start of the process when you apply for a grant, to our assessment and then managing the grant, our funding officers can support you in Welsh every step of the way. We have worked closely with the Welsh Language Commissioner to comply with our Welsh Language Standards since 2017. The projects we fund have a duty to provide their projects bilingually. Our grants therefore support people to come together and use Welsh in their communities every day and as a public body, the Fund has a responsibility to contribute to the Welsh Government’s target of 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050.

And what better place to celebrate the Welsh language than Ynys Angharad Park in the shadow of the sculptures of Evan James and James James, the father and son from Pontypridd who composed our national anthem Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.

In the last 18 months, we are proud to have distributed £45,508 in grants to five projects in Rhondda Cynon Taf whose beneficiaries are mainly Welsh speakers.

One of the projects is Artis Community, which makes a difference to people’s lives by providing professional community art experiences. The project has raised awareness of the language in the area, and has increased individuals’ confidence.

Jên Angharad, Chief Executive said;

“A huge thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund – and to people who buy lottery tickets! You support a 5 year programme of activities in YMa, Pontypridd. The Cwpan a Chrefft group has created a special quilted banner to welcome the Eisteddfod to Pontypridd, putting the Welsh language at the heart of socialising, community purpose and gaining confidence in using the language! Everyone has enjoyed finding the Welsh words to express what the Eisteddfod means to them.”

If you would like support to manage your project bilingually, contact our Welsh Language team here at the Fund or speak to us this week at the National Eisteddfod. We will be at the Third Sector Hub on Thursday and Friday ready to give funding advice.

Good luck to everyone in the National Eisteddfod this week!