This information applies to England and Wales
The 2001 Census shows that around 586,000 people can speak Welsh. In Wales, over a third of children between 3 and 15 years old can speak the language.
The Welsh Language Act puts a duty on public organisations, for example, local authorities, to treat Welsh and English on an equal basis when providing services to the public in Wales. For more details about this, visit the website of the Welsh Language Board at:
English: www.byig-wlb.org.uk/English
Welsh: www.byig-wlb.org.uk/Cymraeg
Welsh is a subject in the national curriculum and is compulsory at all schools in Wales for pupils up to the age of 16. It is taught either as a second language in English medium schools or as a first language in Welsh medium schools.
Adults who wish to learn Welsh can find information on courses, learning resources and qualifications on the Welsh for Adults website at: www.cymraegioedolion.org.uk.
Information about raising children to speak both Welsh and English is available from the Twf project.
More information about Twf can be found on its website: www.twfcymru.com.
The Welsh Language Act 1993 gives Welsh speakers an absolute right to speak Welsh in court in Wales. If you want to speak Welsh in a court, you should contact the clerk of the court beforehand to ensure that suitable arrangements are made.
If you are summoned to serve on a jury at any Crown Court in Wales, you will receive bilingual documents which you have to complete and return. If your reply says that you want to use Welsh, future correspondence will be in Welsh. At the court, jurors are invited to watch a video which explains the responsibilities of jurors. The video is available in Welsh. You can also take the juror’s oath in Welsh. Translation facilities must be provided unless the whole case is to be heard in Welsh.
If you wish to contact an organisation using Welsh, you may find they have a special Welsh language helpline.
To see a full list of organisations which have a Welsh Language helpline, visit the Welsh Language Board’s website at:
www.byig-wlb.org.uk (English)
www.byig-wlb.org.uk (Welsh)
The Link Line to Welsh is a service providing general information on Wales and the Welsh language. It is run on behalf of the Welsh Language Board by Mamiaith, part of Menter Môn in Llangefni.
The Link Line's services are free of charge. They will:
You can contact the Link Line by:
Tel: 0845 607 6070 Monday – Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
Fax: 01248 725 735
Website: www.llinellgyswllt.co.uk
Email: linkline@byig-wlb.org.uk
Email: cyswllt@byig-wlb.org.uk
Text message service: 07624 804 130
For more information about the Welsh language, visit the Welsh Assembly Government’s Welsh language webpage at:
www.new.wales.gov.uk (English)
www.new.wales.gov.uk (Welsh)
Disclaimer, copyright and privacy policy, Copyright © 2012 Citizens Advice. All rights reserved.
