Record number of people learning Welsh, new figures show
Dona Lewis, chief executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said: "The significant increase in the number of learners reflects the strength of our learning model and our ability to plan strategically to support the Welsh Government's ambition to increase the use of the Welsh language.
"We are extremely proud of all our learners, tutors, support staff and our partners throughout Wales, and are grateful to the Welsh Government for its continued support.
"The Welsh language belongs to everyone and as we prepare to transfer our work to the National Institute for Learning Welsh in 2027, we look forward to the next stage of our development as a sector, with a clear focus on ensuring lifelong learning opportunities to support more people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, use and enjoy the Welsh language."
The centre's annual report for 2024–25, launched at the Eisteddfod, credits this growth to detailed linguistic planning.
In addition to offering around 1,500 Welsh courses for adults in the community and online, the centre leads the national Learn Welsh strategy, which aims to improve access to the language, attract new audiences, and normalise the use of Welsh.
The centre also supports workplace learning through its Work Welsh scheme.
More than 2,000 employers and 30,000 employees have taken part in the scheme.
This includes partnerships with organisations such as North Wales Police, Airbus, the Football Association of Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union, and Wrexham AFC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Wales receive major injury boost and Louis Rees-Zammit move ruled out by coach
Today's rugby news as Wales receive major injury boost and Louis Rees-Zammit move ruled out by coach The latest rugby headlines from Wales and around the world Rees-Zammit has had a move to one English side this season ruled out These are your latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, August 13. Rees-Zammit move ruled out by coach Newcastle coach Steve Diamond has ruled out a potential move for Louis Rees-Zammit ahead of the new season, despite the club's takeover by energy drinks giants Red Bull. The Premiership club - who will now be known as Newcastle Red Bulls - have had their long-term future secured by the deal with "world-class" players expected to join them over the next few seasons. As a result, many had touted Wales international Rees-Zammit - who is looking for a club after announcing his return to rugby from the NFL last month - for a move to the north-east. However, as the takeover was completed, Diamond said his team are 'just looking at the short term this season', with big-name signings not being considered over the next couple of years. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Asked about a potential move for Rees-Zammit, the coach said: 'All players are going to be of interest now, but at this moment in time, we're just looking at the short term of this season; he won't be joining us for this season. "We're just getting as competitive as we can for Saracens in late September. We'll be looking at world-class facilities, world-class players and world-class coaches coming to Newcastle over the next three or four years to hopefully dominate in the future.' Article continues below However, new signings will be arriving soon, with Diamond adding: "There'll be at least another two or three immediately. There are one or two guys who are currently playing in the southern hemisphere in the Rugby Championship, who won't be arriving till the autumn, but that's all in the plan." He continued: 'My job now is just to concentrate on the squad and the coaching staff on getting the best out of the current squad who've been through difficult times and the new players who are joining us. 'You can't just rush out and spend money. It never really works. So I think the infrastructure is really important, stadium, training ground, getting our academy right, making sure that it's producing kids with the right quality in the community. 'We've got to get our academy running as best we can get it. We've got to give kids a progression and the opportunity to learn, from 13 to 14, not just 15 to 16, and the skill sets cascade down from the first team, from the coaches of the first team, right through the academy system, so when people come in, they know that they're a Newcastle Red Bull. "They know what's expected of them, and they know what behaviour levels are expected of them. What I intend to do, certainly over the next six months, is to try and stabilise the place. We'll have a competitive squad, but that's just the beginning.' Wales get major injury boost as co-captain 'raring to go' By Ed Elliot, PA Co-captain Alex Callender is 'raring to go' for Wales' World Cup campaign after fearing she may miss the tournament following an injury scare. The Harlequins back-row sustained an ankle problem in the second Test defeat to Australia at the start of the month and was later pictured on crutches. But Callender, who on Monday was named in a 32-player squad, confirmed she will be available for her country's Pool B opener against Scotland on Saturday, August 23 in Salford. 'It was a precaution to take me off, I just tweaked an old injury, but I'm raring to go for Scotland,' Callender told reporters on Tuesday, according to BBC Sport. Callender missed most of the Six Nations with an ankle issue suffered playing for her club before impressing in Wales' 21-12 first-Test victory over Australia on July 26 in Brisbane. However, she left the field in the opening minutes of the 36-5 loss to the Wallabies in August 1's second Test in Sydney. Asked if she thought her World Cup was over at that stage, she replied: 'Yes, to be honest. But I'm in a really good place at the moment, I'm just excited to get going.' After beginning against Six Nations rivals Scotland, Wales take on group favourites Canada, who sit second in the world rankings, on August 30 and Fiji on September 6. Callender, who has 45 caps and will lead her country alongside Gloucester-Hartpury flanker Kate Williams, said: 'We live for these moments and these Test matches. 'We're all really excited to step out and showcase all the hard work that we've put in over the last couple of months, and hopefully we can put in a performance and the result will follow.' Springboks could lose top spot The Springboks could lose their spot at the top of the world rankings this weekend. Should Rassie Erasmus's team beat Australia, they will hold on to top spot no matter what happens in the other Rugby Championship match between Argentina and New Zealand. However, should the Springboks draw or lose to Australia, they will slip to second provided that the All Blacks beat the Pumas, with New Zealand then going top. Erasmus' side have been ranked as the best team in the world since November, when they took top spot back from Ireland, having previously held it from midway through the 2023 Rugby World Cup to September last year. History is on the Springboks' side, as they have never lost to Australia at Ellis Park before. However, the Wallabies are chasing another big win, having also won the final Test against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney earlier this month. 'It's really easy to look at what South Africa have done in the past and obviously they're a world-class team and for us it's just taking them for face value,' said Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa. 'We respect what they've done, we respect them as a team, winning World Cups but we're just going to take them at face value – what we see in front of our faces in Ellis Park is how we're going to see them. 'I definitely think we're at a better place now than we were 12 months ago. 'Off the back of a really good win against the Lions, we just want to continue to build that momentum going into the TRC (The Rugby Championship) against South Africa, Argentina and then the All Blacks. 'First stop though here at Ellis Park, so we're looking at definitely continuing that momentum.' England star 'inspired' by Lionesses By Ed Elliot, PA World player of the year Ellie Kildunne intends to emulate Lionesses star Chloe Kelly by ensuring her name is printed on fans' shirts following the Women's Rugby World Cup. The Harlequins full-back is brimming with confidence ahead of her country's quest for global glory on home soil and has taken inspiration from England's footballers retaining the European Championship title. Arsenal forward Kelly played a starring role in the Euro 2025 triumph in Switzerland after propelling herself into the limelight by scoring the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley. Kildunne is key to the Red Roses' ambitions of lifting silverware at Twickenham next month and hopes the team can follow in the Lionesses' footsteps by becoming household names and raising the profile of women's sport. 'Outside this pub, there are Chloe Kelly shirts being sold on the street,' Kildunne, who is supporting Asahi Super Dry's campaign to have the tournament shown in pubs across the UK, told the PA news agency. 'That's what the Euros have done for the Lionesses and the opportunity we've got with this World Cup is to have Kildunne shirts being sold on the side of the street; for young girls and boys to have posters of Emily Scarratt and Meg Jones on their walls and not just Jonny Wilkinson. Article continues below 'I'm inspired by the Lionesses and what they've done for women's football and I hope for nothing less (for women's rugby) than what they've been able to achieve so far.'
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
New Scarlets investors defend credentials and insist they should be the ones to survive
New Scarlets investors defend credentials and insist they should be the ones to survive The inside track on new Scarlets investors House of Sports and Entertainment House of Sports & Entertainment's chief experience officer Simon Kozlowski New Scarlets investors House of Sports & Entertainment are adamant they should be the team in the west if the Welsh Rugby Union cuts to two professional clubs. House of Luxury (HOL) have recently began an investment partnership with the Scarlets and its sports section House of Sports & Entertainment have assumed day-to-day control of the club's off-field activity. Over time they aim to take a 55% share of the club. The company facilitates off-market deals for high value assets, focusing on both private acquisitions and confidential sales. It's owners insist they have huge passion for Welsh rugby and plan to be involved for the long haul. Over the next couple of weeks the WRU are set to begin a formal consultation if what they see as the optimal structure is agreed by the board. It is an open secret the WRU are expected to push for a reduction to two teams, with one based in the east and another in the west. Unless a merger is forthcoming, which has so far been ruled out by House of Sports & Entertainment, it could well put the Scarlets in a two-way battle with the Ospreys for the right to become the west Wales team, with a tender process to follow. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "I think three things are important here," said HOL's chief experience officer Simon Kozlowski. Article continues below "Firstly we need the budget to pay for all of this stuff. "That is only going to come from a solid economic model where you are switching on your revenue streams, integrating the community and you are creating good revenue flow. "Without that, all of this stuff falls apart. "The second thing you need is a talent pipeline. I can tell you that Scarlets, even in the current constraints, are heavily investing in talent pipeline development. "We don't even need to touch that because they are already going in heavy on them. "In terms of how they are bringing that talent through there is room for improvement. We believe we have the expertise to assist with that. "The third thing you need and this is the big elephant in the room - a facility. "Even with the new redeveloped St Helen's they (the Ospreys) still won't have the seating capacity we have." Naturally, the Ospreys would have a different view on the best way forward if Wales does drop to just two sides, and WalesOnline has approached the club for interview. They have their own ambitious plans, having recently been granted planning permission to redevelop St Helen's. Phase one of the redevelopment will include a roof over the terrace, a new and repositioned 3G pitch, refurbishment of the existing clubhouse, a new fan zone, and the installation of new stands. Among these new stands is a proposed permanent South Stand, which will feature three hospitality suites, while phase two of the redevelopment will include a training facility and a gym. WalesOnline also understands those within the WRU would like to build a new centre of excellence moving forward where the remaining teams would be based. Kozlowski believes there is logic in a new centre of excellence being built at Parc y Scarlets. "What needs to be asked is if everybody is so cash-strapped in this ecosystem, where exactly does the money for this performance centre come from?," he told WalesOnline. "If you are trying to create a performance centre like St George's (football) performance centre in England. If you take that as a reference point and ask where can we create that in Wales, you need some space and foundations on which to build that because you are certainly not going to build that from scratch with the budgets bandied around in the Welsh ecosystem. "My point is you need the money and we know how to switch on revenue streams and you need a talent pipeline. "Importantly we have the facilities on which to build a solid foundation and the land around it to expand and make this fantastical performance centre everybody is envisaging. "If I was Dave Reddin and looking at the ecosystem I would expect you to sell me on the value that is going to get me to my goals. "We need money, a talent pipeline and we need facilities not to start from scratch, and tell me what you are going to do in the future. "We are already doing it and what we are bringing is just the missing leg on the stool that broke off, which is the economics. We've cut that off and are sticking a new titanium alloy leg of financial vibrance onto that stool." House of Sports & Entertainment have come in for some vitriolic criticism on social media from Welsh rugby supporters in recent days, with many questioning their credibility. It is important to note they do not own a single share in the Scarlets business yet but are working under a management contract across marketing and commercial while the current board remains in place. If the Scarlets survive the radical restructuring of the professional game then they will assume a 55% shareholding in the club. In order to do this it will need to pass a fit and proper test with the WRU. "HOL expects to work with the WRU on due diligence as they become a shareholder," said Kozlowski. "A two way process clearly makes sense for all parties. As of right now, HoL is not a shareholder and current scarlets directors are still in place - however, over time HoL will become a majority shareholder and as a result we will need to work with the WRU accordingly." Kozlowski is also quick to defend the company's credentials, although could not provide figures for how much money they intend to invest. "So, have we put any money into the Scarlets yet? The answer to that is yes but we are not at liberty to say how much," he tells WalesOnline. "In terms of our credentials I will say that our quarterly profit is more than five times the Scarlets' annual budget. "We are having conversations across countries and continents. We are speaking to English football clubs, American football clubs and other sports. "This is a new domain for us in terms of taking ownership of a sports club. "I was a business turnaround consultant. I have done business modelling innovation at national government level. I've worked for some of the biggest advertising agencies in the world and I've had an innovation consultancy agency. "I've written my own IP around it by just studying the case studies. I know of the parts, the models and the methods in terms of what works in transforming businesses. "In the last three years, House of Motorsport, which ultimately became House of Luxury, has sold no less than 10 football clubs. "In order to sell those clubs we had to get in deep on the economics, the financial models, the opportunities to really dig into the investment capabilities, the profitability potential, the success, the longevity and sustainability of those clubs." Despite his confidence in the plan to turn around the Scarlets, he says Welsh culture does need to change to embrace such a radical change. "In all of the deals we've done in terms of the sale of a sports club for a client we have never encountered the level of overreach in any vertical that the WRU has," he tells WalesOnline. "When you go and look at other governing bodies, even in rugby, there are very few with the level of invasive control that the WRU has, which actually suffocates the initiative, autonomy, creativity and the general stuff you need in business to thrive. "They now become so dependent on the union that it becomes very difficult. "What has been created is something of a socialist culture where in tough times the only thing to do is act like Oliver Twist, put your hand out and say to the union 'I want some more'. "A subset of that culture is where benefactors came in. 'We can't get more money from the union so we need benefactors'. "It's a word we've banned in our organisation. We will not be considered benefactors. We see ourselves as investors and business regeneration specialists. Article continues below "The Welsh eco-system is by far the most challenging. When I talk about eco-system I mean the WRU and the social culture of Wales and how it resists change and bites the hand that tries to feed it while it also turns and attacks itself. "These are things which make it very difficult for Welsh rugby to rise up and meet the objectives and the vision that the WRU have said they are pursuing. "We need to work on our relationship with the WRU. I'm aiming it as a shot across the bow of the entire ecosystem."
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Wales retailers warn against surtax for bigger stores
The Welsh Retail Consortium (WRC) has responded to the Welsh Government's consultation on proposed changes to non-domestic rates, raising concerns about a suggested surtax for medium and large retailers. Retailers currently contribute more than a fifth of all business rates in Wales, which are the highest in Great Britain. The WRC welcomes a permanent reduction in rates for smaller shops but argues that no retailer should face higher costs under the new system. It warns that increasing rates for medium-sized and larger shops could harm high streets, reduce investment, and encourage businesses to look outside Wales. Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said: "Retailers have long borne the brunt of Wales' outdated business rates system, so we welcome the Welsh Government's promise to finally confront this issue. "But let's be clear: shifting the burden from one group of shops to another isn't reform—it's a reshuffle. "These stores are the heartbeat of our high streets—drawing shopper footfall, creating jobs, and anchoring communities. "Penalising them with a surtax would be a serious misstep. "We need a system that rewards investment, not punishes scale."
