Latest news with #Welsh-speaking
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Extra support for areas with lots of Welsh speakers
This comes after ministers accepted recommendations from a report by the Commission for Welsh Speaking Communities, led by Dr Simon Brooks. The two-year study proposed several measures to protect Welsh as a community language. Welsh Language Secretary Mark Drakeford announced the plans at the Urdd Eisteddfod. The government will provide targeted support to areas with higher concentrations of Welsh speakers, ensure access to Welsh-medium education, and offer more guidance about the language across various policy areas. Recommendations were accepted in several areas, including the economy, housing, community development, and education. The government will work with local authorities and partners to discuss and implement these recommendations. Mr Drakeford said: "Cymraeg belongs to us all, and to every community across Wales. "I am grateful for the commission's hard work on this report, and I hope that by accepting their recommendations, we can strengthen Welsh in all our communities." "We agree in principle that areas of linguistic significance should be designated and will now progress this by working with partners to create tailored policies that respond to the specific needs of Welsh-speaking communities."
ITV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Welsh government unveils new measures to halt the decline of the Welsh language
The Welsh government has unveiled fresh measures aimed at halting the decline of the Welsh language, but some of the measures they plan to take could be controversial, ITV News Wales Reporter Rhys Williams reports Latest census data showed a small decline in the number of Welsh speakers in Wales from 19% to 17.8%. But a big rise in the number of children speaking Welsh in Cardiff meant the true loss of the language in its historical heartlands was areas like Brynamman, at the southern tip of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, the language is in significant the 1970s, more than 90% of the village spoke Welsh. Now, fewer than 60% do so. Campaigners say this story is replicated in many majority Welsh speaking communities across western Wales, where English is now becoming the dominant language. They argue that housing developments with insufficient affordable homes, as well as the proliferation of second homes, inflates property prices and reduces the number of Welsh-speaking families able to stay in these the Welsh government has announced plans to give protected status to some Welsh speaking communities akin to special conservation areas. That would mean developers and local authorities will have to increase the consideration given to the Welsh language when applications are Welsh government's Secretary for the Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford, told me he accepts this policy may lead to more developments being blocked, but says it's a matter of 'levelling the playing field' for local many in the construction industry say the last thing the planning process needs is more bureaucracy. It's also far from clear how this policy work in practice and succeed in arresting decades of decline.
Cambrian News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Cambrian News
Welsh-speaking areas to get 'targeted support'
'We agree in principle that areas of linguistic significance should be designated and will now progress this by working with partners to create tailored policies that respond to the specific needs of Welsh-speaking communities.'
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Wales Online
19 unbelievably brilliant Cardiff breakfast places you'll want to be a regular at
19 unbelievably brilliant Cardiff breakfast places you'll want to be a regular at We've rounded up some of our favourite breakfast and brunch spots in Cardiff so you can start your day right. Breakfast is the most important part of the day, and in Cardiff, we're lucky to have a wide selection of cafes, restaurants, and cabins where you can feast on bacon baps, fry-ups, pancakes, and vegan eats (Image: Hard Lines ) Breakfast is the most important part of the day, and in Cardiff, we're lucky to have a wide selection of cafes, restaurants, and cabins where you can feast on bacon baps, fry-ups, pancakes, and vegan eats. But with so many choices across the city, where do you choose? Who serves the best sausage bap? Where can you get a fry-up that doesn't cost the earth? Luckily for you, we've rounded up some of our favourite breakfast and brunch spots in Cardiff so you can start your day right. In no particular order, here are our top picks in the city. Let's dig in! For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here 1. Longa Breakfast from Longa (Image: Wales Online ) Enjoy a top-class, homemade Turkish brunch in a relaxed setting at Longa's Whitchurch Road location. Their awesome brunch and breakfast options are so popular that they are now serving them all day on weekends. They include dishes such as menemen, consisting of two eggs fried in rich, spiced tomato and pepper sauce and butter, served with Turkish Bread. Another brunch favourite at Longa is Shakshuka, fried aubergine and potato in spiced tomato and pepper sauce with paprika. Served with Turkish bread. 180 Whitchurch Rd, CF14 3NB 2. Canna Deli Located just off the King's Road on Pontcanna Mews, the Welsh-speaking Canna Deli is always busy thanks to its covered outdoor area. This local favourite effortlessly combines flavours from around the world with a distinctly Welsh twist. From the brunch menu, try the coconut porridge with plum compote or, for something a little more filling, the deviled chestnut mushrooms on toasted sourdough, washed down with coffee. Pontcanna Mews, CF11 9DF 3. Milkwood One of our favourite Pontcanna breakfast spots is Milkwood (Image: Portia Jones ) One of our favourite breakfast spots in Pontcanna is Milkwood, a dog-friendly neighbourhood bistro and cafe focused on quality Welsh produce and seasonal specials. By night, the Dusk menu features crafted cocktails, wine, and pizza on Friday and Saturday nights. So you can feast day and night, foodie fans. We particularly love the Shakshuka dish for breakfast, which features perfectly oozy eggs atop a herby and spiced tomato sauce. Order a cheeky side of chorizo for extra brunching oomph. 83 Pontcanna Street, CF11 9HS 4. Hard Lines Hard Lines is a small-batch Welsh Coffee Roastery that serves a mean espresso, gorgeous silky smooth flat whites, and pour-overs made to perfection. Their cafe at St Canna Court in Canton serves a range of brunch and breakfast dishes alongside quality coffee. Typical menu items include loaded breakfast baps, pancakes, huevos rancheros, and banana bread. Cowbridge Rd East, CF5 1GX 5. Park Side Park Side's brunch muffin (Image: Paul Vernon ) Parkside has opened a second Cardiff location with sophisticated interiors and an impressive all-day brunch menu. The indie business already has one cafe in Heath, which opened in 2021. Their new location in Lakeside, right by the popular and gorgeous Roath Park, aims to offer a sophisticated brunch option while serving up established classics, including coffees, cakes, and cocktails. The all-day menu features several new creations, like stuffed sourdough eggy bread with smoked bacon and cheddar, and buttermilk fried chicken French toast with hot honey. The first Park Side is already loved for its cakes and sweet treats, and the independent bakery Carrot Top Bakery will continue to provide for the new Lakeside cafe. 6. Brød Looking for pastries and coffee in Pontcanna? Try Danish bakery Brod for a little slice of Denmark in the 'diff.' It offers traditional Danish pastries and freshly brewed, aromatic coffees supplied by Clifton Coffee Roasters. The Sunday Times also singled out this hip bakery as being "unmissable." It's the brainchild of Betina Skovbro, who combined her heritage and love of baked goods to the city in November 2015, since expanding to Penarth, then the east of Cardiff. 126 Wyndham Crescent, CF11 9EG 7. Forest Tea Rooms You'll find no-nonsense breakfast food at the rather secluded Forest Tea Rooms in Tongwynlais (Image: Portia Jones ) You'll find no-nonsense breakfast food at the rather secluded Forest Tea Rooms in Tongwynlais. Look, this isn't a posh hipster cafe. Don't come here expecting deconstructed avocado on toast, okay? Adjust your expectations, and you will have a fuss-free breakfast experience in a rustic and leafy cafe in the woods. It's a family-run business in a gorgeous forest setting that even has the odd peacock roaming around. Heol Y Fforest, CF15 7JR 8. Servini's at the Summerhouse Servini's at the Summerhouse (Image: Portia Jones ) Since Servini's took over the summer house in Bute Park, it has been offering a fabulous selection of locally roasted coffee, breakfast, and lunch sandwiches. Eat al fresco in beautiful Bute Park and enjoy a relaxed morning in the outdoors. Their outdoor seating area is also dog-friendly, so you can take a break from your dog walk to grab a hot brew and a bap. Bute Park Summer House 9. Ground The dishes in Ground look (almost) too good to eat (Image: Portia Jones ) Ground Bakery is MasterChef star Thomas Simmons' coffee shop venture, whose first cafe was in the affluent creative area of Pontcanna. It's an artisanal boulangerie and speciality coffee house and is just yards away from his hugely successful restaurant, which now has three sister locations in Canton, Penarth and Cowbridge. This small and sleek venue serves a range of brunch dishes and baked goods, including (melt-in-your-mouth) overnight bacon, mushrooms and eggs, Llys Meddyg smoked salmon and eggs and house beans and eggs 15 Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HQ 10. Bentleys Cafe Bentley's Café on Wellfield Road is a standout among Roath's hipster cafe offering (Image: Portia Jones ) Bentley's Café on Wellfield Road is a standout among Roath's hipster cafe offerings. It perfectly combines old-school cafe vibes with modern decor and excellent service. Take a seat and have a proper cup of tea alongside toasties, omelettes, massive breakfasts, and tasty avo on toast. 35 Wellfield Road, CF24 3PA 11. Wally's Kaffeehaus Wally's Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus brings a little slice of Viennese coffee house culture to Cardiff (Image: Wally's Kaffeehaus ) Wally's Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus brings a little slice of Viennese coffee house culture to Cardiff. They offer a great range of continental breakfasts, open sandwiches, and strong coffee to kick-start your morning. After breakfast, make sure to check out their foodie emporium on the ground floor. It's a real treasure trove of local European food and local produce. Royal Arcade 12. KIN+ILK Pontcanna KIN+ILK Pontcanna site is a stark and stripped-back bit of Scandi cool, smack bang in the tree-lined 'burbs of Pontcanna (Image: Portia Jones ) KIN+ILK Pontcanna site is a stark and stripped-back bit of Scandi cool, smack bang in the tree-lined 'burbs of Pontcanna. There's plenty of outdoor seating here too, giving this uber-hip café a real 'European neighbourhood' feel. Try the delicious Turkish eggs slathered in creamy, garlic yoghurt or their incredibly moreish pancake stack. 31 Cathedral Road, CF11 9HB 13. Penylan Pantry If you're in the market for hipster eats and ethical plates, head to Penylan Pantry in Roath (Image: Portia Jones ) If you're in the market for hipster eats and ethical plates, head to Penylan Pantry in Roath. They whip up healthy breakfasts packed with sustainably sourced ingredients and local produce in cutesy café surroundings. 72 Kimberley Rd, CF23 5DN 14. The Ivy Cardiff The Ivy Cardiff (Image: The Ivy ) Have a swanky brunch at the Ivy Cardiff and spoil yourselves with a range of delectable dishes in utterly divine surroundings. This eclectic city restaurant serves modern British and international Ivy-inspired classics from breakfast to dinner. Typical breakfast items include hot buttermilk pancakes, The Ivy full breakfast, smoked salmon crumpet and avocado Benedict. St David's Centre on The Hayes 15. Ramon's Breakfast and Burger Bar The mountain of food was never-ending (Image: Richard Swingler ) Whether it's modest beans on toast or a stomach-challenging mega breakfast, Ramon's is an iconic cafe deep in the student heartlands that serves up huge portions of your fave dishes. Our hungry reporter, John, bravely took on Ramon's colossal Titan breakfast challenge, which contains a staggering 57 items. This breakfast trial requires participants to polish off eight rashers of bacon, eight sausages, eight fried eggs, six hash browns, six slices of black pudding, a pound of mushrooms, a pound of fried potatoes, a huge omelette, tomatoes, baked beans, three vanilla pancakes, four slices of buttered bread and another four slices of fried bread or toast. Read how he got on here. 64 Salisbury Rd, Cardiff CF24 4AD 16. The Secret Garden, Bute Park Right in the centre of Bute Park lies the Secret Garden Cafe (Image: Wales Online ) Right in the centre of Bute Park lies the Secret Garden Cafe. This hip park cafe serves up herby eggs, granola, and coffees that are to die for, especially after a walk around the lush green surroundings. Bute Park 17. Let Them See Cake Content cannot be displayed without consent This homely cake shop in the heart of Victoria Park is one of Wales' most Instagrammable bakeries and rose to prominence after being featured on a TV show. The perfectly pastel pink Cardiff shop front was revealed to the world BBC series Hot Cakes in 2022, which followed the delicious team as they bake their way into the hearts of the nation - and their social media feed. Along with beautiful hand-crafted, stylish buttercream cakes, the bakery also serves brunch from Wednesday to Sunday. Expect pretty plates of Wyau (Forage Farm Eggs), Sweet Stack French Toast and Byti Bach (brioche buns with either smoked bacon or Teifi halloumi) 593 Cowbridge Rd E, Cardiff CF5 1BE 18. Milk & Sugar Planning a chilled weekend breakfast? Milk & Sugar on Pontcanna Street has you covered. Part of a group of independent city venues, whatever you order is freshly cooked and will start your day off right. You can tuck into a full breakfast, pancakes or egg benedict, or specials like flat iron steak. There's a selection of cold-pressed juices, and if you're feeling adventurous, try the chaga mushroom latte, which is described as an "immune system booster, energiser and mood enhancer." 79 Pontcanna St, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HS 19. Hiraeth kitchen Content cannot be displayed without consent Hiraeth is a small neighbourhood restaurant opposite Victoria Park, that's been making waves on the foodie scene. Known for its tasting menus and use of regional produce, including locally foraged ingredients and some from their own smallholding, it has exceptional eats in an intimate setting Hiraeth has also been named in the prestigious Michelin Guide, the AA Guide and the Good Food Guide. Article continues below They recently started offering brunch, which is currently served on Saturdays only. Expect quality produce from a monthly changing menu, perfectly plated.
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Bangor University: archive job cuts ‘assault on Welsh language'
The university, which has around 10,000 students, is looking to cut jobs across the board as part of its bid to save more than £5m. A consultation was recently launched to reduce staff costs equal to around 78 full-time equivalent roles within the university. A spokesperson for the university recently said: 'The university has launched a consultation regarding proposed changes as part of a broader cost-reduction strategy.' On hearing that the university was proposing to cut 75% of the staff in the Archives and Special Collections department, 46 Cyngor Gwynedd councillors joined forces by signing a letter to the university's vice-chancellor, Professor Edmund Burke, calling for a rethink. The Archives and Special Collections is responsible for the collection and long-term preservation of manuscripts, archival collections and a diverse range of rare books and printed material. The VC had recently emailed university staff warning of impending cuts within the university. He had said it followed a fall in international students and the upcoming changes to national insurance by the UK Government, which would add to staffing costs. MORE NEWS: The councillors' letter reads: 'We, the Gwynedd county councillors named below, are thoroughly dismayed at Bangor University's proposed cuts to the Archives and Special Collections service, a move that would result in a 75% reduction in the Archives' staff. 'The proposed cuts are an assault on Gwynedd's heritage, on a significant part of our nation's Welsh-language heritage and on an organic Welsh-speaking workplace that has served Gwynedd's local historians for decades. 'By virtue of its history and location, the University has a moral responsibility to respect and value the part of our local heritage entrusted to its care. 'Therefore, we call on you to reconsider, to realize the extent of your error, and to shield this important service from any impending cuts.' According to the university website the Archives and Special Service's aim is 'to ensure that our resources are accessible to all researchers, free of charge'. It adds: 'We actively promote these collections as valuable research and learning tools and engage the wider community in our activities as well as the staff and students within the University.' Siân Gwenllian MS had recently raised urgent concerns in the Senedd over the significant job cuts proposed by the university. In a direct question to the Welsh Government, she had called for a statement on how the Government planned to secure long-term financial sustainability for the higher education sector, and what specific support could be offered to Bangor University in light of its current crisis. In response, Welsh Government Minister Jane Hutt had acknowledged the 'widespread pressures' facing higher education institutions across Wales, and highlighted the importance of workforce involvement and trade union engagement in the consultation process.
