Cymraeg

Cerddwyr UAC yn codi £2000 ar gyfer elusen

Published

9 years ago

August 19, 2016

177 MILLTIR, 9 diwrnod a £2000 – dyna i chi her ar gyfer tîm Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru a gerddodd llwybr Clawdd Offa yn ddiweddar er budd Sefydliad Prydeinig y Galon Cymru.

Bu’r criw o Gaernarfon, yn cynnwys Gwynedd Watkin, Swyddog Gweithredol Sirol, cangen Caernarfon o UAC, Gwilym Evans o Gelli, Prenteg ger Tremadog ac Arfon Hughes o Baich-y-Bȋg, Cwm Ystradllyn, Garndolbenmaen yn cerdded yr holl lwybr gan ddechrau ar ddydd Sadwrn Gorffennaf 23 ac yn cwblhau’r her mewn 9 diwrnod. Ymunodd Richard Parry, Gwindy, Llecheiddior, Garndolbenmaen gyda nhw ar y diwrnod cyntaf.

Gorffennwyd y daith lafurus o ddringo llethrau serth, bothellau a chyrff tost gan y grŵp cyfan ar ddydd Sul Gorffennaf 31, a oedd hefyd yn cynnwys Huw Jones, Swyddog Gweithredol Sirol, cangen Meirionnydd o UAC ac Emyr Wyn Davies, Swyddog Gweithredol Sirol, cangen Trefaldwyn o UAC.

Dechreuodd Huw ac Emyr ar y daith ar ddydd Gwener Mehefin 17 ym Mhrestatyn gan gwblhau 52 milltir yn y cymal cyntaf ac yna ail gychwyn ar y llwybr cenedlaethol, sy’n dyddio nôl i’r wythfed ganrif, ar ddydd Llun Gorffennaf 25, ac yna cerdded gweddill y daith gyda’r criw o Gaernarfon. Cwblhaodd y ddau’r daith mewn 10 diwrnod a hanner.

Agorwyd y llwybr yn haf 1971, ac mae’n cysylltu Clogwyni Sedbury ger Cas-gwent ar lannau Aber Afon Hafren gyda thref glan môr Prestatyn ar lannau môr Iwerddon.

Mae’r llwybr yn croesi wyth sir wahanol ac yn croesi’r ffin rhwng Cymru a Lloegr dros 20 o weithiau.

Mae’r llwybr Clawdd Offa’n chwilota drwy’r Gororau tawel ac yn mynd trwy Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog ar gymal godidog Hatterrall Ridge.

Hefyd, mae’n cysylltu tair Ardal o Harddwch Naturiol Eithriadol sef Dyffryn Gwy, Bryniau Sir Amwythig a Bryniau Clwyd/Dyffryn Dyfrdwy.

Arweinydd tîm Caernarfon ar y daith oedd Gwynedd Watkin sydd wedi cwblhau Llwybr yr Inca ym Mheriw llynedd. “Rwyf am ddiolch o galon i bawb sydd wedi cefnogi ein hymgais ar hyd y daith. Ni fedrai wedi bod yn bosib heb eich cymorth” dywedodd.

“Roedd yn dipyn o her, a gair bach o gyngor i unrhyw un sy’n meddwl dilyn ôl ein traed, gwnewch yn siŵr bod digon o sanau cerdded gyda chi. Mae’n hanfodol ar gyfer taith gerdded mor llafurus. Mae’n bosib bod y 177 milltir yma yn anoddach na Llwybr yr Inca ym Mheriw llynedd.”

Dymuna UAC ddiolch yn arbennig i’r bobl hynny sydd wedi cefnogi’r cerddwyr yn eu hymgais, ni fyddai’r daith yma wedi bod mor llwyddiannus heb eu help nhw.

Cynigwyd lloches dros nos mewn carafanau a brecwastau gan Lywydd cangen Sir Ddinbych o UAC Tim a’i wraig Fiona Faire ym Mhlas Bedw, Pentrecelyn, Ruthun; Tom a Lynne Hughes a’r teulu, Caeau Gwynion, Y Waun; Gweithredwr Cyfrif Gwasanaethau Yswiriant FUW, Gogledd Sir Drefaldwyn, Kay Williams, Tŷ Nant, Sarn Wen, Four Crosses, Llanymynech a’i phartner Dai; Cadeirydd cangen Sir Drefaldwyn o UAC Mark a Helen Williams o Pen y Derw, Ffordun, Y Trallwng; Ivor a Ros Price o Travley, Llowes, Y Gelli; Idris a Gwen Jones o Wyliau Fferm Pen-y-Dre, Llanfihangel Crucornau, Y Fenni a Chris a Jill Lewis o Trevine, Llandeilo Gresynni, Y Fenni.

“Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i Justin, Helen ac Ieuan Rees o’r George & Dragon Inn, Trefyclo a gynigodd gwely a brecwast am ddim i’r 5 ohonom ar y nos Fercher, ac roedd yna frecwast bendigedig wedi cael ei baratoi ar ein cyfer ar y bore dydd Iau,” ychwanegodd Gwynedd.

Bu Kath Shaw, Blaenhow, Llandeilo Graban, Llanfair-ym-muallt sy’n Llywydd Sir Brycheiniog a Maesyfed ac yn gynorthwyydd gweinyddol rhan amser yn allweddol wrth gynnig cludo’r bagiau. Hefyd bu Elwyn Probert o Fferm Pant, Llanfihangel Ystum Llewern, Trefynwy yn hynod o amyneddgar wrth gwrdd â’r tîm a’i gyrru nhw yn nol ac ymlaen o lwybr Clawdd Offa o’r wahanol leoliadau ar gyfer treulio’r nos.

Mae Huw ac Emyr am ddiolch hefyd i Richard Joyce, Fferm Woodville, Woodbrook, Trefyclo a John ac Alwenna Price o Glawddnewydd, Rhuthun am eu cymorth caredig.

Wrth son am ei brofiad, dywedodd Huw Jones: “Fy hoff ddarn o’r her yma oedd cerdded dros Foel Fammau a dros Y Mynyddoedd Duon, o’r Gelli i Bandy. Roedd y golygfeydd yn hyfryd ac roeddem yn hynod o lwcus gyda’r tywydd.

“Y cyngor fuaswn i yn ei roi i unrhyw un sy’n bwriadu cerdded y llwybr yw cymryd mwy o amser i’w gerdded. Ein her ni oedd cerdded y llwybr mor gloi a phosib ar gyfer yr elusen, ond petai amser gyda chi, i eistedd lawr a mwynhau’r golygfeydd godidog a’r lleoedd o ddiddordeb hanesyddol, a chael sgwrs gyda’r bobl chi’n cwrdd ar hyd y daith.”

“Mae hon wedi bod yn her wych ac yn werth yr ymdrech,” dywedodd Emyr Wyn Davies.

“Oeddech chi’n gwybod petai chi’n cerdded yr holl lwybr o’r gogledd i’r de, mae oddeutu 28,000 troedfedd i’w ddringo, sy’n cyfateb i uchder Everest?

“Fy hoff ddarn i oedd cerdded o Drefyclo i Geintun. Golygfeydd hyfryd ar ddiwrnod heulog braf. Roedd yr holl daith yn brofiad bythgofiadwy – i weld Cymru ar ei hyd, ac yn gwybod bod yr holl ddiwrnodau poenus yn werth chweil ar gyfer yr elusen,” ychwanegodd.

Mae’r pump am ddiolch i bawb sydd eisoes wedi eu noddi nhw’n hael, ac mae modd noddi’r tîm am eu hymdrechion hyd nes diwedd mis Medi wrth anfon siec i’r swyddfa sir briodol neu drwy noddi ar-lein drwy gyfrwng JustGiving.

Dywedodd Paul Davies, Pennaeth Codi Arian Cymru a Gogledd Iwerddon Sefydliad y Galon Prydeinig: “Diolch i gefnogaeth a haelioni sefydliadau fel UAC, mae Sefydliad y Galon Prydeinig yn medru brwydro dros bob calon yng Nghymru. Yn ddyddiol, mae 375,000 o bobl yng Nghymru yn ymladd yn erbyn clefyd y galon a phroblemau tebyg arall. Mae cefnogaeth UAC yn galluogi Sefydliad y Galon Prydeinig i fuddsoddi mewn ymchwil meddygol i achub bywyd yng Nghymru, ac o wneud hyn, mae modd newid bywyd miliynau o bobl ar draws y DU ac yn fyd-eang. Ni fyddai hyn yn bosib heb gymorth UAC ac eraill. Mae popeth rydym yn ei wneud yn lleihau’r difrod mae clefyd y galon yn ei achosi yn ein cymunedau.”

Cymraeg

Health and Social Care workers find their Cymraeg voice

Published

4 days ago

November 30, 2025

Tom Sinclair

HEALTH and Social Care workers across Wales are increasing their confidence to use the Welsh language with patients and colleagues, thanks to a Welsh Government programme to strengthen language choice within the health service.

Between 2023 and 2025, around 1,500 staff enrolled on the cyrsiau Codi Hyder (Confidence-building courses), with around 6,000 workers taking part in the wider Learn Welsh programme for the Health and Social care sector. The Confidence-building courses are led by the National Centre for Learning Welsh, which is funded by the Welsh Government, in partnership with health boards, supporting staff who can speak some Welsh but feel unsure about using the language in a clinical context. Those who follow the course receive one-to-one or small group training over 10 to 12 weeks, and then receive ongoing support to help them use the Welsh language naturally in their day to day work.

The National Centre’s evaluation shows that the Confidence-building courses in 2024-2025 had a positive impact, with over 90% saying they had more confidence to speak Welsh with colleagues, and 88% feeling more confident to use Welsh with patients and their families.

One of the employees who has benefited from the course is Julie Matthias, Bereavement Counsellor with Hywel Dda University Health Board. She felt comfortable speaking Welsh with children before taking the course, but less confident to use the language with adults. She wanted to offer more counselling sessions in Welsh and use the language more proactively at work. With her tutor, they practised conversations related to her work and read Welsh resources about grief and bereavement. She now starts conversations in Welsh with colleagues and offers a Welsh language service to children, families and anyone who wishes to use it.

She said: “The sessions were flexible and tailored to my needs. Being able to focus on the vocabulary of grief, bereavement and self-care has been very helpful in my work.”

Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Welsh Language, said: “Julie’s experience shows how practical support can make a real difference. Being able to speak to patients and families in the language they feel most comfortable using is an important part of delivering good care, especially when people are vulnerable.

“As we mark the Defnyddia dy Gymraeg (Use your Welsh) campaign and celebrate 20 years of the Iaith Gwaith (Working Welsh) badge this week, it’s encouraging to see so many people taking part in the courses and seeing their confidence levels rise.”

Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, Dona Lewis, added: “The National Centre is pleased to lead a comprehensive Learn Welsh programme which is attracting different audiences to the Welsh language, and supporting Health and Social Care workers in Wales to use more of the language.

“Interest in our courses is high, and we look forward to continuing to expand our services in order to support the workforce to strengthen its bilingual skills.”

Cymraeg

Name change for Pembrokeshire Welsh medium school backed

Published

4 weeks ago

November 5, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE school, which has become a fully Welsh medium one, is to change its name following the backing of senior councillors.

Members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, at their November 3 meeting were asked to support a revised Instrument of Government for Ysgol Gymunedol Croesgoch.

The instrument of government sets out how the governing body is constituted and establishes it as a corporate body; it must set out the name of the school along with the composition of the governing body.

A report for members, presented by Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham, said: “Since 2007, primary and secondary schools have been categorised using the defining schools according to Welsh medium provision, non-statutory guidance.

“The school was categorised as a transitional school, which is, predominantly English-medium schools but with significant use of Welsh Foundation phase pupils and Key Stage 2 pupils are taught in both languages, but more emphasis is given to the English language. The Welsh language is used to teach between 20-50 per cent of the curriculum generally.

“In the previous Welsh in Education Strategic Plan for the Council 2016-2021 the school was identified to become a Welsh medium school.”

It said, over a transition of seven years, the school now functions as a fully Welsh Medium School, adding: “All staff at the school are Welsh speakers so there have been no human resources implications from the report. Children are now taught in the medium of Welsh.

“Following the change in language categorisation of Ysgol Gymunedol Croesgoch from a ‘transitional school’ to a ‘Welsh Medium’ school in September 2025, the governing body, following consultation with the school community and its governing body wish to change its name from Ysgol Gymunedol Croesgoch to Ysgol Gymraeg Croesgoch.”

It finished: “Cabinet approval is required for the name change of the school Conclusions It is considered that the governing body’s proposal is sensible and reflects the language that learners are taught at the school.”

After the recommendation was moved by Cllr Woodham, members unanimously backed approval of the revised Instrument of Government.

Cymraeg

Drakeford details decade-long plan for Welsh language in education

Published

1 month ago

October 23, 2025

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

SCHOOLS in Wales will be required to deliver at least 10% of their teaching in Welsh by 2030 as part of a decade-long plan to implement “landmark” legislation.

Mark Drakeford outlined the Welsh Government’s plan for a phased rollout of the Welsh Language and Education Act which aims to give every child “a fair chance to speak Welsh”.

Under the Act, three school categories will be created – primarily English, partly Welsh; dual language; and primarily Welsh – with targets for each for a minimum of Welsh education.

The ex-First Minister, who is responsible for the language, said all schools should be given a category and provide at least 10%, 50% or 80% of teaching in Welsh by September 2030.

Prof Drakeford told the Senedd he expects “relatively few” schools to need extra time to reach the 10% minimum target, with an extension available until 2036 at the latest.

He said the next step will be to develop a code to describe levels of Welsh language ability based on the common European framework of reference for languages or CEFR.

The Welsh language secretary said this year will also see a review of the trajectory toward reaching a million Welsh speakers and doubling daily use of the language by 2050.

Prof Drakeford explained a target of 50% of learners in Welsh-medium education by 2050 would form part of a consultation on a revised “Cymraeg 2050” strategy in 2026.

In a statement on Tuesday (October 21), he said the National Institute for Learning Welsh, or Athrofa, would be established by August 2027 to support learners of all ages.

The Athrofa will have responsibility for research and helping the education workforce, taking over and expanding on the work of the National Centre for Learning Welsh.

The Conservatives’ Tom Giffard welcomed a detailed timeline for implementation of the Act but expressed disappointment about the lack of an education workforce plan in place.

He said Lynne Neagle, Wales’ education secretary, announced a strategic plan in a written statement at the start of the school year which contained little detail on Welsh teaching.

Prof Drakeford said the Athrofa will build on the success of the National Centre for Learning Welsh which received £4.8m this year and has now trained more than 2,000 practitioners.

Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell echoed concerns about staff shortages as he called for a national plan setting out the next steps to recruit, train and retain teachers.

Mr Campbell, who was involved in developing the then-bill as part of the since-collapsed cooperation deal, said the Act’s success will depend on targets, staffing, and equal access.

He was concerned about some schools being given an extra six years to hit the 10% target.

The former lecturer said: “In Plaid Cymru’s view, that should be a far shorter period because it will give too many schools an excuse not to commit to delivering that target.”

His party colleague Heledd Fychan warned: “It means that a child could be born now, depending on their postcode, who may not see any difference whatsoever, having seen this legislation passed, until they leave primary school.”

Prof Drakeford said including an extension was a response to concerns raised by schools in south-east Wales about a lack of Welsh speaking staff and time for implementation.

“I don’t want to see more schools than necessary having more time,” he told the Senedd, but added it was important to give schools confidence to “come along on this journey with us”.

The former first minister concluded: “The impact of the Act goes far beyond education: it is about culture, identity and community, it is about making the language part of everyday life.”