Local success stories highlight surge as more than 20,000 people learn Welsh across Wales

A PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED Welsh tutor who once learned the language as an adult is now helping others follow in his footsteps — as new figures reveal a record number of people learning Welsh across Wales.

David Thomas, who teaches with Learn Welsh Pembrokeshire, began learning the language in 2016 after returning to Wales from London. He went on to win Welsh Learner of the Year at the AmGen Eisteddfod in 2021 and now teaches beginner courses locally.

He is joined by fellow tutor Gwilym Morgan, a Cardiff University student who teaches online courses while running his own business.

Their journeys come as new data shows that 20,445 people completed Welsh courses in 2024–2025 — the highest number ever recorded.

Figures released on Monday (Mar 17) by the National Centre for Learning Welsh show a 12% rise on the previous year, and a 61% increase since records began in 2017–2018.

The growth is being driven in part by flexible learning options and targeted programmes, including a major expansion in workplace training.

Nearly four in ten learners (39%) are now learning Welsh through their jobs — a total of 8,370 people — particularly in sectors such as health, social care and education.

Education watchdog Estyn has described the Centre as “one of the cornerstones of linguistic planning initiatives in the workplace.”

There has also been a sharp rise in younger learners. In 2024–2025, 4,110 people aged sixteen to twenty-four took part — a 56% increase on the previous year and a 483% rise since 2018–2019.

Overall, 17,350 learners were aged between sixteen and sixty-four.

Learners are also engaging more deeply, completing 34,960 learning activities over the year — up 12% on 2023–2024.

Dona Lewis, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said: “We’re delighted with these latest figures, which show consistent, steady growth in the number of people learning Welsh.

“The figures reflect the Centre’s strategic planning and the way it uses its expertise to reach new audiences — particularly in workplaces — supporting our aim of creating more Welsh speakers.”

Speaking about his own journey, David said learning Welsh had been life-changing.

“As someone who learned Welsh as an adult, I see it as a gateway to the whole culture of Wales,” he said.

“I know what it feels like to be in the classroom, so being able to introduce others to the language — and hopefully give them a positive experience — is really special.”

The National Centre for Learning Welsh leads the adult Welsh learning sector, working with providers across Wales to deliver courses ranging from beginner to advanced level, both in person and online.

Language activists warn proposal could undermine long-term support for Welsh

CAMPAIGNERS have warned that proposals by the Nigel Farage-led Reform UK to scrap Wales’ target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 could place the language at risk.

The comments came during the launch of Reform’s Welsh manifesto in Newport on Thursday (Mar 5), where Farage and the party’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas set out their plans for the language.

The party says it would remove what it describes as “arbitrary” targets for the number of Welsh speakers, arguing that the language is already growing naturally.

Farage told supporters that Welsh appeared to be “thriving” in parts of the country and said younger generations were increasingly learning and using the language.

He argued that Welsh culture and language should be allowed to develop organically rather than being driven by official targets or public bodies.

Questions were also raised at the event about the future of the Welsh Language Commissioner. Farage suggested there was no clear need for additional “quangos” if the language continued to grow through public interest.

However, campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith said the proposals demonstrate a misunderstanding of the current challenges facing the language.

Chairman Owain Meirion said it was wrong to describe Welsh as thriving when the proportion of speakers has fallen in recent census results.

According to campaigners, around 17.8 per cent of people in Wales currently report being able to speak Welsh, with the overall proportion declining over the past two censuses.

They warned that removing the 2050 target of one million speakers could weaken long-term support for the language and the communities where it is most widely spoken.

Campaigners also pointed out that the manifesto includes relatively few references to Welsh beyond cultural pledges.

Reform has said it would continue supporting events such as the National Eisteddfod and would press the UK Government to maintain funding for the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C.

Despite this, Cymdeithas yr Iaith warned that the wider approach set out in the manifesto could weaken existing structures designed to protect and promote the language.

Farage also used the Newport event to claim that Reform could challenge the long-standing dominance of the Welsh Labour in Welsh politics.

The party says its manifesto represents a plan for significant political change ahead of the next Welsh election.

Language campaigners, however, say the debate highlights continuing tensions over how best to protect the future of Welsh while ensuring policies reflect the realities facing communities across Wales.

THE WELSH LANGUAGE COMMISSIONER has published a major five-year report examining the state of the Welsh language and identifying priorities to strengthen its future.

The report, released last week (Mar 3), reviews developments between 2021 and 2025 and sets out what the next Welsh Government must do to increase the number of Welsh speakers and double the language’s daily use.

Commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones said decisive and ambitious action would be required if Wales is to achieve the long-term goal of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050.

The report identifies three key opportunities where progress could make the greatest difference:

• Creating confident Welsh speakers through the education system
• Strengthening the use of Welsh within communities
• Developing workplaces that support the use of Welsh

Within these themes, the report outlines ten specific priorities aimed at strengthening the position of the language over the next five years.

The analysis draws heavily on the results of the 2021 Census, which recorded 538,296 Welsh speakers across Wales, and examines longer-term trends to understand the challenges facing the language. Our time to act – embargo 3 Mar…

According to the Commissioner, while the number of speakers has remained relatively stable for decades, population growth and inward migration mean the overall proportion of Welsh speakers has declined, placing additional pressure on the language.

Speaking ahead of the 2026 Senedd election, Efa Gruffudd Jones said the next Welsh Government must take stronger action.

“I am publishing this report as we approach the 2026 Senedd election, which will be a significant moment in our history as a nation,” she said.

“For the first time, 96 Members of the Senedd will represent the people of Wales through a new electoral system and new constituencies – many with Welsh-only names. That is a symbolic sign of national confidence and pride in our language.

“But symbolism is not enough. The next Welsh Government must act purposefully and positively in support of the Welsh language. Only bold interventions will transform the current situation if we are serious about doubling daily use and reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

The report is structured in three parts. The first analyses the 2021 Census results and what they reveal about the health of the language. The second focuses on policies aimed at creating more Welsh speakers, particularly through education and early years provision. The third examines how to increase everyday use of the language in communities and workplaces. Our time to act – embargo 3 Mar…

Among the recommendations are calls for stronger Welsh-language training requirements for teachers, greater support for Welsh-speaking communities, and a national strategy to encourage the use of Welsh in workplaces.

The Commissioner said the report is intended to provide an evidence-based foundation for action during the next Senedd term.

“I have great ambition for the Welsh language and its speakers,” she said.

“I want to see a Wales where living through the medium of Welsh is a genuine, everyday choice for people, and I will remain unwavering in my commitment to achieving that.”

The full report, titled Our time to act: The position of the Welsh language 2021–25, has been published by the Welsh Language Commissioner.