THE WELSH language is “one of our biggest success stories as a small nation on the world stage”, according to the minister responsible for the language.

Education and Welsh language minister Anna Brychan told the Senedd on 7 July that “language does not live solely through policy, but through people and through use.”

Sharing how the language has influenced her life, Ms Brychan said: “My personal story is a bilingual one. My mother learned Welsh as an adult. Today, Welsh and English intertwine in my family at home in Grangetown, and several other languages can be heard around us, and that’s a good thing.”

Concluding her speech, Ms Brychan said: “This is our opportunity to ensure that our two languages drive our future – in the community, digitally, in education and in the economy, and with the Welsh language contributing to making a welcoming, confident bilingual and multilingual country for us all.”

Reform’s deputy leader in Wales, Helen Jenner, described her parents’ decision to send her to a Welsh-medium school as one of “the most precious gifts” they could have given her.

Ms Jenner shared the story of her grandfather, Silgwyn Weston, who didn’t speak any English until he was around eight years old.

She told the Siambr how having received advice from his sister, who attended university in London, her grandfather decided the best way to provide opportunities to his children was for them to speak English at home, meaning her mother did not have the chance to speak Welsh.

She said: “There was something very special between myself and my grandfather. We were the only two members of the family who could hold a natural conversation in Welsh.

“Silgwyn Weston was a very proud Welshman and in his final years, there was one constant – his hearing was somehow always better if the conversation was about rugby or if someone spoke Welsh to him.”

Reform’s deputy leader agreed with Ms Brychan that language sits at “the heart” of Welsh culture, but criticised the government’s plan to use legislation and targets to secure the language’s future.

She said: “We can’t force people to love a language. We can’t legislate for enthusiasm. We can’t create Welsh-speaking communities through targets alone. The Welsh language flourishes when people choose to use it at home, in the workplace, in the pub, on the rugby pitch and on the street.”

Ms Jenner also welcomed the minister’s commitment to strengthening the Welsh language in digital and AI, adding that if Welsh is not available in these technologies there is a risk of it being “left behind”.

She asked how the government will measure an increase in the daily use of the language and what practical steps will be taken to help learners use Welsh once they have left school.

Responding, Ms Brychan said: “People shouldn’t have to look for opportunities to use the Welsh language.”

She noted importance of including Welsh outside of education, in areas such as “technology, workplaces, sport, culture, planning, research, and leadership in our communities”.

Also sharing his experiences with the Welsh Language, Labour’s Huw Thomas told the Siambr that he himself “couldn’t speak a word of English” until he was around 7.

Discussing the Welsh Government’s target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050, former Cardiff Council leader Mr Thomas called for further details on how the Welsh language will be pushed through childcare and the education system.

He asked Ms Brychan how many Welsh-medium childcare settings will need to be developed to reach the target of free childcare from nine-months-old and how the Welsh Government plans to ensure Welsh-speaking staff will be available to meet demand.

Ms Brychan acknowledged the challenges in terms of developing the necessary workforce, but said there’s “a plan in place” to address this.

The Labour spokesperson for the Welsh language then noted the importance of Welsh in technology and the workforce.

He urged the minister to work with trade unions to promote the Twf Charter, which was developed to promote Welsh in the workplace.

Mr Thomas also questioned what measures the government will be taking to introduce more Welsh-medium apprenticeships.

Ms Brychan revealed she has numerous upcoming meetings on technology, and said the Welsh language is at the forefront of her discussions with such companies.

She also said she’s “always” willing to speak to unions to get their views and expertise.

Conservative Paul Davies voiced his and his party’s support for the Welsh Government’s target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050, but questioned Ms Brychan on Welsh-medium education and socialising through the Welsh language.

Mr Davies highlighted that currently only 21% of children are in Welsh-medium schools, according to the latest schools survey.

He suggested that work could be done in terms of learner travel to help reduce barriers to Welsh language education.

The Conservative spokesperson called on Ms Brychan to reveal whether she will review the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 to see if more “can be done” to allow children access to Welsh-medium education. However, Ms Brychan did not mention learner travel in her response.

Mr Davies also spoke of the importance of socialising in Welsh in cultural settings, referring to events such as Tafwyl, which took place in Cardiff last month.

He said: “These events and many other community events are held by organisations like the mentrau iaith and others, of course, that do so much in our communities with little resource.”

Mr Davies called on the Welsh Government to consider how it can support community organisations “more effectively” in the future.

Ms Brychan replied: “In terms of socialising through the medium of Welsh, that takes me back to the point that I was making that we need to create the environment where people don’t have to look for opportunities to use the Welsh language.

“As you mentioned, the opportunities provided through the mentrau iaith are key to ensure that those opportunities are available.”

OFFICERS from Haverfordwest Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team have taken part in the Prostate Cymru Walk of Wales, completing the scenic leg from Porthclais to Whitesands.

The walk gave the team the chance to support an important cause while helping raise awareness of prostate cancer, which affects one in eight men in the UK and is the most common cancer among men in Wales.

Taking in one of Pembrokeshire’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, the route formed part of a much larger challenge being undertaken between June and August 2026.

Walkers are travelling around Wales via the Wales Coast Path, averaging around 40km a day over 44 days to raise awareness and support the work of Prostate Cymru.

Police praised everyone taking part in the challenge and thanked those supporting the initiative.

Every step helps make a difference.

Former Eisteddfod president says music can “breathe harmony into the soul” as he continues humanitarian work

SIR TERRY WAITE returned to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on its 2026 opening day, six years after stepping down as president, to praise the festival’s continuing role in bringing people together through music.

Sir Terry, who rose to international prominence after being held hostage in Beirut for almost five years, was captured in 1987 while attempting to negotiate the release of other hostages. He was freed in 1991 and has since devoted much of his life to humanitarian work, peacebuilding and supporting people affected by conflict, homelessness and captivity.

Now in his late eighties, he remains closely connected to the Llangollen Eisteddfod, having served as its president from 2006 until 2020. During that time he became a much-loved and respected figure at the festival, and he has continued to visit regularly since leaving the role.

This year he was welcomed warmly by trustees and volunteers, as well as by Sir Karl Jenkins, who has become the 2026 Eisteddfod president and was preparing to feature in the opening concert, Uniting Nations: One World.

Sir Terry said: “It’s great to be back again because the International Eisteddfod has got a very important role to play in the world by bringing people from different communities together.

“The Eisteddfod has had a very rough time, during Covid and beyond. But it has managed to get back on its feet and it has been absolutely vital that international music goes on.”

Reflecting on the challenges the festival has faced over the years, he said: “Over the years, and I saw it when I was president, this festival has faced some very unusual challenges.

“One of them has been getting the people we want to come here from countries that are, some would say, beyond the pale politically, and getting visas for such people is exceptionally difficult. The team here struggle with that problem.

“I remember years ago we got hold of the chief officer in charge of visas in London. We invited him here to speak to us. He saw what was happening and understood the problem. But like all civil servants he was moved on.

“We’re now in an even more complex situation and some of our politicians, I can’t say who, but certainly some prominent people, have not necessarily helped matters at all.

“But I’ve often said that music has the capacity to breathe harmony into the soul, and that’s something that Llangollen certainly does.”

Since stepping down from the Eisteddfod presidency, Sir Terry has continued his work with a number of humanitarian organisations. He is co-founder and president of Hostage International and president of the homelessness charity Emmaus.

He said: “With Hostage International, one hour before coming here this afternoon I was talking to someone who has been held in arbitrary detention in Iraq for the last five years. I’ve been trying to help him and we’ve been giving support to his family. And that’s just one of 100 cases that we have.

“Then with the homeless, there’s also a lot of work to do. I’m still involved in this. We started off with a portable building and we now have 30 communities around England, Wales and Scotland.

“Then there’s the work I do with the children of war, who are often left without parents and left without education. Sometimes they are also highly traumatised.

“When you see what’s happening in places like Gaza and others, my goodness, so many children will grow up with no parents, no home, no education, nothing, and we have to try and do something about this.”

Sir Terry’s return added a poignant note to the opening day of the festival, underlining the Eisteddfod’s founding mission of promoting peace and friendship through music.