The effects of Covid-19 on Welsh language community groups - survey findings

Increasing the use of the Welsh language is one of the three strategic themes of Cymraeg 2050 (the Welsh Government strategy for the Welsh language). This includes increasing the social use of Welsh. The Welsh Government works in partnership with a number of organisations and agencies to achieve this aim. In addition to the organisations and societies working in a formal partnership with the Government, community groups, societies and clubs across Wales offer a range of opportunities for people to socialise, volunteer and engage with activities through the medium of Welsh.

Since March 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has transformed our way of life and had an impact on many aspects of everyday life in Wales. As a result of the pandemic, the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language (as the Minister was known at the time) established three sub-groups focussing on the impact of Covid-19 on various elements of Cymraeg 2050. The aim of one of the subgroups was to understand the impact on the use of Welsh in communities. To that end, this sub-group commissioned a survey of those community groups offering opportunities for people to socialise in Welsh, in order to understand the pandemic’s impact on them.

The survey was carried out online, and was completed by all kinds of organisations,committees, papers, clubs, Urdd groups, choirs and other community groups whowere providing opportunities for people to use Welsh. They were asked questionsabout how the first national lockdown at the end of March 2020 and the followingrestrictions had impacted them; to what extent and how they adapted their activities,and what were their intentions for the future. This report presents the survey findings.