“EXCLUSIVE” FAIR PLAY!
Usually at this time of year we’d be inviting you to join our spring holiday play schemes but, unfortunately, I can’t do this at the moment. At present, Menter Iaith doesn’t have enough money to run the Welsh medium holiday play schemes, therefore, there won’t be any Welsh language play schemes. For those of you who haven’t before considered how Menter Iaith is organised perhaps it’s an idea for me to explain that we’re a completely independent Registered Charity with 5 trustees, 5 local individuals who are completely responsible for finance, money and any Menter Iaith debts. I’ve promised them many times that Menter Iaith will not run services if there isn’t enough money or, at least, if there isn’t a reasonable possibility that money can be found in order to maintain these services. There isn’t any money to hold the Welsh medium holiday play schemes therefore there aren’t any Welsh medium holiday play schemes.

Would you like to know why money isn’t available? We’ve asked Rhondda Cynon Taf council on many occasions why there isn’t money for us this year. It’s true that we received £500 towards running the summer 2005 half term play schemes but we haven’t received a penny towards the summer play schemes nor the play schemes held during the autumn half term holidays. This is strange when you consider that we’ve received thousands of pounds to run these services in the past. It’s even stranger when you consider that the Rhondda Cynon Taf ‘Cymorth’ fund has received an additional £1.2million from the Assembly this year. For years, Rhondda Cynon Taf staff have insisted that Assembly guidelines state that only ‘open access’ play schemes are eligible to receive funding. The Assembly have stated time and time again that this isn’t the case and, by now, Rhondda Cynon Taf has stopped using that excuse. Unfortunately, we haven’t received an apology for their behaviour nor received a penny of the thousands of pounds they’ve withheld from the services.

In our working life you need to work with people and rely on their support and co-operation. We haven’t received this from Rhondda Cynon Taf staff on this matter. In fact, they’ve stated time and again that they aren’t willing to fund Welsh medium services as they consider them to be ‘exclusive’ as they aren’t open to every child in the area. These comments were discussed with Mr Dewi Jones the former director of education for Rhondda Cynon Taf and former ‘Champion’ of the Welsh language but, unfortunately, his career came to an end soon after. A new ‘Champion’ hasn’t been appointed and the committee which is responsible for the Welsh language hasn’t met for some months. To date, neither the present staff nor Rhondda Cynon Taf politicians have taken these comments seriously but discussions continue.

JANE DAVIDSON,
LEANNE WOOD &
OWEN JOHN THOMAS
ARE LISTENING
Today we met with Jane Davidson, the minister responsible for education, who was very disappointed to hear the word “exclusive” being used in this context as it wasn’t something she would choose to use nor would like other people to use. Assembly officials are well aware of the regular misleading information which has occurred. They’ve confirmed that there is nothing in their guidelines preventing Rhondda Cynon Taf from supporting our play schemes and can’t understand why they persist in stating this. These officials are establishing a specific group to consider Welsh medium services, earmarking relevant elements of the large grants which the Assembly gives to the local councils to be used for Welsh medium services only and ensuring continued support for after school clubs rather than just giving initial funding. These will be substantial policy changes for the benefit of the Welsh language and after school clubs in general.

We haven’t contacted or met with Owen John Thomas, Plaid Cymru spokesman for the Welsh language, but both he and Leanne Wood have shown real interest in our problems and have spent hours on the telephone with officials from Rhondda Cynon Taf council and we are very grateful for their efforts.

BBC CYMRU HERE FOR US
Well, in Aberdare anyway!
The BBC’s first visit to the Michael Sobell Sports Centre was very successful with over 4,000 people attending the centre to try their hand at reading the news, presenting the weather, commentating on some great Cardiff City FC goals (unfortunately there weren’t any Swansea City FC goals as there were too many great goals to choose from!), see Doctor Who’s Tardis, listen to pieces by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and young local bands and much more. Come to see Jonsi on 14/02/06 in the Cynon Valley Museum, Y Talwrn in the Mount Pleasant, Trecynon, Sian Thomas on 15/02/06 in the Aman Centre, Hywel and Nia on 16/03/06 outside the market and Pawb a’i Farn back in the Michael Sobell Centre. Most importantly, come to the Day for Welsh Learners on 25/02/06 in the Aman Centre where Derek Brockway, Hywel Gwynfryn, Nia Roberts, Dafydd Du and Nushin Chavoshir-Nejad will entertain you through the medium of Welsh in addition to a few lessons on singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

PROMOTING
WELSH MEDIUM EDUCATION
As part of Bwrdd yr Iaith’s efforts we will be promoting Welsh medium education during February in the Llantrisant and Abercynon areas. It’s possible that the S4C programme Pawb a’i Farn will discuss this on 16/03/06 in Aberdare. Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdâr is very full, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Abercynon is very full and there’s call for a new Welsh medium school in Mountain Ash. Of course, a complete Welsh medium school would be better than just a Welsh unit. It appears that up to 60 children will be without a school place in September 2006 and that there is a real need to develop Welsh medium education in the area. Both the staff of Menter Iaith, Twf, Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin and other organisations will be distributing thousands of pamphlets promoting Welsh medium education outside the Tesco stores in Aberdare and Llantrisant, holding jamborees with Martyn Geraint and local children in both locations and encouraging a discussion on developing Welsh medium education within the Early Years’ Partnership during their meeting being held this month. This is important because if we are to realise the growth of the Welsh language we need more children to attend Welsh medium schools so speak to your neighbours, speak to your local school, distribute pamphlets and ensure that every Welsh medium school is fit to burst with even more children on their way.

ST. DAVID’S DAY APPEAL
Yes, we’re asking for your money once again – it’s time for us to begin our St David’s Day Appeal. Hundreds of pounds were raised last year as people sent their donations to us. We are very grateful for every penny donated but if you could complete a form which allows you to give donations on a regular basis this would be much easier and would allow us to recoup 25% of the tax on your donation. The bank forms are available via our website www.menteriaith.org or, if you have a credit card, you can make an immediate donation over the telephone by calling 01443 226386. If you visit our website you’ll also see that you are also able to do your shopping on-line benefiting from great discounts on high street names with the added extra of helping Menter Iaith as we receive a percentage of your total so go shopping at www.menteriaith.org

CLOSING OUR
CHILDREN’S SERVICES
Our holiday play schemes are closed. 6 Clwb Carco were closed at the beginning of January and it’s a distinct possibility that more clubs will follow suit before the end of the financial year. If you’d like to amend this situation you need to act now.

Steffan Webb
Chief Executive
Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf