A mother from Talgarreg in Ceredigion has been elected as the new Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith following the organisation's annual general meeting over the weekend.

Heledd Gwyndaf was born in Bangor and spent time on the Llyn Peninsula. She moved to the south of Wales while relatively young and went to Ysgol y Dderwen, Carmarthen, Ysgol y Strade, Llanelli and Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi. She attended Bangor University to study History and Welsh before going to the United States to earn a master's degree in Teaching and Learning Theories.
 
Following a period working in broadcasting, communication and education, she now lives on a dairy farm in Talgarreg with her husband Hywel and their three children - Gwydion Gruffudd and Gwenllïan.
 
Speaking after her election as Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Heledd Gwyndaf said:
 
"It is a massive honour to be Chair of a vital organisation like Cymdeithas yr Iaith, an organisation that is a constant source of hope for the Welsh language. I got more involved with Cymdeithas having received a personal letter from one of the key members of the society, Ffred Ffransis, while at Bangor University.

"Working with others, we, as a group, have achieved a number of victories over the last few year, including strengthening the status of the Welsh language in the planning system, preventing further cuts to S4C as well as ensuring that all pupils study for the same comprehensive Welsh language qualification. I hope to build on those successes. Cymdeithas has a great team of volunteers and staff, and I am grateful for the opportunity to campaign with them. I want to see further emphasis placed on strengthening the movement at a grassroots level and am looking forward to the challenge."