Language campaigners have presented a petition to the Welsh Government calling for a u-turn on cuts to a project promoting the use of Welsh between parents and young children.   

The 'Twf' scheme was abolished at the start of April this year, and replaced by a new project run by Mudiad Meithrin called 'Cymraeg i Blant' (Welsh for Kids). But the budget of the new scheme was cut by two hundred thousand pounds when compared to the 'Twf' budget for last year. As a result, the new scheme will not operate in many counties, and the petition launched today calls for jobs to be restored in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Wrecsam.   

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg presented the petition, signed by around nine hundred people, to the Welsh Government at a meeting with Alun Davies AM, Minister with responsibility for the Welsh language.  

Toni Schiavone, education spokesperson for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg commented:   

 

"Passing on the Welsh language within the family is vital if we are to reach the target of one million Welsh speakers. The Twf project was a very important part of the effort to improve the use of the Welsh language between parent and child, and it's a matter of great concern that there won't be any scheme running in so many counties. We are hoping the new government will look again at this so that services can be restored across the country."   

 

"Investing more in the language was one of the many messages that came out of the big conference the Government organised following the seriously worrying Census results. Instead, we have seen far less money invested in Welsh. Cutting a scheme that offers support for small children and their parents is a serious mistake."  

After meeting Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, the Minister with responsibility for the Welsh language made a statement to the Senedd about the government's policy.