Families offered cash to return to Welsh language heartlands (original) (raw)

Families are being paid up to £5,000 to return to Welsh speaking heartlands. It is part of an effort to secure the language in key counties like Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

Through the ‘Ymgartrefu’ initiative, Llwyddo'n Lleol offers grants of up to £5,000 to families who want to return to the ARFOR region. The grants offer practical and financial support to assist parents / families who are considering returning. This support can include help to pay for transport costs, rent or mortgage costs, childcare costs, or even Welsh lessons.

One family that has already benefited from this support is Huw Brassington’s. He is originally from Gwynedd but has been living and working in Cumbria for a few years.

Huw, who runs his own business, said: "The Llwyddo'n Lleol grant has made it easier for us to make that decision to move home to Wales.

Huw Brassington

"Not only am I bringing my job with me but I’ll also be looking for people from North Wales to work with me. This is part of the Llwyddo’n Lleol grant’s effect. It has led to good jobs for other people in north Wales."

The emigration of families and young people is recognised as one of the main reasons for the decline in the number of Welsh speakers in its strongholds. As a result, Llwyddo’n Lleol wants to convince young people and young families who have already left that having a bright future, with a good job in an exciting field, is possible in their native community.

The Ymgartrefu initiative is one of a number of schemes. One of the individuals who has taken the step to return home as a result of help from the Llwyddo'n Lleol Gyrfaol initiative is Sioned Meleri Evans. Sioned moved back to Carmarthenshire to be a sub-producer with Carlam.

Sioned Evans said: "I'm very lucky because I've been able to come back home to Carmarthenshire to work locally for Carlam. The company is based in Yr Egin, and this has enabled me to be closer to my family and friends."

Seven other individuals who received help from the Llwyddo'n Lleol Gyrfaol initiative have also settled in ARFOR as a result of their jobs.

Applicants need to meet the following requirements to be eligible for the schemes.

Couples/families with at least ONE adult aged 35 or under;
Couples/families with at least ONE member who originally comes from the ARFOR region (Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd or Anglesey) but now lives beyond these counties;
An individual who knows Welsh or is committed to learning the language, or a family with one member who speaks and/or is learning Welsh;
Can commit to return to the ARFOR region by March 2025;
Are happy to share their experience of moving back on camera.

There is some flexibility regarding the above requirements, so if you don’t meet all the requirements but are interested, people can contact Llwyddo'n Lleol for a chat: llwyddonlleol@rhaglenarfor.cymru.

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