Heini Gruffudd and Catrin Rednap
Heini Gruffudd and Catrin Rednap
07-02-07
A number of RhAG supporters gathered for the Annual Conference on a cold Saturday morning in Newport at the beginning of January to look back over developments during the past year and foward at the challenges we face in the coming year.
Heini Gruffudd of Swansea was elected as Chair for the year 2006-7 and Eirian Youngman of Neath Port Talbot was made vice-chair. Thanks to Tim Pearce for serving as chair for the previous period and we very much look forward to his contribution now as our Public Relations Coordinator. A full list of 2006-7 officers and minutes are available on this site.
Dr Catrin Rednap addressed the meeting about past and future developments within the Education Section of the Welsh Language Board and the ongoing constructive consultations taking place between the Board, RhAG and other partners. She urged local RhAG groups to assess the provision of Welsh medium education in their own areas and monitor the Welsh education strategies currently being drawn up by local councils, making sure that they are part of the process from the beginning. She also pointed out a number of challenges that could be in store for us over the coming period, such as county transport policies and their possible effect on Welsh medium education, the need to provide support outside the school for parents and their children, and the importance of working with the Mentrau Iaith to provide opportunities to use Welsh in the community.
She asked the question "is every parent who should be, aware of RhAG's existence?". This is, of course, a challenge to us all as an organisation to get our message across and seek support for our current projects as well as getting involved with local groups and helping to spread the message.
Thank you very much to everyone who joined us in Newport. We look forward to our next annual meeting which will be in Wrexham in the autumn. Remember to keep an eye on the website for details.
