Objectives
The goal of the Defnyddia Dy Gymraeg campaign was to increase confidence, visibility, and everyday use of the Welsh language among students and staff. Running alongside the celebration of 20 years of the Iaith Gwaith (Working Welsh) orange badge, the campaign aimed to encourage everyone - fluent speakers, learners, and beginners - to feel comfortable starting conversations in Welsh and using the language naturally in daily university life.
The campaign also aligned with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s core aim of helping people feel confident and supported to live their lives through Welsh, reinforcing Welsh as a living, visible, and welcoming language across campus and online spaces.
Planned Actions
Time-Bound Awareness Campaign: Deliver a focused Welsh-language visibility campaign running from 24 November to 5 December, aligning with national celebrations of Iaith Gwaith.
Digital-First Delivery: Run an online campaign using posts and visual content to maximise reach and engagement across social media platforms.
Celebration of Iaith Gwaith: Highlight and celebrate 20 years of the Iaith Gwaith badge, promoting its role in normalising Welsh and creating welcoming environments for Welsh speakers of all levels.
Confidence-Building Messaging: Share messages encouraging students to start conversations in Welsh, regardless of fluency level, and to use the language without fear of making mistakes.
Welsh-Language Visibility: Flood campus-facing and digital spaces with Welsh-language content to reinforce visibility and everyday normalisation of Welsh.
Leadership by Example: Demonstrate visible support for the campaign by updating profile imagery using the official Iaith Gwaith badge and campaign templates.
Support for Societies and Sports Clubs: Create and distribute a simple Welsh cheat sheet for societies and sports clubs, enabling them to confidently use basic Welsh phrases during the campaign and beyond.
Measures of Success
Visibility and Reach: Increased presence of Welsh-language content across social media and student-facing platforms during the campaign period.
Engagement with Campaign Content: Interaction with posts, visual assets, and shared stories celebrating Welsh-language use and services.
Uptake by Societies and Clubs: Use of the Welsh cheat sheet by student groups, supporting continued Welsh-language use beyond the campaign timeframe.
Alignment with National Messaging: Effective amplification of official Iaith Gwaith and Welsh Language Commissioner content.
Progress to Date – Completed (December)
-
The campaign ran successfully from 24 November to 5 December.
-
Delivered an online campaign celebrating confidence, visibility, and everyday Welsh-language use.
-
Marked 20 years of the Iaith Gwaith (Working Welsh) orange badge, a national scheme established in 2005.
-
Shared content including:
-
Photos and stories highlighting Welsh-language services.
-
Posts celebrating the 20-year anniversary of Iaith Gwaith.
-
Messages encouraging students to start every conversation in Welsh.
-
Encouraged participation from fluent speakers, learners, and beginners, reinforcing inclusivity.
-
Increased Welsh-language visibility across social media and student-facing platforms.
-
Updated profile imagery using the official Iaith Gwaith badge and campaign templates to lead by example.
-
Reposted official content from Iaith Gwaith and the Welsh Language Commissioner to boost reach and consistency.
-
Created and shared a Welsh cheat sheet for sports clubs and societies, supporting confident use of simple Welsh phrases during and after the campaign.