How the Welsh Language Standards affect you when you communicate with us
In 2017, The National Lottery Community Fund started operating under the Welsh Language Standards. The standards provide a legal framework to support the Welsh language, ensuring people can live their lives through Welsh and access services in the language.
This means that when you contact us in Welsh, we will:
- treat Welsh and English equally at all times in our work across Wales
- respect the right of individuals to live their everyday lives through the medium of Welsh
Writing to us
When you write us a letter or email, you can do this in Welsh and we’ll answer in Welsh.
When we write to you for the first time, we’ll do it bilingually and ask whether you wish to receive letters or emails from the Fund in Welsh in future. If you tell us you want to receive correspondence from us in Welsh, we’ll make a note of this and remember it the next time we contact you.
When we write to lots of people at the same time, we’ll always do so bilingually.
Face to face
You’ll probably also meet us in person at times. This could be at a meeting at a community event, a public meeting, or at an exhibition.
We’ll advertise and send out meeting and event invitations bilingually. We’ll also offer translation facilities if you want to contribute in Welsh. All materials and information will be available in Welsh when we hold events or take part in events with other organisations. Whatever the situation or occasion, you’ll be able to take part in Welsh.
By telephone
When you call us, we’ll answer in Welsh and English. You’ll always be able to talk to us in Welsh. If there’s no Welsh speaker available, we’ll tell you when someone is available and call you back.
You can leave us a message in Welsh at any time and our service in both languages will always be to the same high standard.
On paper and in print
All documents, booklets, promotional materials, flyers and forms we produce in Wales will be available in both languages.
Online
Our website
We regularly update our website with information on our work and projects. All pages relevant to Wales are available in Welsh and you can easily switch between languages at the top of each page.
When we update English language pages, we update the corresponding Welsh page at the same time.
Social media
We use LinkedIn and Facebook to keep in touch with groups and share our news. We use Welsh and English, and you’re welcome to contact us in Welsh on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Our offices
We have two offices in Wales – one in Newtown and the other in Cardiff. We provide Welsh and English language services at both. Welsh-speaking staff wear a badge so you can see who speaks Welsh.
The Welsh language is prominent in our offices – all signs are in Welsh and English. Information that is available and displayed at our offices will be in both languages.
Funding
Distributing National Lottery funds is our main area of work. Each year, we give millions of pounds to projects and good causes across the country that improve health, education and the environment.
Many groups and individuals who apply for funding are more confident to do this in Welsh – and we welcome this.
If you’re applying for funding in Welsh, this will not slow down the process of dealing with your application. Grant applications are considered in the language in which they are submitted, and a team of Welsh speakers deal with applications received in Welsh. Once you apply for funding, you can go through the entire process in Welsh if you wish – from the first meeting to the final letter.
As an employer
We’re committed to the principle that our staff can live their working lives using Welsh in line with the standards – from filling in an application form and getting an interview, to arranging time off or discussing employment issues.
When recruiting, we consider the need for Welsh language skills in any new or replacement role. When we advertise roles that require Welsh language skills, we’ll specify this and advertise in Welsh.
We encourage staff to use Welsh at every opportunity and provide support to develop skills for both learners and fluent Welsh speakers.
Policy making
The National Lottery Community Fund has a wide range of policies that explain how we carry out our business and our services. When we review one of our policies or develop a new policy, we consider any effect on the Welsh language and opportunities to use it.
For all new policies, we’ll consider how they can positively support opportunities to use Welsh. We’ll also assess the impact on the Welsh language during consultations and research, and seek views as part of policy development.