Menter Iaith Bangor was launched in 2014 by our committee, in response to the results of the 2011 census, which showed a 10% drop in the percentage of Welsh speakers in the city from 45% in 2001 to 35% in 2011. Nevertheless, Bangor continues to be the most Welsh-speaking city in Wales, and the whole world, in terms of the percentage of Welsh speakers who live here.
The aim and objectives of the Menter
The general aims of Menter Iaith Bangor are to advance and promote the Welsh language, so that it becomes part of everyday life in Bangor. Our main objectives can be summarized as follows:
- Promote the increase of 5.1% between 2001 and 2011 in the percentage of children aged 3-15 who can speak Welsh.
- Promote the social, natural use of the Welsh language by holding, contributing and supporting activities, events and celebrations. For example, we hold an annual Popdy Fun Day. We also regularly hold Panad a Moider and Peint a Sgwrs sessions, in order to offer the people of Bangor the opportunity to use the Welsh language in informal situations.
- Stop and reverse the decline of 9% in the percentage (all ages) who can speak Welsh, and the decline of 9.1% among the 16-24 age group.
- Maintain a holistic overview of the linguistic health condition of the city of Bangor, including economic, social effects and in terms of residential and economic planning developments.