Welsh Language Scheme 2011-2014
Summary of Welsh Language Scheme Commitments
Introduction
Coleg Powys operates a statutory Welsh Language Scheme in accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993.
The College, through the implementation of it’s Welsh Language Scheme aims:
- To treat both the Welsh and English language on an equal basis and continue to provide and develop high quality services through both mediums.
- To further develop a curriculum offer which is broad, flexible, responsive and bilingual to support the needs of the community and industry.
- To ensure that members of the public have the opportunity and the right to choose the language they would like to use when conducting business with the College.
- To publicise, promote and further develop a bilingual ethos within the College, demonstrating its commitment to the Welsh Language Act 1993.
Examples of the ways we are seeking to improve Welsh language service provision
New Policies and Initiatives
Since incorporation, the College has developed a comprehensive range of policies and procedures that relate to the nature and scope of its activities. There are likely to be a number of new policies and initiatives that will be undertaken during the lifetime of this scheme.
As each existing policy is due for review, the linguistic consequences will be assessed against a language framework that
- will promote and facilitate the use of Welsh wherever possible
- make progress towards achievement of the principle of equality between the two official languages of Wales
- will ensure consistency with the College’s Welsh Language Scheme
- The college will ensure that any new or revised policies do not undermine its Welsh Language Scheme
All new policies, procedures and initiatives will be assessed against the same frame work. No new policy, procedure or initiative will be adopted without that assessments having been undertaken, and documented. Any proposals that would affect the College’s Welsh Language Scheme or that of any other organization will be the subject of consultation with the Welsh Language Board and no changes will be made without the Board’s approval.
The arrangements relating to new policies and initiatives will be made known to all appropriate staff as part of the standing policy formulation and review procedures.
Any arrangements made by the College to commission or use third parties to provide services to the public on its behalf will note in the arrangements that they are to comply with the College’s Welsh Language Scheme.
The College will monitor all third parties implementation of the requirements in accordance with the advice outlined in the WLB document ‘Contracting out Public Service contracts and the Welsh Language.’
Dealing with the Welsh Speaking Public
- The College welcomes correspondence from the public in both Welsh and English including letters, fax, and e-mail. Letters received in Welsh will receive a signed response in Welsh. The target time for dealing with letters will be the same irrespective of language.
- The College will initiate bilingual correspondence if the language of the recipient is not known.
- All staff will use a bilingual electronic signature and a footer explaining the
opportunities for the public to communicate in Welsh appears on all outgoing messages. - Staff are encouraged to answer the telephone with a bilingual greeting and the messages and greetings on the College Voice Mails will be bilingual.
- Members of the public can access information via the College’s Website in both Welsh and English.
- Advertisements and invitations to attend public meetings ask the public to notify the College of whether they wish to contribute in Welsh so that appropriate translation arrangements can be made. If a participant wishes to speak in welsh without having given prior notification to the college, a welsh speaker will be commissioned at short notice, wherever possible, to provide consecutive translation.
The Public Face of the College
- The College’s Corporate identity is fully bilingual.
- All signs and notices whether permanent or temporary produced by or on behalf of the College will be bilingual and respect the principle of equality. Where the Welsh and English signs are separate, they will be of equal size, shape, format, quality and prominence.
- The College will ensure that all questionnaires and explanatory material used internally or issued to the public in Wales will be fully bilingual. Where separate forms are produced in English and Welsh, each will include a statement that a form is available in the other language. Where Welsh and English versions are published separately, they will be issued simultaneously, distributed together and be equally accessible.
- All forms of college advertising to appear only in Wales shall be bilingual. This applies to advertisements for students, staff and other college services.
- All forms of college publicity, including displays and marketing campaigns, to appear only in Wales shall be bilingual.
- Where members of the public respond to a bilingual advertisement requesting further information, this will be provided either bilingually or in the language of their response.
- Staff who are fluent in Welsh are encouraged o wear ‘Yr Iaith a’r Waith’ badges indicating their ability to deal with enquires in Welsh.
- Coleg Powys is committed in encouraging and supporting staff to learn or improve their ability to speak Welsh. Every new member of staff will receive language awareness training through the staff induction programme.
Monitoring
The Welsh Language Steering Group, together with the Welsh Language Officer, will monitor the progress made towards implementing the actions around the Welsh Language Scheme. Implementation is the responsibility of Heads and Deputy Heads of Faculties and Functional Managers.
The College will provide an annual report on the progress with implementation of the scheme to the Welsh Language Board. Performance will be measured against specific standards and targets.
Complaints
The college complaints procedure is designed to encompass all types of complaint. Any complaint regarding the implementation of the scheme will use this standard procedure.
The College welcomes suggestions for improving its services delivered through the medium of Welsh. Members of the public can conduct their complaints in either Welsh or English and will be responded to within the same timescales.
Further Information
This is a summary of the Scheme. Copies of the Scheme are available on the College Intranet and Website or by contacting the Welsh Language Officer.
David Jones
Welsh Language Officer
Coleg Powys
Llanidloes Road
Newtown
Powys
SY16 4HU
Tel: 08454086 261
Email: david.jones@coleg-powys.ac.uk
