Welsh Language Policy

The Shared Earth Trust Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SET) is a small charity based at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre, a forty-acre nature reserve in rural Ceredigion. SET recognises the importance of the Welsh language as an integral part of the cultural heritage and identity of Wales and the local community in which we operate.

The main aims of SET are to promote biodiversity and connect people with nature. Our work engages local, national and international audiences through conservation activities, volunteering, education, accommodation and community engagement.

Statement of Principle

We acknowledge that under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, the Welsh language has official status in Wales and should be treated no less favourably than the English language.

We believe it is good practice to provide services in the language of choice of our beneficiaries, customers, volunteers and partners wherever practical and proportionate. We also believe that supporting the use of Welsh demonstrates respect for our staff, volunteers and local community.

We are committed to making continual progress in increasing our use of Welsh. This policy sets out our current commitments and provides a framework for developing Welsh language provision across the organisation.

The scope of these commitments should be interpreted reasonably. They apply to activities and services delivered in Wales, to people living in Wales, and to activities and services which we are able to control or influence.

Corporate Brand

• Our corporate brand is bilingual.
• Our stationery and generic leaflets are bilingual.
• We will seek to ensure that key organisational information is available bilingually wherever practical.

New Projects and Activities

All new projects and activities will consider how to support the principle of the Welsh language having equal status with English within communications, publicity and participant engagement.

Where funding applications are submitted, the potential costs of translation and Welsh language provision will be considered and included where appropriate.

Signage

All permanent signage located at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre will give equal prominence to Welsh and English.

Temporary signage and event signage will be bilingual wherever practical.

Website and Digital Communications

We are committed to ensuring that our website and digital communications are fully available in both Welsh and English.

As a small charity with limited resources, we use a bespoke AI-assisted translation system to provide bilingual website content. This approach enables us to deliver a comprehensive Welsh-language website in a way that is practical, affordable and sustainable, while maintaining a high standard of accessibility for Welsh-speaking users.

Translations are reviewed, tested and refined on an ongoing basis, and we welcome feedback from users to help improve the quality and accuracy of Welsh-language content.

New website content will normally be published in both Welsh and English, supporting our commitment to providing equal access to information regardless of language preference.

We will continue to review developments in translation technology and Welsh language provision to ensure that our website remains an effective and inclusive bilingual resource.

Social Media

We recognise social media as an important means of communication.

Where practical and proportionate, we will publish bilingual content across our social media channels and encourage the visibility and use of Welsh through our online communications.

Advertising and Marketing

We will seek to produce bilingual advertisements, promotional materials and marketing communications wherever practical and proportionate to the intended audience and available resources.

Printed Material

All professionally designed and printed materials with an anticipated shelf life of more than one year will normally be produced bilingually.

The potential for Welsh translation will be considered for all printed materials.

Education Courses

We provide a diverse range of educational courses and engage external tutors and facilitators to deliver many activities.

While we cannot guarantee that courses will be available in Welsh, we will seek opportunities to use bilingual facilitators where available and where their expertise meets the requirements of the course.

Course information and promotional materials will be available bilingually wherever practical.

Events and Activities

We will seek opportunities to incorporate Welsh language elements into events, interpretation, educational activities, volunteer programmes and community engagement initiatives. Where Welsh-speaking staff, volunteers or session leaders are available, their involvement will be encouraged and promoted.

We will actively promote the use of the Welsh language through events for learners and fluent speakers.

Volunteers

Volunteers play a vital role in the work of the charity. We will encourage and support volunteers who wish to use or develop their Welsh language skills and will seek to provide bilingual information and opportunities wherever practical.

Staff Development

We will encourage and support members of staff in learning Welsh and improving their Welsh language skills.

Employees may submit requests to their line manager to attend Welsh language training during working hours where operationally feasible. The organisation will consider financial support for approved training opportunities.

We will also encourage staff to use Welsh in the workplace where they feel comfortable doing so.

Staff Recruitment

Recruitment advertisements will be published bilingually.

Welsh language skills will be considered as part of workforce planning and role design. Depending on the needs of the role, Welsh language skills may be identified as:

• Essential;
• Desirable; or
• Not required.

Internal Communication

We recognise the right of staff, volunteers and service users to use Welsh with one another in accordance with the principles established by the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.

We expect staff and volunteers to respect the language preferences of colleagues, visitors and participants.

We will seek to foster an environment where the Welsh language can be used naturally and confidently as part of everyday organisational life. This reflects current guidance from the Welsh Language Commissioner on promoting Welsh in the workplace.

Welsh Language Software

Staff may install and use Welsh-language interfaces and Welsh-language tools where these are available and compatible with organisational systems.

Leadership

The Board of Trustees will ensure that this policy is supported at the highest level of the organisation.

Awareness

This policy will be publicly available on our website.

All staff and trustees will receive a copy of the policy and appropriate guidance on its implementation.

Monitoring and Action Planning

We recognise the importance of measuring progress and setting realistic objectives. Guidance from the Welsh Language Commissioner recommends clear objectives, actions and review arrangements to increase the use of Welsh.

An annual Welsh Language Action Plan will be maintained and reviewed, including objectives such as:

• Monitoring bilingual content on the website, digital communications and social media.
• Recording Welsh language skills among staff and volunteers.
• Identifying opportunities for Welsh-medium activities.
• Delivering bilingual signage around the site.
• Supporting Welsh language learning and awareness among staff and volunteers.

Services Delivered on Our Behalf

We encourage contractors, consultants and third parties delivering services on our behalf to support the principles outlined in this policy wherever practical.

Review Information

Effective Date:                                   28 October 2026

The policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains legally compliant, operationally effective, and aligned with the organisation’s values and objectives.

Next Scheduled Review:                  October 2027

Policy Approval Statement

This policy has been approved by the Trustees of Shared Earth Trust and applies to all relevant staff, volunteers, trustees, contractors, participants and visitors as specified within the document.