Mudiad Meithrin is delighted to welcome new members to its national Non-Welsh-Speaking Parents’ Forum, which gives a voice to parents who do not speak Welsh but choose Welsh-medium early years education and childcare for their children.
The new members of the forum are:
| Laura Charlesworth, Carmarthenshire | Melinda Nagy, Vale of Glamorgan |
| Vixie Williams, Swansea | Kate Jones, Cardiff |
| Kashmira Sohal, Rhondda Cynon Taf | Katherine Bester, Carmarthenshire |
| Caoimhe Martin, Flintshire | Olivia Beaumont, Monmouthshire |
| Samantha O’Rourke, Conwy | Catherine Charlwood, Ceredigion |
| Chelsea Humphreys, Wrexham
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The aim of the Parents’ Forum is to ensure that the experiences, opinions, and ideas of non-Welsh-speaking families help shape the development of Mudiad Meithrin’s work. It provides an opportunity for parents to share their views, constructively challenge the organisation and help ensure that families receive the support they need throughout their journey with the Welsh language.
Forum members bring a wide range of experiences but share a common desire to see their children benefit from Welsh-medium education and develop a connection with the language and culture of Wales. Their experiences range from learning Welsh alongside their children to reconnecting with the language and raising the next generation bilingually.
Kashmira Sohal, a new member of the forum from Rhondda Cynon Taf, said:
“Neither my husband nor I speak Welsh, but we are passionate about giving our daughters the opportunity to grow up bilingual. We see the ability to speak Welsh as a real gift and want our daughters to grow up with a love of the language, an appreciation of Welsh culture and identity, and a sense of belonging to the place they call home.”
Dr Catrin Edwards, Chief Executive of Mudiad Meithrin, added:
“We are delighted to welcome the new members of our Parents’ Forum and look forward to working closely with them in the months ahead. Mudiad Meithrin is committed to ensuring that the Welsh language and access to Welsh-medium childcare are open to everyone.
“The Parents’ Forum makes a real difference to the work of Mudiad Meithrin, ensuring that the voices of parents from all backgrounds are represented and heard. Ultimately, this helps to create more opportunities for children and families across Wales to benefit from the Welsh language.”
Mudiad Meithrin looks forward to working with the new members, ensuring that parents’ perspectives continue to inform the organisation’s work and the future of Welsh-medium education in Wales.