A REPORT published by Carmarthenshire County Council has reflected on the opportunities taken to promote and develop the Welsh language during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council produces an annual report focusing on its implementation of the Welsh Language Standards.

The council said it was proud to have delivered fully bilingual services despite the challenges of a rapidly changing situation which saw services disrupted and the workforce adapting to working from home.

As well as communicating key public messages bilingually, the council also supported partners to engage with local communities and staff to stay connected virtually.

Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, Cabinet Member with responsibility for developing and promoting the Welsh language, said: “Despite a year of huge changes to our ways of working, we are extremely proud that we continued to operate bilingually and provide quality Welsh language services to the residents of Carmarthenshire.

“We took every opportunity to promote the Welsh language across the county and supported our partners to do so as well.

“The report shows our proactive approach in organising Welsh virtual concerts, virtual activity for increasing the use of Welsh amongst our staff, as well as supporting our partners to create new Welsh-speaking online communities.

“Significant efforts were also made to create opportunities for staff to continue developing their Welsh language skills and use Welsh socially through virtual means.

"But we are aware that reduced face-to-face contact may have an impact on the use of incidental Welsh and therefore this is an area we will now focus our efforts on.”

He added: “We hope to be able to continue promoting the Welsh language with a renewed confidence that we are able to operate bilingually whatever barriers are in our way.”

Read the full report, find out about Carmarthenshire County Council’s commitment to the Welsh language, and sources of advice and support for communities, families, staff and businesses, at www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales.