The Big Lottery Fund is committed to providing a bilingual service to the public in Wales. Since 1994, BIG has awarded more than £4 million to support Welsh language projects, which promote the use of Welsh in communities.
We actively promote the use of the language and encourage non-Welsh speakers to learn Welsh. BIG has an enquiries line staffed by bilingual speakers, all guidance and application materials are available bilingually and Welsh speaking staff assess and manage grants for groups whose preference is to communicate in the language.
On 23 September 2009 our new Welsh Language Scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board which explains ‘that in providing services to the public in Wales and in the process of awarding grants the English and Welsh Languages should be treated on the basis of equality.’
The Welsh Language Board was disbanded in March 2012 and replaced by the new Welsh Language Commissioner, under the Welsh Language Measure 2011. The Welsh Language Measure has also established the principles that in Wales, the Welsh Language should be treated no less favourably than English, and that people in Wales should be able to live their lives through the medium of the Welsh language if they chose to do so. BIG’s Welsh Language Scheme is monitored regularly by the Welsh Language Commissioner. Groups funded by the Big Lottery Fund are also required to work within the principles of our Welsh Language Scheme.
The Commissioner is currently undertaking a consultation into a draft set of standards which will monitor how organisations adhere to the Measure. This may impact upon the work of BIG and organisations receiving funding and result in changes being made to BIG’s Welsh Language Scheme.
If you are looking for funding from the Big Lottery Fund, please read our guidance on our requirements under the Welsh Language Scheme (PDF, 137 kb). Read the full details of our Welsh language scheme (PDF, 190 kb).
For further information on Big Lottery Fund’s bilingual procedures, please contact Alec Porter, Welsh Language Officer on 029 2067 8246 or at Alec.porter@biglotteryfund.org.uk
For more information and advice on bilingual working, please visit the Estyn Llaw website or phone 0800 9177 969.