Welsh Language Policy

Updated April 2025

We work in accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993 which stipulates that in the conduct of public business in Wales, the English and Welsh languages should be treated on the basis of equality, so far as is appropriate and reasonably practicable.  

We will ensure that we continue to make progress towards improving the provision of our services bilingually.

We assess and record the Welsh language skills required for every post and the Welsh language skills of every member of staff.

We recognise the importance of the Welsh language to the communities we servce and will champion the use of the language at every opportunity.

We support staff who may want to improve their Welsh language skills and enable them to receive training independently.

We will support and facilitate the use of Welsh and English in the work place

If we have to  insist that staff communicate in English in certain circumstances, we will explain clearly why we are doing so.

All our business cards, stationery and leaflets are bilingual.

We will use Welsh in our recruitment advertising wherever it is reasonable to do so.

We are actively looking to recruit staff with Welsh language skills (this includes employed staff, volunteers, Trustees and Contracted Counsellors)

We record the first language of all our clients at first referral

We ask if a client requires our service through the medium of their first language which for the purpose of this policy is Welsh. This may on occasions mean a slightly longer wait for a counsellor as we provide choice of location, day, time, gender of counsellor and language and sometimes this combination takes more time to arrange ( ref footnote 1 )

Every member of staff is able to recognise and handle communication in Welsh with courtesy.

Correspondence is usually in English however we accept correspondence in Welsh or English. We always reply in Welsh when we are replying to correspondence received in Welsh or when we have received a request to do so.

We will give positive consideration to bilingualism when sending and receiving correspondence, based on the nature and purpose of the correspondence. 

We will ensure that this policy is supported at all levels throughout Stepping Stones North Wales.

Foot note:

We generally find that most clients wish to receive their counselling through the medium of English despite us asking if they would like the service in Welsh.