Decision details

The Service Director Community Services presented the report to Cabinet with an update on the work currently being undertaken in collaboration with National Eisteddfod officers in preparation for the 2024 Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Taf specifically in relation to community engagement.

Members were advised that preparatory work and discussions have been on-going and the Council appointed an Eisteddfod Project Officer at the end of 2019 to work closely with National Eisteddfod Officers to promote the festival and engage with communities. The pandemic limited the opportunities to engage directly with communities but during this period National Eisteddfod Officers applied for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to pilot a new strategy for community engagement in Rhondda Cynon Taf

As part of the project to develop a community strategy the National Eisteddfod has appointed a Community Development Officer whose role is funded by the NLHF. The aim will be to use culture and heritage to bring people together and to create opportunities through events and activities to engage with local people. She will work closely with the Council’s Eisteddfod Project Officer

The Service Director Community Services continued that the National Eisteddfod’s NLHF project is divided into 2 parts:

• Phase 1 of the project will target young people aged 16- 25 to make the Welsh language and the Eisteddfod relevant outside of the classroom and school – music will form an important element of this engagement. During Phase 1 older people will also be targeted as they often influence family decisions. Events and activities celebrating the local area’s heritage and culture using Welsh will be developed to attract this group. 5 events will be delivered between December 2021 and April 2022.
• Phase 2 of the project will see the delivery of a further 5 events between May and August 2022. At the end of this period, it is envisaged that the National Eisteddfod’s Community Strategy will be finalised and that these events will help shape the National Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Service Director Community Services concluded that the common aim is to ensure maximum involvement by communities and to promote the message that the Eisteddfod is for everyone and you do not need to be able to speak Welsh to enjoy and participate in its activities and events.

The Cabinet Member Stronger Communities, Wellbeing and Cultural Services thanked officers for the work in developing the Community Engagement Strategy and recognised that it was Socially and economically important. He was also pleased to see the work of the community engagement officer as it was vital to engage with communities who speak welsh and those who don’t so was pleased to see the event being promoted as fully inclusive.

The Cabinet Member Enterprise Development and Housing echoed the comments and was pleased to see the event will be inclusive so all communities can participate.

Following consideration it was RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.