October 18, 2018 - 1586 views
The new Chief Constable of North Wales Police has kept his promise in making it a priority to learn Welsh.
Carl Foulkes, due to begin his new role at Police HQ in Colwyn Bay next month, has used his annual leave from his current job as Deputy Chief Constable in Merseyside to undertake an intensive course at the Welsh Language Centre in the former quarrying village of Nant Gwrtheyrn in Gwynedd.
Meic Raymant Head of Welsh Language Services in North Wales Police said: “It was good to see that the new Chief Constable was able to attend a residential course at Nant Gwrtheyrn Language Centre, in his own time, prior to commencing his role.”
“A Welsh language learning programme was put together for him following his appointment and included the option for a short residential course for complete beginners as well. He was very keen to do this.”
“Mr Foulkes very much enjoyed his course at the Nant. It is great to see his commitment to learning Welsh and he will be developing his Welsh skills further through the additional language training support that we will provide in the workplace.”
The previous week, as part of the Cymraeg Gwaith initiative, 12 North Wales Police employees attended a residential course at Nant Gwrtheyrn, sponsored by the Welsh Government.
Mr Raymant added: “It is important that we provide opportunities for our staff who do not speak Welsh fluently to develop their Welsh language skills and their confidence to use them when dealing with Welsh speaking members of the public and colleagues in work.
“The Force has developed its own Welsh language training provision in the workplace for this purpose. However, we are always looking for additional opportunities to help them to progress further. The ‘Cymraeg Gwaith’ residential Welsh courses have given some staff who have already learned a reasonable amount of Welsh an opportunity to develop their skills further on an intensive course with excellent tuition.
“It is clear from speaking to some of those who attended the course that they have benefited from this opportunity and feel more confident to ‘give their Welsh a go’ when at work.”
