ARFOR 2 programme (up to March 2025)
On 10 October 2022, the Welsh Government announced that a further £11 million will be provided for a second phase of ARFOR until the end of March 2025.
The programme continues to work across Anglesey, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, to support the communities which are the heartlands of the Welsh language to prosper through economic interventions which will also contribute to increasing opportunities to see and use the Welsh language.
ARFOR’s strategic objectives
- Create opportunities for young people and families (aged 35 or under) to stay in or return to their native communities – and supporting them to succeed locally via enterprise or career development and ensuring a livelihood that achieves their aspirations.
- Create enterprising communities within the Welsh-speaking heartland – by supporting commercial and community enterprises that aim to retain and increase local wealth by utilising the unique identity and qualities of their areas.
- Maximise the benefit of activity through collaboration – by establishing a learning mindset, by continuously doing and improving, learning from activity in individual areas and expanding it, tailored to local conditions.
- Strengthening the identity of communities that have a high concentration of Welsh speakers – by supporting the use and visibility of the Welsh language, promoting a sense of place and local loyalty, as well as increasing awareness of what the region has in common.
Overview of the different workstreams
Enterprising Communities Fund – Isle of Anglesey
Grants to support the economic development and the Welsh language for businesses on Anglesey (administered by the Isle of Anglesey County Council)
Overview of progress to-date;
*Fund now fully allocated
Go to Enterprising Communities Fund – Isle of Anglesey.
Regional agreement managed by the ARFOR program office
Llwyddo’n Lleol 2050
Administrated by Menter Môn
Llwyddo’n Lleol aim to show that there is exciting opportunities and bright futures available in ARFOR areas. Offer support to individuals under the age of 35 to be able to identify the job opportunities in their areas and offer support to businesses to offer employment to local young people. Individuals and businesses have received support towards salary costs, and/ or training for staff.
Go to Llwyddo’n Lleol (opens in new tab).
Cronfa Her
Administered by Mentera
Innovative projects to explore solutions that strengthen the relationship between language and economy.
Projects based on Anglesey led by M- Sparc;
Rhwydwaith Cymry Llundain (London Welsh Network)
A scheme that gives M-SParc and the region the chance to highlight the opportunities available across the ARFOR area to the London Welsh community.
Gwlad y Gemau (Games Country) by Haia Communications
Reviving the Welsh language through Esports Innovation and Language Technology.
MySparc
A digital portal in the form of an app that brings a business eco-system, enterprise, academia, students and investors together in one place to create the ARFOR Innovation community.
Academi Iaith a Gwaith (Language and Work Academy)
The scheme enables people to gain employment, to learn or improve and use their Welsh. It offers financial support to people while employed, and to create Welsh languages spaces.
Bwrlwm ARFOR
Lead by Lafan Consulting Group, a collection of stories, campaigns, events, workshops and case studies celebrating the economic growth and strength of the Welsh language in Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Anglesey.
For further information on the programme and its regional funds, go to the ARFOR website (opens in new tab).