MaPS continues commitment to Welsh Language in 2023 Annual Monitoring Report

• Report outlines progress made towards delivering public services in Welsh.
• MaPS’ Welsh Language Scheme is meeting multiple objectives.
• MaPS says “we know that usage of Welsh is increasing and we want to grow our content and boost knowledge of our services to meet that.”

Issued to the Welsh Language Commissioner, the report outlines the progress MaPS has made between 17^th March 2022 and 31^st March 2023.

Specifically, it looks at how MaPS has delivered public services in accordance with its Welsh Language Scheme and identifies any areas for improvement.

The report, publicly available via MaPS’ website, outlines what’s been undertaken over those 12 months, including the successful and on-time completion of 12 planned actions.

These include recruiting Welsh-speaking pensions specialists who, combined with our existing Money Guidance specialists, have now taken over 300 calls. Others included setting up a Webchat, providing aspects of money guidance via WhatsApp and creating dedicated social media accounts, all in Welsh.

A Welsh language version of MaPS’ MoneyHelper service, HelpwrArian, is also available and its pages had more than 33,000 unique views last year.

In addition, MaPS issued all media content, paid marketing campaigns and social media advertising in Welsh, alongside English.

Lee Phillips, Wales Manager at the Money and Pensions Service, said:

“We’re committed to the Welsh language and we’ve worked hard on making improvements across the board. Our online content now contains over 750 articles, around 20 tools or calculators and countless campaigns and updates, with most delivered in line with our Welsh Language Scheme. However, we’re constantly aiming to improve and we welcome feedback on anywhere we can do better.

“The usage of Welsh is growing and to meet it, we want to boost awareness of our services for everyone who needs them. We would welcome support from everyone, including the Welsh Language Commissioner, as we try to reach as many Welsh speakers as possible with our free, impartial and vital services.”

– ENDS –

• Read the full 2023 Annual ReportOpens in a new window
• The Welsh Language Act 1993 places a duty on the public sector to treat Welsh and English languages equally when providing services to the public. The act also requires every public body providing services to the public in Wales to prepare a Welsh Language Scheme.
• MaPS recognises that the Welsh language has official status in Wales as enshrined by the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.