Interlink Bilingual Meeting

Interlink held a presentation on the work of the Millennium Volunteers programme in the Lifelong Learning Centre, Garth Olwg on 16th November 2006. In order to maintain the bilingual policy of the centre Rhian Powell, Community Translator for Mentrau Morgannwg Gwent was asked to provide a simultaneous translation service for some 70 people present at the event.

Bev Hampson, Interlink and organiser of the event said ‘the excellent translation service enabled contributions in Welsh in line with the ethos of a bilingual centre’.

FREE TRANSLATION SERVICE!* 

Are you a member of a voluntary organisation or community group?

Would you like to make use of a translation service but are put off by the cost?

Contact Rhian Powell, Community Translator for Mentrau Morgannwg Gwent to find out how you could receive up to 500 words translated free of charge!

Rhian Powell said ‘The aim of this scheme is to promote the use of the Welsh language by groups which either haven’t considered translating their material into Welsh or those which have considered doing so but have found the cost a major hurdle to overcome’.

For more information on how you this scheme could benefit you contact Rhian Powell on 01685 877183 or e-mail rhianpowell@menteriaith.org

A PASSION FOR TRANSLATION

Since September 2004 Rhian Powell, Community Translator for Menter Iaith, has shown a passion for Welsh / English translation. Her fast, accurate and dependable written and simultaneous translation services are proving immensely popular with organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector.

Her clients include community groups, for whom the translation service is provided free of charge as part of the offer to translate the first 500 words at no cost, or at a reduced rate, and also larger more established organisations that have elected to use the Welsh language for the first time such as Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales. Private sector companies such as Kraft Foods are now, also, reaping the rewards that providing a bilingual service can offer.  Public Sector services that are obliged to provide a bilingual service by the Welsh Language Act of 1993 such as Rhondda Cynon Taf County Council and Estyn are also finding her simultaneous translation service very useful in South East Wales.

‘It has been fantastic to be part of what is effectively a revolution for some of these organisations. The simultaneous translation service has enabled Welsh speakers to contribute to meetings in their mother tongue, and the language in which they are most comfortable, without hindering the flow of the meeting. I am delighted that my passion for translation can help so many organisations’ says Rhian Powell.

If you would like more information or would like to find out how you could receive up to 500 words translated free of charge contact  Rhian Powell on 01685 877183 or e-mail rhianpowell@menteriaith.org 

During the Parti Ponty 2006 festival held annually in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd the official launch of the translation of the children’s book ‘Bumble’s Hard Day’ (‘Diwrnod Caled Bymbl’ in Welsh). The book was written by Aeron Elias, an author from the Cynon Valley, and was the first of a series of books which will also be translated by Rhian in the near future.

Cardiff Blues Working Bilingually

Since the start of the new rugby season there has been a change in Cardiff Blues match programme. As a result of a partnership between the Blues and the Mentrau Iaith Morgannwg Gwent Translation Unit a Welsh language page has been included in every issue.

Gwydion Griffiths, Marketing Officer for Cardiff Blues said ‘Cardiff Blues have enjoyed a great working partnership with Menter Iaith since the project was launched at the start of the 06/07 season. The translation has always been delivered on time and is of the highest standard. This service enables our supporters throughout the region to read about the team in Welsh or in English and has proved to be very popular with our fans – especially the younger ones’.

Rhian Powell, Community Translator for Mentrau Iaith Morgannwg Gwent added ‘It’s good to see that organisations which, until recently, have operated monolingually, now recognise the benefits of working bilingually. I hope that this partnership continues to go from strength to strength and that more organisations in the area follow the example set by Cardiff Blues’.  The official launch of the Welsh page with the players will take place in the near future.

Community Translator Ordained to Gorsedd of Bards

Rhian Powell, Community Translator for Mentrau Iaith Morgannwg Gwent was ordained to the Gorsedd of Bards during the National Eisteddfod 2006. Rhian said ‘It was an immense honour to be accepted to the Gorsedd and the occasion was made all the more special because the ceremony was held in Swansea which is where I spent four years studying towards a degree in Welsh in the University of Wales, Swansea’.

Rhian will be known in the Gorsedd as ‘Ceri’r Waun Hir’ (Ceri is her middle name and she originates from Hirwaun in the Cynon Valley).