The Use of Welsh in the Third Sector in Wales

This article will examine the use of the Welsh language in the third sector in Wales, by studying the experiences of service users and service providers in the counties of Gwynedd and Carmarthenshire. The third sector provides a wide range of services to the public in Wales, from leisure activities to health care services and advocacy, and acts as an important care and service provider. However, the sector does not come directly under the legislation of the Welsh Language Act of 1993, leaving this important sector outside of the influence of current language legislation. This article discusses the results of recent qualitative research carried out on the use of the Welsh language in the sector, users' attitudes towards the language of service, and the experience of service providers in providing a bilingual service to the public.