The Stroke Association's Cynnig Cymraeg

Describe what you do.

The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK that provides lifelong support to all stroke survivors and their families.

What does it mean for the Stroke Association to be one of the first organisations to receive the Cynnig Cymraeg?

Receiving the Cynnig Cymraeg was a significant milestone for us. It underlines our commitment to inclusion and our dedication to serving the Welsh speaking community. Being one of the first organisations to receive this recognition draws attention to our proactive approach to ensuring that our services are accessible to everyone, including those who prefer to use the Welsh language.

Being able to offer support in Welsh has helped reduce stress and anxiety, support better communication, and help stroke survivors receive the care and information they need in their chosen language.

What changes or improvements have you seen over the last 5 years with regards to using the Welsh language in the services you offer?

Over the last five years, we have seen an increase in the demand for communication in Welsh. As a result we have developed more bilingual resources, and have integrated Welsh language options into our digital platforms. These improvements have made our services more accessible to Welsh language users.

Looking back over the last five years, what are you most proud of since receiving the Cynnig Cymraeg?

We are most proud of the positive impact our Welsh language services have had on stroke survivors and their families. The feedback we have received has been positive, and it is satisfying to see how our efforts have made a real difference in their lives.

We recently commissioned Cardiff Metropolitan University to discover the needs and experiences of stroke survivors who speak Welsh. The report says that providing healthcare services in one's preferred language has long been recognised as important to their care and for stroke survivors it can be vital to their recovery. The full report can be found on the Stroke Association website.

We are also proud of the Paned a Sgwrs group, an informal group, which offers stroke survivors who speak Welsh to connect with others and chat. This group has been instrumental in helping survivors regain confidence in using the Welsh language in their everyday lives.

We are committed to supporting our staff who speak Welsh and encourage all staff and volunteers to speak Welsh with the aim of fostering a bilingual environment.

What challenges have you faced in developing and maintaining Welsh language services, and how did you overcome them?

We have faced a few challenges, such as ensuring that we have enough staff who speak Welsh to meet the demand. To address this, we have been actively recruiting bilingual professionals and encouraging our current team to learn Welsh.

Why is it important for healthcare and support services to offer people the choice to receive support in Welsh?

Offering support in Welsh is essential because it respects the cultural and linguistic identity of the Welsh-speaking community. When you support people in their chosen language, it can improve their understanding significantly – especially in a healthcare setting where they may feel vulnerable.
What are your ambitions for developing Welsh language support within the Stroke Association in the future?
Our ambitions include expanding our Welsh language services further to reach more stroke survivors and their families. We want to develop more comprehensive bilingual resources, increase the number of our staff who speak Welsh, and further develop our digital services. In addition, we intend to engage more with the Welsh speaking community to better understand their needs and continuously improve our services.