Gwynedd a Môn Netball League wins top award for commitment to Welsh language – and earns high praise from governing body!

The Gwynedd and Anglesey Netball League recently landed a prestigious national award for its commitment to the Welsh language.

The 18-year-old competition, which began as the Penygroes and District League in 2006 and switched to its current name in 2016, is the first sports league in Wales to be awarded the ‘Cynnig Cymraeg’ (‘The Welsh Offer’) award by the Welsh Language Commissioner.

Wales Netball/Pêl-Rwyd Cymru proudly stated: “As the National Governing Body for netball in Wales, we have started making small steps on our journey to including and promoting the Welsh language within our sport.

“We know it won’t be a quick journey as we want to do it right. However, there are organisations within our netball community who have taken tremendous steps to ensuring the Welsh language is embedded and celebrated within their organisations.

“One organisation we would like to share the great work of is the Gwynedd a Môn Netball League. The Gwynedd and Anglesey Netball League was established in 2006 with the aim of offering competitive matches to teams local to Gwynedd and Anglesey in North West Wales.

“The league has grown from 6 teams in 2006 to 25 as of 2023. Many of the teams play in Welsh and Welsh terms are used by the referees in the league and the league developed an Action Plan detailing the services they offer through the medium of Welsh.

“We are proud to share that the league is the first sports league in Wales to be awarded the ‘Cynnig Cymraeg’ (‘The Welsh Offer’) award by the Welsh Language Commissioner. They are committed to delivering communications and resources in Welsh to their members and aim to review and develop their Action Plan to continue providing a Welsh language offer to their members.

“Well done to the committee of Gwynedd a Môn Netball League. We support you in continuing your work to offer services through the medium of Welsh to your members.”

Meddai Pêl-Rwyd Cymru: “Fel y Corff Rheoli Cenedlaethol ar gyfer pêl rwyd yng Nghymru, rydyn ni wedi dechrau cymryd camau bach ar ein siwrnai i gynnwys a hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg yn ein camp.

“Rydyn ni’n gwybod na fydd hi’n siwrnai gyflym gan ein bod ni eisiau gwneud pethau’n iawn! Er hynny, mae sefydliadau o fewn ein cymuned pêl rwyd ni sydd wedi cymryd camau aruthrol i sicrhau bod y Gymraeg yn cael ei gwreiddio a’i dathlu o fewn eu sefydliadau. Un sefydliad rydyn ni eisiau rhannu ei waith gwych ydi Cynghrair Pêl Rwyd Gwynedd a Môn!

“Sefydlwyd Cynghrair Pêl Rwyd Gwynedd a Môn yn 2006 gyda’r nod o gynnig gemau cystadleuol i dimau lleol i Wynedd ac Ynys Môn yng Ngogledd Orllewin Cymru. Mae’r gynghrair wedi tyfu o 6 o dimau yn 2006 i 25 o dimau yn 2023.

“Mae llawer o’r timau’n chwarae yn y Gymraeg ac mae’r Gymraeg yn cael ei defnyddio gan ddyfarnwyr yn y gynghrair a datblygodd y gynghrair Gynllun Gweithredu yn manylu ar y gwasanaethau mae’n eu cynnig drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg.

“Rydyn ni’n falch o rannu mai’r gynghrair ydi’r gynghrair chwaraeon gyntaf yng Nghymru i dderbyn y dyfarniad ‘Cynnig Cymraeg’ gan Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg ar 7 Rhagfyr 2023. Mae wedi ymrwymo i ddarparu deunydd cyfathrebu ac adnoddau yn y Gymraeg i’w haelodau a’r nod yw adolygu a datblygu ei Chynllun Gweithredu i barhau i ddarparu arlwy Cymraeg i’w haelodau.

“Da iawn i bwyllgor Cynghrair Pêl Rwyd Gwynedd a Môn! Rydyn ni’n eich cefnogi chi i barhau â’ch gwaith i gynnig gwasanaethau drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg i’ch aelodau.”