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The Scheme was approved by the Wales Dyslexia's Trustees: 17 March 2007 and by Bwrdd -yr-iaith-Gymraeg on May 10th 2007
1. Introduction
1.1 The Wales Dyslexia ("WD") has adopted the principle that it will treat Welsh and English equally when operating it’s public business in Wales. This Scheme specifies how the WD will use the principle, when providing services to the public in Wales.
1.2 The Scheme specifies the necessary steps to implementing these principles in the way they are appropriate and practical for the organization.
2. Wales Dyslexia - WD’s objective
2.1. The WDP provides a service to every local authority in Wales, including establishing / creating resources, supporting parents, dyslexic individuals and anyone else that’s interested in the Dyslexia field. The resources can include software, written resources, specific screening tests, and arranging conferences about aspects of Dyslexia.
2.2 This Scheme is intended specifically to assist WD to achieve it’s mission by ensuring that both main languages – Welsh and English – that are use by our service users, our staff, our volunteers and the public in general are used effectively.
3. Provide Services
3.1 Written Materials
a. WD’s name, address, related information on stationery, information sheets, appeal material and public press releases will be bilingual.
b. Text on stationery will include the following note:
Correspondence welcomed through the medium of Welsh or English
a. WDP’s letterheads, compliment slips, business cards, identification badges and similar items will be bilingual.b. Forms that are used internally and externally by the organization will be available in Welsh and English. The WD intends to produce most of it’s forms bilingually, however, where this wouldn’t be practical, Welsh and English would be available separately and each would include a bilingual note noting that the document is available in the other language as well.
3.2 Publications
a. Any new publications that are published by WD to be used throughout Wales will be done so in Welsh and English. The Welsh and English versions will usually be available as one bilingual publication. Where this isn’t practical, the Welsh and English will be as accessible as each other. Our quarterly newsletter will include articles in Welsh and English, depending on the author’s language.
b. When publications are produced in partnership with other organisations / agencies, where possible, the Welsh and English versions will be published at the same time.
3.3 Publicity
a. WDP will release information to the media and the public bilingually by way of press releases, conferences, interviews and newsletters to the press. The Welsh and English versions will be published at the same time, distributed together and will be as accessible as each other.
b. Publicity campaigns and conferences publications and events will be relayed bilingually and they will comply with this Scheme’s requirements
c. WD’s Welsh Language Scheme and its Welsh language service will be published continuously by distributing copies of the Scheme, information sheets that are circulated throughout Wales, advertising posters and WD’s website.
3.4 Meetings and Conferences
WD will encourage those people who attend meetings and conferences held by the WD to state their preferred language choice in order to decide if translation facilities are needed.
We will offer a choice of language when holding public meetings. An assessment of the need for translation facilities will be undertaken for any meeting on a large scale, and facilities will be provided based on the assessment. Simultaneous translation facilities will be provided if the assessment shows that it’s needed.
3.5 Local Services
WD will promote, offer and facilitate the use of the Welsh language in the context of our local services. It will discover the language profile of individuals that use our local services and try to meet their language choice.
3.6 Employment Advertisements
Employment advertisements that are produced by WD will be bilingual, with the exception of:
a. Advertisements that are published in Welsh magazines and newspapers will be in Welsh only.
b. Advertisements that are published in English magazines and newspapers, for jobs where Welsh is an essential qualification will be in Welsh only but a short explanatory note will be included.
c. Advertisements that are published in the English media, and that are intended for people in the United Kingdom or Europe, usually in English only.
3.7 WD’s Trustees (Management Committee)
WD aims to have a representational assortment of Welsh and English speakers as members of the Committee. Arrangements will be made for translation facilities so that the members of the Committee can use their chosen language in meetings and in written materials if needed.
4. Direct Contact
Direct services are provided by WD in the service users’ chosen language, a service that is continued to be confirmed through staff and volunteers and noted on our data base. Information and advice is provided bilingually to service users as needed.
4.1 Correspondence
WDP encourages correspondence in Welsh. Letters received in Welsh are responded to in Welsh. The reply period will be the same as for letters received in English. If Welsh is the recipient’s chosen language, WD will write to them in Welsh.
When there isn’t sufficient time to translate a letter before sending a reply about an urgent matter (because of staff shortages), the letter will be translated by us as soon as possible and sent afterwards. We will explain this to the recipient. Usually, we will be able to respond in the appropriate language immediately. Appeal letters and standard WD letters to staff, members and other establishments will be bilingual.
4.2 Phone calls
At the moment, (January 2007) WD hasn’t got an office; therefore we’re using one of the trustees personal home phone. When we’ll have an office, WD will answer phone calls with a bilingual greeting. If the caller wishes to speak Welsh, we’ll try to connect him / her with a Welsh speaker. If there isn’t a Welsh speaker available, WD will give the caller a choice: (i) Either a Welsh speaker will phone him / her back (ii) continue the conversation in English, or (iii) send us the enquiry in writing in Welsh. There will be a bilingual message on WD’s answer machine and any Welsh messages that are left on the machine will be replied to in Welsh.
4.3 E-mail
All e-mail messages sent in Welsh to the WD will be answered in Welsh. Where it is known that an e-mail message recipient prefers to correspond in Welsh, then the WD will correspond in Welsh. The reply period for e-mail messages received in Welsh will be the same as for e-mail messages received in English. A data base is kept of organisations / individuals who wish to receive e-mail messages in Welsh, so that we’re able to give them this provision every time.
4.4 Website
Members of the public can access information on WD’s website in Welsh and English. The website gives a clear sign of language choice and WD acknowledges that the best way of steering language is by giving a choice of languages on the home page. Welsh and English pages on the website are changed and updated at the same time, with consideration given to differences that could occur because of different difficulties that are faced by dyslexic individuals in Welsh and English.
All new reports, documents and forms on the website will be available bilingually and both versions will be as easy to download as the other. All materials and provisions in Welsh and English are consistent in terms of updates, accuracy, transparency, easiness in regards of reading and quality. Written guidance is given to all staff members, consultants, designers and publishers in relation to designing bilingual material.
5. Internal Administrating
5.1 Professional Staff and Volunteers
In order for the Welsh Language Scheme to be successful, the WD has to have enough professional staff and volunteers that can speak Welsh. Where appropriate, the ability to speak Welsh is considered one of many personal details when appointing staff, according to WD’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
All new jobs are considered in light of this Scheme. WD will note jobs where the ability to speak Welsh is essential, desirable or where it’s deemed that it isn’t needed as a skill (ref 3.6). Job descriptions are then drawn up according to that. On occasions where recruiting for skilful / experienced staff has proved difficult, we may have to appoint a person who doesn’t speak Welsh to a job where speaking Welsh is essential. WD will offer these jobs with an employment condition of learning Welsh and reaching a specific level of fluency within the agreed timescale. WD will support and help the member of staff to achieve this condition and ensure that the staff member isn’t under any disadvantage in other ways as a result of this condition. The learning programme is structured and monitored regularly to ensure that the employee and the employer honour this commitment. This will ensure that the WD employs enough Welsh speakers to achieve the services that are outlined in the Scheme.
5.2 New Developments
The Welsh Language Scheme is an integral part of the WD’s planning to ensure that any new project, development or venture recognizes and includes the Scheme’s implications.
5.3 Services that are contracted -- The WD will inspect any services that are contracted to external agencies and companies to ensure that relevant sections of the Welsh Language Scheme are implemented.
6. Implementing the Scheme
6.1 Evaluating
The WD conducts an evaluation of the staff, volunteers and service users’ language profile every year to ensure that the Welsh Language Scheme is implemented and meets the organisations’ requirements. The evaluation will note jobs where Welsh is essential or desirable and the required standard.
6.2 Inspecting the Scheme
The WD will inspect and evaluate the organisations’ performance in relation to meeting this Scheme’s aims within a specified timetable (see no. 8 below). Several criteria are drawn up that will include the most important aspects of the Scheme and use them in the inspecting process. They will include the number of Welsh speakers within the WD, the average amount of documents produced, and how many are requested bilingually, and any developments / main events that are produced bilingually. The results of the inspection process are included in the WD’s Annual Report that’s presented to the Board of Trustees and the Welsh Language Board also receives a copy of it.
The Wales Dyslexia will evaluate the Scheme in three years time, from the date of approval by the Welsh Language Board.
6.3 Training
The WD’s Welsh Language Scheme is included in staff training and monitored separately according to the WD’s Human Resources policies and procedures. The WD will encourage staff to improve / learn Welsh and will help and support staff with the right level of commitment to start language training.
7. Complaints
7.1 Complaints about the Welsh Language Scheme and it’s usage by WD should be sent to:
Michael Davies, Llysteifi, Llechryd, Aberteifi, SA43 2NX
Tel: (01239) 682849 07990 813921
E-mail: llechryd1@btconnect.com
8. Timetable for Implementing and evaluating: