Welsh Centre in Pontardawe
The project to establish a Welsh Centre in Pontardawe is a partnership between Academi Hywel Teifi and Neath Port Talbot Council. The project received a grant of £300,000 from the Welsh Government through the 2015-16 Capital Investment Grant to adapt the building and to purchase resources. The Ty'r Gwrhyd Welsh Language Centre has been operational since April 2016 under the control of Academi Hywel Teifi, and the center was officially opened by the Minister of Welsh and Lifelong Learning, Alun Davies AM, in July 2016. Over 80 guests attended the Official Opening that were featured in the local and national press.
Neath Port Talbot Welsh Language Initiative, Learn Welsh - Swansea Bay Area and Urdd Gobaith Cymru have offices in the Centre and there are other local groups that promote Welsh locally such as Merched y Wawr, Cwm Gwawr Crotesi'r Cwm and Llais Community Paper, that meet in the building. This has enabled the Centre to act as a one stop shop for Welsh language information and services in the area and have enriched the Centre's activity as the organisations plan and support each other's work. The Tŷ’r Gwrhyd Welsh language bookshop is successful in attracting visitors of all ages to the Centre and providing resources to support Welsh-medium education and Welsh learners of all ages. There are Learn Welsh - Swansea Bay Area classes held in the Centre on a weekly basis as well as informal courses and learning sessions. Academi Hywel Teifi hold a variety of regular educational / cultural events, including book talks and launches that are suited and likely to attract a local audience - e.g. The launch of Prof. Alan Llwyd's volume on Gwenallt, Launch of the Niclas y Glais Memorial, the Aberfan Disaster memorial evening with Professor Christine James and Professor E. Wyn James and an evening to greet Aneirin Karadog after winning the Chair at Monmouthshire Eisteddfod 2016.
