Allowance for Welsh speakers and young people to return to Wales

Young, Welsh-speaking families are being offered up to £5,000 to return to some areas of Wales.

The incentive aims to encourage people from Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Anglesey to return.

The Llwyddo’n Lleol organization is working alongside the councils to address emigration from these areas, which it says is one of the main causes of the language’s decline.

It says the grants could be used to help “pay transport costs, rent or mortgage, childcare costs or even Welsh lessons”.

Huw Brassington, originally from Gwynedd but who has lived in Cumbria for a number of years, is one of the scheme’s first beneficiaries.

Brassington, who works as an engineer and is also a mountain runner and TV presenter, said his family had planned to return to Wales but the donation “made it easier for us to make that decision”.

“In the end, that was the catalyst for us to come back,” he said.

“Not only am I bringing my work with me, but I will also be looking for people from North Wales to work with me.

“This is part of the effect of the Llwyddo’n Lleol grant – it has created good jobs for other people in north Wales.”

• Couples and families with at least one adult aged 35 or younger
• Couples and families with at least one member who is originally from the ARFOR region (Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd or Anglesey) but now lives elsewhere
• An individual who knows Welsh or is committed to learning the language, or a family with a member who speaks or is learning Welsh
• Must be able to commit to returning to the ARFOR region by March 2025
• You should be happy to share your experience of getting back on camera

Llwyddo’n Lleol also runs other programs with the same goal.

Sioned Meleri Evans, who returned to Carmarthesnhire as part of the organisation’s career support programme, said she was very lucky to have found work locally as a sub-producer.

“It allowed me to be closer to my family and friends,” she said.