News
Inspiring the next generation of translators
To celebrate International Translation Day on Wednesday, 30 September, Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru published new resources to introduce young people to the craft of translating.
The activity pack is designed for learners at Progression Step 3 and offers a creative and enjoyable introduction to translating. It includes reading, writing and discussion tasks, with activities drawing on contemporary culture, such as translating a script from the popular programme Waterloo Road, fashion brand slogans and music album covers.
Through these activities, learners can explore how meaning is conveyed between languages, develop their language skills and gain an insight into the work of translators. We hope the resources will spark their curiosity about languages and encourage them to see translation as both a creative craft and a potential career.
Many thanks to the Year 8 and 9 pupils at Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones for trying out the resources and helping us develop the pack.
The pack is available on our website. Try out the activities and share them with colleagues and schools!
Celebrating fifty years of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru
We enjoyed a lively evening at Neuadd Hugh Owen, Bangor University on Thursday, 24 September to celebrate fifty years since the founding of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru. It was lovely to see members and former staff coming together to mark this special milestone.
The Annual General Meeting took place before the celebration, providing a welcome opportunity to meet face to face. Congratulations to Bethan Mair Evans, James Eul, Alaw Eleri Hughes and Nia James on their election to the Board of Directors, and thank you to them for their willingness to contribute to the Association’s work.
Many thanks to the University for the wonderful food and to Hywel Pitts for the entertainment. Thank you also to everyone who joined us to celebrate.
Celebrating the craft and sharing memories
As Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year, the National Eisteddfod offered an opportunity to look back at our history and introduce the craft to a new audience.
Our activities took place in Aberystwyth University’s pavilion, where we joined the University in celebrating the tenth anniversary of its postgraduate course in Professional Translation Studies. We held a ‘Cynnig ar Gyfieithu’ (‘Give Translating a Go’) session in partnership with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, giving visitors a taste of simultaneous interpreting using virtual reality (VR) headsets and headphones. The equipment attracted plenty of interest and prompted lots of questions! Aberystwyth University also held a ‘Taclo’r Termau’ (‘Tackling Terminology’) session.
In the same pavilion, Megan Hughes Tomos, the Association’s former secretary and chief executive, delivered this year’s Hedley Gibbard Memorial Lecture. The lecture drew on vivid and fond memories of the Association’s founding and its development over its first thirty years. Also through her recollections, Megan paid warm tribute to those who played a key role in this work, including Hedley Gibbard, Wil Petherbridge and Mary Jones.
Our heartfelt thanks to Megan for a thoroughly engaging lecture, to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David for working with us, and to Aberystwyth University for the warm welcome.
Megan’s lecture will be available on our website soon.
Audit Wales Podcast
Listen to our Chief Officer discuss the challenges artificial intelligence poses for the Welsh language, with Siôn Owen of Audit Wales and Osian Llywelyn, Director of Regulation and Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner.
'Cynnig ar Gyfieithu'
On Tuesday, 26 May, a translation session was held at the Anglesey Urdd Eisteddfod, where children had the opportunity to experience interpreting using VR headsets. It was a pleasure to collaborate with the Isle of Anglesey County Council and Rhagoriaeth in organising this event.
The Urdd Eisteddfod Translation Competition
Huge congratulations to Mared Osian Griffiths from Anglesey for winning the 19 – 25 translation competition at this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod. Congratulations also to Non Davies, who won second prize, and to Cai Phillips, who came third. All three will receive free training from Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru. Many thanks to Huw Tegid Roberts for judging.
Thomas Cherry-Gunning wins the Wil Petherbridge Memorial Award
Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2025 Wil Petherbridge Memorial Award is Thomas Cherry-Gunning. The award is presented to the most promising candidate in the Basic Membership examination for translation into Welsh. The winner was selected by the Association’s examiners following the Spring and Autumn 2025 examinations.
The Wil Petherbridge Memorial Award was established by the Association in 2007 in memory of its former secretary and a pioneer in the field of translation in Wales. The award reflects the Association’s appreciation of all Wil’s work, particularly his role in establishing the examination system.
Thomas was brought up in Mynwent y Crynwyr, next to the village of Nelson in the South Wales Valleys. He now lives in Rhymney with his wife, Elen, and their cat, Arwenna. He studied Drama at the University of Exeter between 2017 and 2020, and began translating in the Civil Service over four years ago. He is also an enthusiastic member of the CwmNi drama company in Caerphilly.
Thomas said: “I’m someone – like many others in this community, perhaps – who has always enjoyed browsing through grammar books. I enjoy the challenge and the fun of bridging two languages and two cultures. I’ve really enjoyed discovering and developing my craft as a translator, and it was wonderful to pass the Association’s exam last year – and to win the Wil Petherbridge Memorial Award on top of that! Many thanks once again to the Association for this honour.”
Thomas will soon begin a new role at the Food Standards Agency and hopes to have more time to write and translate creatively. Best wishes, Thomas!
Appointment of Chief Officer
Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru is pleased to announce that Teleri Haf Hughes has been appointed as the association's new Chief Officer.
Teleri is from Amlwch, and after graduating from Aberystwyth University with a first-class honours degree in Welsh, she returned to teach at her old school, Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones, Amlwch. Teleri currently works as the Children and Young People's Editor with Gwasg Y Lolfa.
Announcing her appointment, Chair of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, Manon Cadwaladr, said: "I'm really looking forward to working with Teleri. She has a clear vision regarding the direction of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru and her enthusiasm and energy will surely take the association to the next level. I am also pleased that Teleri is able to work with Gwyn Williams, our current Chief Officer to ensure a smooth transition period. I would also like to thank the Welsh Government who are part-funding the position of Chief Officer."
Teleri said: "I am very much looking forward to the challenge of serving the members of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru and building on the foundations that have been established over the last 50 years”.
Teleri will take up her post in September.
New Report Highlights Vital Role of Welsh Translation Sector in Wales
A newly published report by research company Arad offers a comprehensive insight into the size, value, and diversity of the Welsh translation sector in Wales. With financial support from the Welsh Government, the research was conducted through a combination of online surveys, interviews, and desk research. This is the first time such research has been carried out in Wales, and the findings provide a solid foundation for Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru to develop long-term, robust, and ambitious strategies.
You can read the full Welsh report here. Feel free to contact swyddfa@cyfieithwyr.cymru if you would like to discuss the report further.
Research into the translating and interpreting profession
- How many translators/interpreters are there in Wales?
- Where do they live and for who do they work?
- What is the contribution of Welsh to English and English to Welsh translation to the Welsh economy?
To answer these questions and more, Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, with the financial support of the Welsh Government, has commissioned research company Arad to investigate the profession.
BUT in order to undertake the research, it’s necessary to find all the translators and interpreters in Wales.
There are 400 translators and interpreters who are members of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, but we know that there are many more people who translate. Some translate at work – although it may not be part of their job description. A number of people volunteer to translate in the community in societies and chapels across Wales. Some translate text, some interpret at meetings and at religious services.
We need to hear from all of these to get the full picture.
Manon Cadwaladr, Chair of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru, said: "Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru has been in existence since 1976, but has never undertaken this kind of research into the profession before. So that we as an association, educators and employers to be able to plan for the future, we need to know the shape and structure of the profession. I would encourage everyone who translates, be that full-time, part-time or on a voluntary basis, to complete the questionnaire so that we can properly understand the contribution of translation and interpretation to the Welsh economy.
So if you're a translator or interpreter, or know someone who is, please direct them to www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/arolwg-cyfieithwyr/ so they can have their say.
It's also important to hear from translation companies – so there's a special questionnaire for them www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/arolwg-cyfieithwyr_cwmniau/
And for public sector organisations, local government translation units, health boards, university and so forth www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/arolwg-cyfieithwyr_sefydliadau/
All answers will be anonymous, and no individual details will be shared with Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru or its Board members. To see Arad’s privacy notice follow this link arad.cymru/s/Hysbysiad-preifatrwydd-Arad-Privacy-notice-1.pdf
If you have any questions about this research, please contact swyddfa@cyfieithwyr.cymru