Popeth Cymraeg is a unique organisation set up by local Welsh learners and native speakers solely for the purpose of teaching Welsh to Adults lin the area. Back in 1988 the then Mayor of Denbigh, Cllr. David E. Jones used his inaugural speech to launch a campaign to set up of a Welsh Language Centre in the Vale of Clwyd. His vision attracted a broad spectrum of support and within three years he and the other members of the Canolfan Iaith Clwyd Trust had succeeded in their aim. Almost 30 years later and Popeth Cymraeg, the community based organisation which grew out of that initial campaign, is still going strong. We list below some of our most important milestones during this period.
1988 David Jones, The Mayor of Denbigh, launches the idea of setting up a Welsh Language centre in the Vale of Clwyd.
1989 A charitable trust set up and Clwyd County Council persuaded to donate the old Denbigh Library building to house the centre.
1990 £105,000 raised to renovate the building.
1991 Receive a grant of £20,000 from The Welsh Office. (Employ 1.5 persons.) Centre officially opened.
1994 Win NIACE Adult Education Award (one of 5 out of 95 groups throughout the UK).
1996 Franchise agreements signed with three local FE colleges - Llandrillo, Deeside and Celyn to run Welsh classes in the community for them - from Saltney to Penmaenmawr.
1997 Run first 'Accelerated Learning' Welsh Course.
1997 Receive grant of £187,000 from the National Lottery to build an extension to the building and employ more staff.
1998 Set up Menter Dinbych-Conwy with money from The Welsh Language Board, Cyngor Colwyn and Cadwyn. Employ two new officers.
1998 Win 'Journal Publishing Group' British Business Award.
1999 Change name to 'Popeth Cymraeg /Welsh Unlimited' and become a charitable company limited by guarantee.
2001 Launch language methodology book “Dulliau Dysgu Ail Iaith” during the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh.
2001 Substantial growth in numbers. (The trend continues).
2003 Work on reality TV programme Cariad@iaith.
2004 Work on reality TV programme SelebrityCariad@iaith.
2004 Open exhibition on the history of Popeth Cymraeg.
2006 Launch CDRom "200 Words a Day Welsh".
2006 Receive Grade 1 in Estyn Inspection.
2007 North Wales Welsh for Adults Centre set up – Popeth Cymraeg financed directly from now on via the centre and not via the colleges.
2008 Open Gwefr Heb Wifrau / Wireless in Wales exhibition.
2009 Open Canolfan Iaith Dyffryn Conwy in Y Tanerdy, Llanrwst
2011 – 2015 Popeth Cymraeg works with Fflic to create the Cariad@iaith programmes. Popeth Cymraeg prepares the lessons and Popeth Cymraeg’s Chief Executive, Ioan Talfryn co-teaches on the programmes with Nia Parry.
2012 – 2015 Popeth Cymraeg works with Fflic on other TV programmes for Welsh Learners – Hwb, Hwb Bach and Galwch Acw
2016 Reorganisation of Welsh for Adults nationally. Popeth Cymraeg enters into partnership with Coleg Cambria to provide Welsh Classes for Adults in North East Wales.
2016 Open an office and run a wide range of classes at the Bodelwyddan Business Centre
2019 Appointment of Tutor-Organisers
2020 Excellent Estyn Inspection
2020 Moving all our delivery online due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
2021 Dramatic increase in our enrolments due to delivering classes via Zoom
