Urdd Gobaith Cymru (Welsh pronunciation:[ˈɨrðˈɡɔbaɪθˈkəmrɨ]; known as the Urdd) is a national voluntary youth organisation, which claimed over 56,000 members in 2019[1] aged between 8 and 25. It provides opportunities for children and young people across Wales to take part in a range of experiences through the medium of Welsh.[2] The Urdd turned 100 on 25 January 2022 and celebrated by breaking two Guinness World Records.[3]
The Urdd also has five residential centres for children and young people across Wales.
The main aim is to ensure that all young people in Wales are given the opportunity, through the medium of Welsh, to play a constructive role in the community, developing personal and social skills. Up to 2019, 4 million children and young people have engaged with the Urdd in one form or another.
The Urdd National Eisteddfod (Welsh: Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru or Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd) is an annual Welsh-language youth festival of literature, music and performing arts organised by Urdd Gobaith Cymru. Arguably Europe's largest youth festival,[4] it is usually held during the last week of May, coinciding with schools' half-term holidays.
History
Urdd Gobaith Cymru (or 'Urdd Gobaith Cymru Fach') was established by Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards in 1922.[5] His aim was to protect the Welsh language in a world where the English language dominated every aspect of life outside the home and the chapel. In an issue of the magazine ‘Cymru’r Plant’ in 1922 Sir Ifan said, "These days, in many villages, and in most towns in Wales, children play and read in English. They forget that they are Welsh."
He appealed to the children of Wales to join a new organisation that offered opportunities through the medium of Welsh, and as a result, Urdd Gobaith Cymru was established.
Nearly a century later, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, the main youth organisation in Wales, has over 56,000 members, belonging to over 900 branches who take part in a wide range of activities. The work is carried out with the help of 260 staff and 10,000 volunteers. The Chief Executive appointed in 2015 to take the movement forward to the 2022 centenary left in 2017 after Trustees took action following the expression of a lack of faith in her ability by staff.[6] The current Chief Executive of Urdd Gobaith Cymru is Sian Lewis.
It had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic as an organisation that thrives over face to face activities like sporting and cultural events. It had estimated that due to the pandemic it would make a £3.8 million loss and an overall £14m reduction in income. It had to cut jobs in the organisation by half, over 160.[7][8]
Mistar Urdd
Modern Mistar Urdd plush toy
Mistar Urdd (Mr Urdd) is the Urdd mascot, based on the Urdd Gobaith Cymru logo and badge. Mistar Urdd has his own song 'Hey Mistar Urdd'.[9]
On 25 January 2022, the date that the organisation celebrated its 100th birthday, it broke two Guinness World Records for the most videos uploaded to Twitter and Facebook of people singing the same song in an hour.[3]
Pavilion interior during Cerdd Dant competition at the 2017 Eisteddfod, Bridgend.
The Urdd National Eisteddfod (Welsh: Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru or Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd) is an annual Welsh-language youth festival of literature, music and performing arts organised by Urdd Gobaith Cymru. Arguably Europe's largest youth festival, it is usually held during the last week of May, coinciding with schools' half term holiday. The location is decided a few years beforehand and alternates between North and South Wales.
The Eisteddfod consists of competitive singing, recitation, art, composition, dance and instrumental events for contestants aged between 7 and 25 years. Regional qualifying heats are held in advance around Wales.
In 2019, the Eisteddfod yr Urdd was held in Cardiff Bay. In 2020 and 2021, it was planned to be held in Denbigh and Llandovery respectively, but these were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead an online event was held called 'Eisteddfod T'. The postponed Denbigh Eisteddfod in 2022 will have a free entry.[clarification needed][10]
Sports
The Urdd's Sports Department hosts a wide range of community sports clubs and national sporting events for children and young people through the medium of Welsh. In 2019 boys were banned at short notice from participating in netball at the Urdd National Sports Festival.[11]
The Sports Department, supported by Sport Wales, now employs 20 staff and trains over 1,000 volunteers annually. This has enabled the organisation to offer regular activities for children and young people, with 150 sports clubs held weekly across the country, and over 11,000 children attending.[12]
The Urdd has said that 47,000 people have visited the Urdd Camps annually.[13] In 2018, over 2 million young people attended one or more of the Urdd residential Centres. The aim of the centres is to create spaces that offer opportunities for children, young people and adults to live, teach and socialise in a safe and welcoming Welsh environment. In 2019 £5.5 million was allocated to Glan-Llyn and Llangrannog by the Welsh Government to develop the centres.[14]
The Urdd offers residential experiences through its 5 residential centres:
Gwersyll Llangrannog [cy], Ceredigion, providing recreational activities, including horse riding and skiing (Gwersyll = "camp")
Gwersyll Glan-llyn [cy], near Bala, Gwynedd, offering water sports
Pentre Ifan, Pembrokeshire, a centre for environmental and wellbeing experiences
Tŷ Kisbodak Ház in Hungary offers young people of Wales an international experience.
Peace and goodwill message
Every year since 1922, the children and young people of Wales have written and sent a Message of Peace and Goodwill to the children and young people of the world on Goodwill Day, 18 May.[15]
Since 1955, Urdd Gobaith Cymru has been responsible for arranging for the message to be written and shared each year
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Gwersyll Llangrannog, Ceredigion
Gwersyll Glan-llyn, Bala, Gwynedd
Gwersyll Caerdydd (Cardiff)
Pentre Ifan, Pembrokeshire
55,000
