A Welsh language centre of excellence and education is set for a major revamp.
Coleg Cambria is investing significantly in its Camu building in Wrexham, with upgrades to facilities, technology and equipment.
The renovation is due to begin in the coming weeks, with a focus on maximising the hub’s potential for delivering Welsh language qualifications to students and the wider community through its Welsh for Adults provision.
The Yale site's interior and classrooms are set for an overhaul and extension, with plans for additional learning spaces, a café, state-of-the-art technology, a staff 'agile hub' and new access points.
Llinos Roberts, Cambria’s head of corporate communications and Welsh language, said the transformation will align Camu (Welsh for 'Step', signifying language skill enhancement) with the neighbouring £20 million Hafod campus and £14 million Health and Wellbeing Centre, which opened last month.
Ms Roberts said: "The project supports the college’s vision and strategy to grow Welsh-medium education and training in all sectors across the region.
"That runs parallel to the growing demand for more Welsh language workers – in line with the Welsh Government’s aim of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 – and offers the 200+ learners on-site who attended Welsh-medium schools a facility where they can practice and further their own language development."
She added: "Increasing adult and community learning provision through the medium of Welsh is a priority of both Coleg Cambria and Welsh Government, so it is crucial our facilities are brought in line with those targets.
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"The centre will be an immersive experience for staff, students and visitors to Camu, with interactive learning areas, and the café will be a social space where you can speak Welsh freely.
"We also look forward to welcoming pupils aged 14-16 from schools in the area so they can develop their Welsh skills on-site – a game changer for the Welsh language and education in north east Wales."
Camu is regarded as a beacon of best practice in developing the Welsh language in the workplace and has been instrumental in pioneering Welsh programmes at the college’s other sites in Deeside, Llysfasi, and Northop.
Ms Roberts added: "Camu continues to provide a programme of Welsh language courses specifically tailored for the workplace in partnership with local employers who want to improve their bilingual services, as well as vocational training programmes and our Welsh for Adults courses, here and in the community.
"We are committed to celebrating and raising the profile of the Welsh language as a valuable skill for employment and this significant investment is a reflection of that."
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