Welsh Language Act: A Practical Guide for Welsh Businesses, Charities and Councils
Wales is a bilingual nation. Around 900,000 people — roughly 30% of the population — speak Welsh (Cymraeg), and the Welsh Government is committed to growing that number. For organisations operating in Wales, whether public bodies, charities, or private businesses, the Welsh language isn’t just a cultural consideration. In many cases, it’s a legal and reputational one too.
This guide explains what the Welsh Language Act means in practice, who it applies to, and how to add Welsh to your website without rebuilding from scratch.
What Is the Welsh Language Act?
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 (commonly referred to as the Welsh Language Act) established the office of the Welsh Language Commissioner and created the legal framework for Welsh language standards. It built on earlier legislation to give Welsh official equal status alongside English in Wales.
Under this framework, the Welsh Language Commissioner can impose Welsh Language Standards on organisations — these are legally binding requirements about how and when Welsh must be used. Standards cover service delivery, operational matters, policy-making, and promotion of the language.
Who Does the Welsh Language Act Apply To?
Public bodies — mandatory compliance
Public bodies in Wales — including local councils, NHS trusts, Welsh Government departments, publicly-funded bodies, and national parks — are typically required to comply with Welsh Language Standards. This includes providing Welsh-language versions of their websites, correspondence, and public-facing services.
Private businesses and charities — expectations are growing
Private sector businesses and charities are not automatically subject to the full Welsh Language Standards, but the picture is changing. The Welsh Government has been progressively extending the scope of the Standards, and businesses in certain regulated sectors or receiving public funding may already be covered.
More broadly, there is a strong expectation — driven by the Welsh Language Commissioner, the Welsh Government’s strategy to reach one million Welsh speakers by 2050, and customer expectation — that organisations serving the Welsh public should offer Welsh-language services. For charities operating in Welsh-speaking communities, or businesses that serve Welsh-speaking customers, offering Welsh is increasingly the professional standard.
The Welsh Language Commissioner also actively promotes the idea that Welsh speakers should be able to live their lives in Welsh, including when interacting with businesses. A business that ignores Welsh isn’t breaking the law (unless it’s covered by Standards), but it’s making a visible choice that Welsh speakers notice.
What Does a Bilingual Welsh/English Website Look Like?
A good bilingual Welsh/English website:
- Offers a clear, easy-to-find language toggle (not buried in the footer)
- Presents Welsh and English as equals — not Welsh as a secondary option
- Has complete Welsh-language versions of all key pages (homepage, services, contact)
- Uses properly translated Welsh — not machine-generated approximations
For organisations subject to Welsh Language Standards, the Welsh version must be at least as prominent as the English version. For others, good practice suggests giving Welsh equal footing.
The Practical Challenge: Most Welsh Organisations Use Simple Website Builders
Here’s the problem many Welsh organisations face: they built their website on GoDaddy, Wix, Weebly, or a similar platform — often because it was easy and affordable. These platforms don’t have built-in Welsh language support, and most don’t have meaningful multilingual support at all.
Rebuilding the website isn’t the answer. Adding Welsh shouldn’t require starting from scratch or paying a developer thousands of pounds.
How to Add Welsh to Your Website with Multilingualizer
Multilingualizer is a JavaScript-based tool that adds a language switcher to any website. It supports Welsh (Cymraeg) as a language option — you simply use [cy] as the language code for Welsh content and [en] for English.
The setup process:
- Sign up for Multilingualizer and get your unique JavaScript snippet.
- Add the snippet to your website’s header or custom code section. This works on GoDaddy, Wix, Weebly, Webflow, Shopify, WordPress, and most other platforms.
- In your page editor, wrap your content in language tags:
[en]Welcome to our website[/en][cy]Croeso i'n gwefan[/cy] - A language switcher appears automatically, allowing visitors to toggle between English and Welsh.
The translations are entirely yours — Multilingualizer displays what you write. If your organisation has Welsh-speaking staff or works with a Welsh translator, you can ensure the quality of Welsh is professional and appropriate for your audience. At $3.99/month, it’s a practical and affordable solution.
Getting Welsh Translations
If you need help with translations, the Welsh Government’s translation portal and several professional translation agencies specialise in Welsh-English translation. The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and local Welsh language initiatives may also be able to point you toward resources. For charities and community organisations, Welsh-speaking volunteers within your community are often happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Welsh Language Act require a bilingual website?
It depends on your organisation. Public bodies in Wales subject to Welsh Language Standards are legally required to provide Welsh-language digital services, including their website. Private businesses and charities are not automatically required to do so, but expectations are growing — especially for organisations that serve Welsh-speaking communities or receive public funding. All organisations are encouraged to offer Welsh by the Welsh Language Commissioner.
How do I add Welsh to my website?
The easiest way is to use a tool like Multilingualizer. You add a JavaScript snippet to your site’s header once, then wrap your page content in language tags ([en]...[/en] for English, [cy]...[/cy] for Welsh). A language toggle appears automatically. This works on GoDaddy, Wix, Weebly, Webflow, Shopify, WordPress, and most other platforms — no developer needed.
Which organisations need to provide Welsh language services online?
Public bodies in Wales are typically covered by Welsh Language Standards and must provide Welsh digital services. This includes local authorities, NHS bodies, and Welsh Government agencies. Organisations in regulated sectors, or those that receive public funding, may also be covered. Private businesses and charities are encouraged — but not usually legally required — to provide Welsh services, though this expectation is increasing as Welsh language policy develops.
Make Your Website Cymraeg-Ready
Whether you’re a council, a charity, or a small business serving Welsh-speaking communities, adding Welsh to your website is a statement of respect and inclusion — and in many cases, a legal requirement. Multilingualizer makes it technically straightforward and affordable.
Start your free trial of Multilingualizer today and add Welsh to your website in minutes.
