If your organisation operates in Wales, there’s a good chance you have obligations under Welsh language legislation — including making your website available in both Welsh and English. Yet many organisations serving Welsh communities are still running English-only websites, either because they’re unaware of the requirement or because they don’t know how to fix it affordably.
This page explains what the Welsh Language Act and related legislation requires, who it applies to, and how to get your website bilingual quickly without technical complexity or large costs.
The Welsh Language Framework: What You Need to Know
Welsh language requirements for organisations come from two main pieces of legislation:
The Welsh Language Act 1993
This Act established the principle that the Welsh and English languages should be treated on an equal basis in the conduct of public business and administration in Wales. It required public bodies to prepare Welsh Language Schemes outlining how they would provide services in Welsh.
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011
This updated legislation replaced Welsh Language Schemes with binding Welsh Language Standards. It significantly strengthened the framework and extended obligations more broadly. The Welsh Language Commissioner, established under this Measure, actively promotes the Welsh language and investigates complaints of non-compliance.
Under these standards, organisations must treat Welsh and English equally in delivering services — and that includes digital services like websites.
Who Does This Apply To?
Welsh language obligations apply to a wide range of organisations:
- Public sector bodies — local councils, NHS trusts, government agencies, and arm’s-length bodies operating in Wales
- Registered charities operating in Wales or serving Welsh communities
- Tourism businesses — Visit Wales and the Welsh Government actively encourage bilingual provision across the tourism sector
- Education providers — schools, colleges, and training organisations in Wales
- Housing associations and social landlords
- Utility companies and regulated industries operating in Wales
While the legal obligations are strongest for public bodies, the Welsh Language Commissioner actively encourages all businesses and organisations operating in Wales to offer Welsh language services as good practice — and increasingly, customers and communities expect it.
What Does a Compliant Welsh-English Website Look Like?
A properly bilingual Welsh/English website should offer:
- A visible language switcher accessible from every page
- All key content available in Welsh — homepage, services, contact, policies
- Welsh displayed at least as prominently as English
- Forms and interactive elements that work in Welsh
- Contact information in Welsh
It’s worth noting that Welsh translations should be accurate — poor machine-translated Welsh is not considered compliant. Human-reviewed translations are strongly recommended, especially for regulated organisations.
The Problem: Most Website Builders Don’t Support Welsh
Many organisations in Wales use common website builders — GoDaddy, Wix, Weebly, or basic WordPress themes. These platforms typically have no built-in Welsh/English toggle, and switching platforms entirely is expensive and time-consuming.
This is exactly the problem Multilingualizer solves.
How to Add Welsh to Any Website in Minutes
Multilingualizer is a JavaScript tool that works on any website platform. You add a single snippet of code to your site, tag your content with language identifiers, and a language switcher appears automatically.
The Setup Process
- Add the snippet — paste the Multilingualizer JS code into your website’s custom code section or footer. Works on GoDaddy, Wix, Weebly, WordPress, Webflow, and more.
- Tag your content — wrap your text in Welsh and English tags:
<span class="ml-en">About us</span> <span class="ml-cy">Amdanom ni</span> - Switch goes live — a Welsh/English language switcher appears on your site. Visitors choose their preferred language and content updates immediately.
Your Welsh translations are entered directly by you or your translator — no automated translation guessing, no risk of embarrassing errors. Full control over what’s displayed.
Pricing
Multilingualizer costs $3.99/month after a free 1-week trial. For a charity, public body, or small business trying to meet its Welsh language obligations without a large budget, this is one of the most practical and affordable routes available.
Start Your Free 1-Week Trial →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Welsh Language Act apply to my website?
If your organisation is a public body, charity, or regulated entity operating in Wales, you almost certainly have Welsh language obligations that extend to your website. For private businesses, the obligations are less strict but the Welsh Language Commissioner actively encourages bilingual provision. Check with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s office or a legal advisor if you’re unsure of your specific obligations.
How do I add Welsh to my website?
The simplest approach is to use Multilingualizer. You add a JS snippet to your existing website (it works on all major platforms), tag your content with Welsh and English versions, and a language switcher appears automatically. Your Welsh translations can be entered by you or a professional Welsh translator. The setup typically takes a few hours to a day depending on your site’s size.
What organisations need a bilingual Welsh/English website?
Public bodies in Wales are legally required to offer Welsh language services including digital services. This includes local authorities, NHS trusts, public utilities, government agencies, and arm’s-length bodies. Charities and third-sector organisations operating in Wales are also strongly encouraged to provide Welsh language services. Tourism businesses, schools, and any organisation serving Welsh-speaking communities should consider bilingual provision as a minimum standard of good practice.