Cymuned facts for kids

Cymuned (pronounced "cuh-MY-ned") was a group in Wales that worked to help local communities. Its name means "community" in Welsh. The group started in 2001.

Cymuned focused on protecting communities in Wales, especially those where people spoke Welsh or lived in the countryside. They felt these communities were changing too much because of new people moving in.

What Did Cymuned Do?

Cymuned often protested to make their voices heard.

Campaigns for the Welsh Language

The group spoke out against companies that didn't use enough Welsh.

• They protested against Arriva Trains Wales because the train company didn't use the Welsh language enough on its services.
• They also protested against the holiday company Thomas Cook. In 2007, Thomas Cook stopped its staff from speaking Welsh in its Bangor office. Cymuned thought this was wrong.

Campaigns for Local Housing

Cymuned believed that rising house prices were a big problem for local people in Wales.

• They argued that it was important to create a way for local people to afford homes in rural Wales.
• They wanted new homes to be set aside for local people only.
• This idea was based on rules already used in places like the Yorkshire Dales National Park and parts of Shropshire, Devon, the Peak District, and the Lake District.

Cymuned also helped the community of Rhostyllen, near Wrexham.

• They protested against plans by the National Trust.
• The National Trust wanted to build expensive houses on land next to the village. Cymuned thought this would harm the local community.

Important People in Cymuned

Many people were involved in Cymuned and helped with its work.

• The leader of Cymuned was Aran Jones. He learned Welsh as a second language.
• Twm Morys was a poet and musician. He won a major award at the National eisteddfod (a Welsh festival of arts) in 2003.
• Dr Simon Brooks was a former editor of Barn, a Welsh language magazine.
• Judith Humphreys is a well-known Welsh actress.
• Dr Jerry Hunter came from America and studied at Harvard University. He moved to Wales to learn Welsh and stayed there, working at the University of Wales.

See also

• Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg
• List of political movements in Wales