Kay Holder, Welsh Learner of the Year

Born and bred in Penarth, Kay Holder moved away from Wales to attend University in Scotland. Returning to her homeland in 2008, Kay attended the Eisteddfod in Cardiff. Whilst helping out a friend on one of the stands Kay decided to learn a few Welsh phrases and so she printed off a list from the BBC website to learn the week before the event.

Armed with a few phrases (and a few more given to her by her friend), Kay spent the day walking around the festival using her Welsh with other stand holders. Surprised at the amount of people in the festival who were willing to help her learn and to explain words to her, Kay returned to her home in Kent determined to continue her learning.

She attended the 2009 Eisteddfod in Bala to improve her Welsh and also spent time at Nant Gwrtheyrn in North Wales. Before the 2010 Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale Kay took a course at the Welsh for Adults Centre to strengthen her skills and attended the Eisteddfod full of confidence. She decided that speaking Welsh was more important to her than living in England and so she took the move to return to Penarth where she has found a close knit Welsh community. Kay attends Welsh classes in Barry and has also taught a class herself in Penarth and assists with teaching other classes. She has also taught Spanish through the medium of Welsh to a small group of people who were due to visit Patagonia. Kay attends many social group gatherings in Penarth, Dinas Powys and Barry to support other learners.

For Kay, returning home and using her native tongue has been life changing experience 'I use Welsh to communicate every chance I get, I use it to live! It was such a big decision for me to move from Kent to Penarth but it was worth it to develop my Welsh language skills. I am going to become a Welsh language tutor to inspire others to learn the language. I also hope to restart my piano and harp lessons but this time through the medium of Welsh!