Jacinta Jolly, Deputy Head of Library Services (North), has been shortlisted for the New Welsh Speaker category at the Inspire! Adult Education Awards 2025. Since joining the Work Welsh scheme in 2022, Jacinta has shown extraordinary commitment to learning and promoting the Welsh language both in her workplace and personal life.
The Inspire! Adult Education Awards are organised by Learning and Work Institute with support from the Welsh Government and other partners. They celebrate the achievements of exceptional individuals, projects, and organisations who demonstrate the power of learning to transform lives and communities.
Originally from Australia, Jacinta moved to Wales with her husband and son two decades ago. Even before relocating, her enthusiasm for the Welsh language was she bought a Welsh dictionary and the album Mwng by Super Furry Animals. While family commitments meant her early attempts to study Welsh were put on hold, her passion never faded. In 2022, she returned to formal study with renewed determination. Having successfully completed the Using Welsh: Access Level exam in 2024, she is now working towards the Foundation Level exam in 2026, with ambitions to continue progressing to Intermediate level and beyond.
Jacinta’s love for Welsh is deeply embedded in her professional role. At the libraries in Newtown and Brecon, she ensures that the Welsh language is visible and celebrated. From bilingual exhibitions to promoting Welsh events such as Use Your Welsh, Shwmae Su’mae Day, and Welsh Music Day, she works tirelessly to create a welcoming bilingual environment for students and staff. She also curates collections of new and contemporary Welsh books suitable for both fluent speakers and learners, encouraging more people to engage with the language through literature.
Beyond her workplace, Jacinta embraces Welsh culture wholeheartedly. She regularly attends Welsh gigs and festivals such as Trawsnewid and Ara Deg, enjoys reading Welsh books, and contributes articles to the online magazine Y Wennol. At home and in her community, she seizes every opportunity to practice her Welsh, whether chatting with family and friends, listening to Radio Cymru, or watching S4C dramas. “I feel proud every time I read a Welsh book, talk to a student, or speak in Welsh at a gig. I feel like I belong here!”
Her efforts have gone far beyond her own learning journey. She has delivered training to colleagues on using Welsh in the workplace, organised engaging events such as corridor displays for Use Your Welsh, and even created TikToks to promote the language. Her enthusiasm and creativity have not gone unnoticed she has been invited to join the college’s Bilingual Working Party, helping shape the future of bilingualism at NPTC Group of Colleges.
Her Work Welsh tutor, who nominated her for the Inspire! Award, praised her progress: “Since joining the Entry level course in 2022, Jacinta has made wonderful progress. She is a confident and enthusiastic learner who uses her new skills to promote Welsh and bilingualism in the workplace. She has the motivation to become a fluent speaker and to make a difference to students, the College, and the wider community.”
For Jacinta, learning Welsh has been a transformational experience: “For anyone who wishes to learn Welsh, I would say go for it, enjoy the journey, and don’t worry if your first steps are small.”
If you are interested in finding out more about Work Welsh, please email Llinos.Davies@nptcgroup.ac.uk
