15/02/2026
Find out about our founder, Catherine Dhanjal's life outside work, including running Welsh conversation groups Sgwrs Gymraeg De Bryste a Chaerfaddon - Welsh Chat Bristol - S & Bath
An interview with our founder, Catherine Dhanjal
➡️When did you start the groups?
I ran the first meetings of the Bath and Keynsham groups in September 2022.
➡️Why did you start the groups?
I began my learning journey with Welsh as a total beginner in April 2022 after a couple of 'blasu' - taster - sessions with Dysgu Cymraeg Sir Benfro. I quickly became very keen to have conversations and pursue the language learning journey outside of the formal classes with Dysgu Cymraeg which I started taking in April 2022. At the time there were no Welsh conversation groups in the centre or south Bristol, or in the Bath areas, so I decided to start a couple, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, to make them accessible to all!
➡️How much do you charge?
I decided from the start to make attendance free of charge, to help encourage preservation and life of the Welsh language. To this day I do not charge. A simple thank you from attendees is always massively appreciated!
➡️How did you start the groups?
I initially put some feelers out on Facebook and LinkedIn to gauge interest, sourced some local venues and suitable dates. I decided from the get-go to have regular monthly dates to make it smooth on the organisation side and easy for attendees to remember. I deliberately reached out to venues who would host us for free.
I encourage attendees to buy a drink or two to support the venues and as a thank you to them for hosting us!
By happy circumstance, at the start there were two extremely fluent Welsh speakers who were able to provide valued support and encouragement to me and other attendees in those early days.
The flavour of the groups has evolved, and we now have many more speakers with good conversational Welsh as well as first language and very fluent speakers. It's great to continue to have Joseff Bailey-Wood and Simon C. Bright still coming when they can, they were so inspirational in the early days.
➡️What level of Welsh do you need to have to join the groups?
As a minimum if you can ask and answer a few basic questions in Welsh, you will find the sessions enjoyable and will undoubtedly make fast progress with your spoken Welsh. Speakers vary from first language to very fluent speakers, conversational speakers, and those more towards the start of their language journey at Mynediad (entry) Dysgu Cymraeg level upwards.
➡️When do you meet?
We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month in Bath (from March 2026 at Morrisons Cafe on the London Road in Bath until we find a more permanent home), 3pm-430pm
and
on the 3rd Tuesday of the month in Keynsham (south of Bristol), currently at The Old Manor House in the centre of Keynsham, 7pm-830pm
There are no meetings in August as so many people are on holiday.
➡️Why did you start learning Welsh?
My mother is from Griffithstown in South Wales originally. Although she does not speak Welsh, I've always described myself as half Welsh and spent many holidays there throughout my life
My cousin is an inspiration to me. Having learnt Welsh as an adult, she is now a professional translator (Welsh to English) and has carried out much work for Welsh language publisher Gwasg Carreg Gwalch https://carreg-gwalch.cymru as well as being a published author (check out Jane Burnard and the 33rd Owl trilogy https://carreg-gwalch.cymru/products/thirty-third-owl-the)!
➡️Where are you on your own Welsh learning journey?
This year I would ordinarily be studying Uwch Dau and taking the compressed 'two years in one' course but due to a combination of factors, I'm taking a year out to just enjoy the language. I plan to restart formal Welsh learning in September 2026, as well as attending the Welsh language learning centre Nant Gwrtheyrn for a week in July (https://nantgwrtheyrn.org). I also took the exams along the way as I enjoy having a concrete challenge to work towards!
➡️Have you found any unexpected benefits from learning Welsh?
I have found a fantastic new group of friends! Those who come along to the conversation groups, people I've met on Welsh language courses, and other people randomly I get into conversation with thanks to the link with the language.
➡️What have been some highlights since you started learning Welsh?
Attending my first ever Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru on the Penrhyn Llýn with my cousin and her partner for a week's stay in a beautiful cottage on a sheep farm near Abersoch and experiencing the Eisteddfod for the first time. The music, dancing, literature, art tents, being in an audience with Mark Drakeford talking about his Welsh learning journey, and hearing so much Welsh spoken in one place was incredibly inspiring. Being up close to bands like Bwncath, singers like Gwilym Bowen Rees and the Welsh Whisperer was something I'll forever treasure. The owner of our cottage was delighted too, he said we were his first ever visitors to speak Welsh!
For the first time this month (Feb 2026) I had a first language speaker ask me where I'm from in Wales after we were chatting in Welsh, a milestone to remember for me, having been born and brought up in England, although a move to Wales is hopefully on the cards in the future!
➡️What do you do when you're not organising Welsh conversation classes?
I run a small marketing agency, we specialise in working with organisations which are complex or have complex messaging, such as those in fields of research, regulated industries, and the technology sector. Check us out at www.theanswer.ltd We work with one charity a year as part of our CSR commitment and have been delighted to support https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofGlamorganHeritageCoast with one element of our work having been to introduce some Welsh to their communications!
I do enjoy learning languages and speak fluent French as well as having learnt some German and Italian, and studied Latin. This year I'm learning Egyptian Arabic, enjoying spending time with my daughter who moved to Egypt last year, and having fun with family and friends!
