FUNDING AWARDED TO HELP REVIVE THE MANX LANGUAGE

A local charity which focuses on promoting the Manx language and culture, has launched a new project to encourage Manx speaking across the Isle of Man.

Mooinjer Veggey has been awarded a grant of £23,833 from Manx Lottery Trust, for it to kickstart its ‘Bunneydys’ project. The grant will part fund a project officer salary and employment costs, equipment, resource development and promotion, and venue hire.

The new project officer would help grow interest in Manx by promoting the benefits of bilingualism. They will also work with parents to develop new resources, provide targeted Manx lessons and strengthen parent and toddler groups (called Possan Cloie in Manx), with a vision of building strong communities to support families in their Manx language journeys.

Phil Gawne, CEO of Mooinjer Veggey, said: ‘For over 25 years we have been providing support to parents through our nurseries, Possan Cloie and the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh (Manx primary school in St Johns). Much of our support work has been undertaken through the voluntary effort of committee members and friends of Mooinjer Veggey, however it became clear at a recent planning workshop, that we needed to do more to support families who are looking to use more Manx.

‘Building and growing strong Manx speaking communities needs investment at all levels, but particularly in early years. There is strong evidence in other minority language communities that supporting families and children to acquire the target language reaps the biggest reward and building strong, supportive language communities is key to this success.

‘Our ‘Bunneydys’ project aims to double the number of Manx speakers by 2032, so we are enormously grateful to the Manx Lottery Trust for making this possible.’

Stephen Turner, Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, said: ‘This is a truly valuable project which we are most pleased to support. Encouraging families to embark on their Manx journeys together, rather than as individuals, will certainly make more of an impact.’

To keep up to date with Mooinjer Veggey, head to www.facebook.com/mooinjerveggeyiom or visit https://www.mooinjerveggey.org.im

This grant is from Manx Lottery Trust’s Community Awards Programme. Manx Lottery Trust has been delegated to distribute National Lottery money from The National Lottery Community Fund.