Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The Welsh Government has a proud record of support for Credit Unions and has invested significant sums of money in the sector to provide access to fair and affordable credit. Credit Unions feature strongly in our efforts to tackle poverty and will continue to be a key partner of Welsh Government in supporting financial inclusion and wellbeing and building financial resilience.


I am providing this Written Statement to set out Welsh Government’s continued backing, with up to an additional £1million being made available during 2020/21 as credit unions support those in need during the current coronavirus crisis.


This investment has been made with the aim of ensuring that everyone in need of credit is able to access affordable financial services from credit unions. This remains our aim.


Credit unions, like many financial service providers, saw loan requests fall during lockdown, and this \- whilst now beginning to return to normal levels \- will have an impact on their income. The Welsh Government’s previous capital loan fund was well received and we are therefore providing up to a further £1million of much needed capital to credit unions. The Credit Union Capital Loan Fund will receive applications during a fixed window, making allocations at the end of this calendar year.


Credit unions provide an excellent and ethical way for people to save regularly and borrow affordably and responsibly. During the coronavirus lockdown they made significant efforts to maintain essential services for existing customers and also new members looking to borrow affordably. I am pleased that as restrictions start to ease, for those credit unions that had to reduce their opening hours, they have now begun to re\-open branches and increase the range of services available.  This access will be important as people look to try and reset their finances.


Now more than ever, members will be looking to their trusted credit unions to provide assistance to navigate the unprecedented times that lie ahead. Over the past six months credit unions have shown their resilience and continue to be there for anyone in need of affordable credit. I thank them for this.


Over recent years credit unions have worked to attract new members, boosted by national marketing and aided by a national brand, Credit Unions of Wales, which has helped to unite them and raise awareness of who they are, where they are and what they do. They have established themselves as the leading ethical savings and loans providers with the widest reach in Wales.


Over the past year, fifteen new collection points and branches across Wales have been opened, with the latest one most recently in Carmarthen, with digital services expanded to offer greater online access, as well as expanding the reach of their financial education programmes in schools.


Credit Unions have also made significant efforts to increase payroll partnerships. Many employers across Wales are taking advantage of this, encouraging staff to save regularly and borrow affordably, supporting financial wellbeing. I want to see these relationships continue to flourish – the Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted more than ever the need for savings buffers, putting a small amount away regularly where possible for a rainy day. 


Credit Unions have a determination to strengthen and grow, aided by a renewed strategy developed by the sector, due to be published shortly.


I am pleased to be able to provide this additional funding so that we continue to have a strong Welsh Credit Union movement, providing access to fair, responsible, ethical and affordable credit across Wales.


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.







Translation:


 
Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru hanes o gefnogi Undebau Credyd y gallwn fod yn falch ohoni, ac mae wedi buddsoddi symiau sylweddol o arian yn y sector i ddarparu mynediad at gredyd teg a fforddiadwy. Mae Undebau Credyd yn allweddol wrth i ni fynd i’r afael â thlodi a byddant yn parhau i fod yn un o brif bartneriaid Llywodraeth Cymru yn y gwaith o gefnogi cynhwysiant a lles ariannol ac adeiladu gwytnwch ariannol.


Rwy’n cyflwyno’r datganiad hwn i amlinellu cefnogaeth barhaus Llywodraeth Cymru, gyda  hyd at £1 miliwn yn ychwanegol ar gael yn ystod 2020/21 wrth i Undebau Credyd gefnogi’r rhai sydd angen cefnogaeth yn ystod yr argyfwng coronafeirws presennol.


Nod y buddsoddiad hwn yw sicrhau bod  pawb y mae angen credyd arnynt yn cael mynediad at wasanaethau ariannol fforddiadwy gan undebau credyd.


Yn ystod y cyfnod clo, gwelodd undebau credyd, fel y rhan fwyaf o ddarparwyr gwasanaethau ariannol, fod nifer y ceisiadau am fenthyciadau wedi gostwng, a bydd hyn, er bod pethau’n dechrau dychwelyd i’r lefel arferol, yn cael effaith ar eu hincwm. Cafwyd ymateb da i gronfa benthyciadau cyfalaf blaenorol Llywodraeth Cymru , ac felly rydym yn darparu hyd at £1 miliwn pellach o gyfalaf angenrheidiol i undebau credyd sydd dirfawr ei angen arnynt. Bydd modd gwneud cais i Gronfa Benthyciadau Cyfalaf i’r Undeb Credyd, yn ystod cyfnod penodol, a gwneir dyraniadau ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn galendr hon.


Mae undebau credyd yn ffordd wych a moesegol i bobl allu gwneud arbedion yn gyson, a benthyg yn gyfrifol ac mewn modd fforddiadwy. Yn ystod y cyfnod clo, roeddent wedi gwneud ymdrechion sylweddol i gynnal gwasanaethau hanfodol i gwsmeriaid presennol a hefyd i aelodau newydd oedd yn awyddus i fenthyca'n fforddiadwy. Rwy’n falch, wrth i’r cyfyngiadau ddechrau llacio, bod yr undebau credyd hynny a oedd yn gorfod lleihau eu horiau agor, bellach wedi dechrau ailagor eu canghennau a chynyddu'r ystod o wasanaethau sydd ar gael.  Bydd hyn yn bwysig wrth i bobl geisio ailedrych ar eu gweithdrefnau ariannol.


Yn fwy nag erioed, bydd aelodau nawr yn disgwyl gweld yr undebau credyd y maent yn ymddiried ynddynt yn ddarparu cymorth i’w harwain drwy’r cyfnod ansicr a newydd sydd o'n blaenau. Dros y chwe mis diwethaf mae undebau credyd wedi dangos eu gwydnwch ac yn parhau i fod yn gefn i unrhyw un sydd angen credyd fforddiadwy. Rwy’n diolch iddynt am hynny.


Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf mae undebau credyd wedi gweithio i ddenu aelodau newydd gyda chymorth ymgyrchoedd marchnata cenedlaethol a brand cenedlaethol, sef Undebau Credyd Cymru, sydd wedi helpu i'w huno a chodi ymwybyddiaeth o bwy ydynt, lle mae nhw a beth y maent yn ei wneud.


Bellach, maent wedi’u sefydlu fel y prif ddarparwyr cynilion a benthyciadau moesegol sydd â'r cyrhaeddiad ehangaf yng Nghymru. Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf agorwyd pymtheg pwynt casglu a changhennau newydd ledled Cymru, gyda'r un diweddaraf yng Nghaerfyrddin. Yn ogystal, ehangwyd y gwasanaethau digidol i gynnig mwy o fynediad ar\-lein, ac ehangwyd cyrhaeddiad y rhaglenni addysg ariannol mewn ysgolion.


Mae Undebau Credyd hefyd wedi ymdrechu'n sylweddol i gynyddu partneriaethau cyflogres. Mae llawer o gyflogwyr ledled Cymru'n manteisio ar hyn, gan annog staff i gynilo'n rheolaidd a benthyca'n fforddiadwy, gan gefnogi lles ariannol. Rwyf am weld y cydberthnasau hyn yn parhau i ffynnu – mae’r pandemig presennol wedi tynnu sylw’n fwy nag erioed at yr angen i gadw rhywbeth wrth gefn, pan fo hynny’n bosibl, at gyfnod anodd. 


Mae Undebau Credyd yn awyddus i gryfhau a thyfu, gyda chymorth strategaeth newydd a ddatblygwyd gan y sector a fydd yn cael ei chyhoeddi'n fuan.


Rwy’n falch o allu darparu'r arian ychwanegol hwn er mwyn i ni barhau i fod ag Undebau Credyd cryf yng Nghymru sy’n darparu mynediad at gredyd teg, cyfrifol, moesegol a fforddiadwy ar draws Cymru.


Caiff y datganiad hwn ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r Aelodau. Os bydd yr Aelodau eisiau imi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ynglŷn â hyn pan fydd y Senedd yn dychwelyd, byddwn yn hapus i wneud hynny.