Native Welsh-Speaking Proofreader / copy editor – Public Policy Website & Campaign Content
We are looking for an experienced Welsh-language proofreader and editor, ideally a native or first-language Welsh speaker, to review the Welsh-language content of a public information and policy campaign website.
The website covers a complex and sensitive area of public policy relating to children's social care in Wales. The content includes research findings, financial analysis, explanations of legislation and policy, local information, and communications encouraging engagement with elected representatives.
Our priority is to ensure that the Welsh-language content is natural, accurate, clear and faithful to the meaning and nuance of the original English.
What we're looking for
Ideally, you will have:
•Native or first-language Welsh proficiency, with excellent written Welsh and English.
• Professional experience in Welsh-language proofreading, editing or translation review.
• A background in journalism, research, public policy, public affairs or public-sector communications (desirable).
• The ability to work confidently with complex or sensitive subjects, including legislative terminology, research findings and financial information.
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly where small changes in wording could alter the meaning or strength of a statement.
• An understanding of how to make written Welsh accessible and natural for a general public audience without losing important detail.
Scope of work
The initial project involves reviewing:
1. Welsh-language website content
Review the Welsh version of an existing bilingual campaign website against the English original.
We would like you to identify and suggest improvements where wording:
• Sounds unnatural, overly literal or unnecessarily formal in Welsh.
• Does not accurately reflect the meaning, emphasis or nuance of the English.
• Could be misleading, ambiguous or imprecise, particularly in relation to policy, legislation, statistics or research findings.
• Could be made clearer or more accessible to a general Welsh-speaking audience.
• Uses inconsistent terminology across different pages.
The aim is not to rewrite content unnecessarily, but to make targeted improvements that preserve its meaning and intent.
2. Email to Members of the Senedd
Review the Welsh version of a pre-written email that members of the public can send to their elected representatives.
This requires particular care to ensure that the wording is natural, respectful, accurate and appropriately persuasive, without overstating any claims or altering the intended message.
3. Additional campaign communications
There may also be opportunities to review Welsh-language press releases, media materials and other campaign communications as they are developed.
How the work will be managed
No website or CMS access will be required.
We will provide the English and Welsh content for comparison, together with a structured document for recording suggested website amendments.
For each suggested change, we would like you to identify the relevant page and section, provide the proposed replacement Welsh wording, and briefly explain the reason where this is helpful.
Emails, press releases and other standalone documents can be reviewed using Microsoft Word with Track Changes and comments.
What matters most
We are particularly interested in someone who understands that good bilingual communications are about more than accurate translation.
The subject matter is sensitive, and the content must remain evidence-informed, credible and carefully balanced. We need someone who can recognise when a translation is technically correct but doesn't quite communicate the intended meaning, tone or nuance.
We value clear, constructive editorial judgement and would welcome someone who can flag passages where the original English may need clarification to ensure the Welsh version is accurate.
To apply
Please tell us:
• About your Welsh-language proficiency and relevant professional background.
• Whether you have experience reviewing public policy, research, journalism or public-sector communications.
• How you approach reviewing Welsh content against an English original, particularly where nuance and accuracy are important.
• Your availability and preferred hourly rate.
Please also share one or two examples of relevant editing or proofreading work, where possible.
We anticipate beginning with a defined initial review of the website and email content, with potential for further work as additional materials are developed.
