"The Welsh culture is strong – with a sense of pride that people identify as Welsh. There is a vibrant choir scene.” (Participant at Future Scenarios event 20th September 2016)
Culture is broad and all-encompassing, covering shared beliefs, customs, characteristics and identity and defined by everything including language, tradition, heritage, social norms, and involvement in dance, music and arts and other recreational activities. Culture is also influenced by people moving into an area and increasing cultural diversity, leading to a growth in the culture of the area.
The county borough has a rich arts base developing out of Welsh cultural traditions, such as a love for singing, poetry and performance. It is essential that all forms of the arts in the county borough continue to grow and flourish, as a powerful stimulus in enhancing peoples’ feelings of well-being. The importance of the Welsh language is also acknowledged and is inextricably linked to Welsh heritage, with a need for more opportunities for Welsh speakers and learners to converse in Welsh in everyday settings.
The National School Sports Survey undertaken by Sports Wales is a participative mechanism for young people to provide information on pupil attitudes to sport and well-being, and importantly influences sport and leisure provision at school, community and county borough levels. In 2018 the survey was completed by 11,676 children between Years 3 and 11 across the county borough’s primary and secondary schools. 59.7% of respondents said that they frequently participate (at least once a week) in community sport outside of school, with the figures similar for both males and females. 57.5% of children in Years 7 to 11 said they frequently participate in community sport outside school, with a figure of 62.3% for children in Years 3 to 6.
In the National Survey for Wales 2018-19, two thirds of adults in the county borough stated that they participated in any sport or physical activity.