• The estimated cost of the 2008 Eisteddfod is £3.8 million. The Welsh Assembly Government, through the Welsh Language Board, has contributed a grant of £476,000 towards this sum, which equates to 12% of the total cost.

• A further £372,000 was received from the 22 local authorities, which amounts to 10%. A total of 22% of the Eisteddfod’s total cost therefore came from the public purse. The Eisteddfod is required to raise the remaining 78% through voluntary efforts of the local appeal committees (8%), sponsorship and commercial donations (16%); income from tickets (19%); income from stalls, broadcasting rights, catering etc (33%).

• The Eisteddfod benefits considerably from local goodwill and support from Welsh and non Welsh speakers alike from every area in Wales.

• The Eisteddfod is a process as opposed to an event, with the pinnacle being the festival itself. For the two years leading up to the Eisteddfod, a wide range of groups from within the local community work diligently to prepare for the festival whilst also arranging a wide variety of activities which offer opportunities for others to participate and become involved. There is sound evidence that the Eisteddfod enriches an area both linguistically and culturally.

• Hosting the Eisteddfod generates a considerable boost to the local economy (£6.4 million in Llanelli in 2000 and over £6 million during the festival week in Swansea in 2006).

• There have been 5 reviews conducted on the Eisteddfod since the mid 90s, all of which were commissioned by Welsh Assembly Government bodies. The purpose of these reviews was to modernize, invigorate, and widen the appeal of the Festival. The Eisteddfod has responded positively and has implemented all of the recommendations.

• Despite the fact that Grant Thornton in a report commissioned by the Welsh Language Board in 2005, recommended that the Eisteddfod’s grant be increased annually by £188,000, the Eisteddfod has not received additional funding.

• Without an increase in the annual grant, it will not be possible to stage Eisteddfodau similar to those seen at Cardiff, Mold, Swansea and Eryri.

"Everyone has a story to share" says Helen Parfitt, Menter Caerffili's new Heritage Officer.

The tradition of relating stories of our experiences, and those of our forefathers is disappearing because of modern day pressures on our time, and the technological age. We are in danger of losing so much of our families' history forever. But we can make use of the technology now available to record those stories for future generations."

This trend began in California in the 1990s and was brought to Wales by Daniel Matthews, a lecturer in Cardiff University, in 2000.

Menter Caerffili will be holding workshops to help people to record their stories. Helen says "Anyone can make a digital story. Don't let the technology frighten you. I will be available to help."

So if you have a story to share, don't keep it to yourself. Contact us!

You can contact us via this website, email helenparfitt@mentercaerffili.org, or phone us on 01443 820913