London to South Wales

[ZimgerianFamilyof6]

Hi all! I’d like to speak to families in s.wales to get a feel of what life is like raising a young family there.

We live in north London and want to buy outside this city because we can’t afford it and want better quality of life for our family. London has become very stressful and anxiety inducing for us.

I’d just like to hear experiences so far on schools, work, I have a working background in Working with children with SEN so I want to go back into that. My husband works in a bank. Iparticularly like to hear form those from black and other ethnic community about their experiences. My husband and I recognise wales is predominantly white that doesn’t bother us but but I do wonder how schools,colleges promote equality, positive attitudes to children and young adults etc.

I Love Swansea and Neath Port Talbot look like a possible location.

I’d be very grateful for feedback!

God bless

Can't speak for most of what you need, but Wales is an absolutely lovely place to be!

I'm from South Wales moved up to North England.

The people of SW are lovely friendly people, we will chat your faces off We are mainly white but even in the valleys we weren't all white.
I went to Uni in Swansea. The beach is gorgeous!
It's still quite a small city though it's more like an extra large town. It's particularly quiet during the university holidays.

My sister and her family (including 3 children) made the move from London to Penarth about 5 years ago. We grew up in S Wales so it was a return to the Motherland for her. They absolutely love it and have not looked back. I'm always jealous at the pictures of their many day trips to amazing beaches and countryside. They also have the convenience of Cardiff on their doorstep, which is a great little city. Plus they have a much bigger house than they could have afforded in London!

There are areas where there is a lot of ethnic diversity and others where there is less.

I was raised in Wales, moved to London as an adult and then moved back before having my daughter. She attends a Welsh medium Primary which acknowledges its lack of diversity and tries to improve that through eg twinning with inner city Cardiff schools. On one such trip (to a school where there are 27 languages spoken) the year 5 pupils were asked what they had noticed that was different about the other school. “It has 2 floors” was their response. I don’t know whether the fact that they speak 2 languages themselves meant they were more accommodating than others, but the lack of focus on colour, clothing or language was I thought testament to how normal school have managed to make it.

Be aware that Welsh lessons are compulsory in all schools. Not sure how much of an issue that would be for you.

That’s really encouraging to hear of the schools efforts. Thank you for the feedback!

Oh wow is it compulsory!? Wow I didn’t realise. Our children will be 6,8,9&16 when we move.

I noticed. The atmosphere and energy is just so different to London. I’m Totally in love with wales but I’m trying to not set my heart on it because we might just decide to settle somewhere that is not that far of a commute to my husbands job in London.

I was randomly called the N-word in Swansea. I had an ex living there for a while and he absolutely hated it.
But I also have family members in Bridgend with two young boys and all seem to be fine for them.
I know black people and Europeans who have studied in Cardiff and found it ok.
I can't really speak for the characters of individuals and you'll meet racists wherever you go so just find somewhere you feel comfortable. Take a weekend trip down and see which towns and cities speak to you.

All the best!

Yes. Second language is. I’m assuming you wouldn’t enrol them in Welsh Language schools.

There was another mixed race family that posted recently on a London to Wales move. I'll see if I can find it as it had a lot of advice. Might also be worth posting in the Black Mumsnetter section to see if anyone lives there and can share their experiences.

I wouldn't worry about it being compulsory (welsh) its quite a token effort unless you choose a Welsh Medium school.
If you are looking for more ethnically diverse areas Cardiff is probably your best bet. I can't say there are never any racist incidents because there are arseholes everywhere buas Cardiff has a seafaring history it has been multicultural for over a hundred years.

The thread is titled 'To not want to move to Wales'. It has nearly 700 replies! I can't seem to link but I'm sure someone else will or you can google it.

I’m embarrassed and ashamed as a Caucasian person, to say that I have heard about and witnessed a fair amount of racism in those areas. I do challenge it btw - but they are both very homogeneous areas. That shouldn’t put you off if you love it and want that change, but I do have to be honest as I know people from a BAME background that have had a really tough time. As shitty as parents not letting a child with brown skin play with their children . Unfortunately it often doesn’t get reported despite me trying to encourage that. It’s is shit. But if people of colour don’t move there it may never change of course. I am really sorry to share this and I desperately wish it wasn’t the case but you asked and I felt obliged to be honest. I’m not sure what schools do to encourage a different attitude, sorry.

Cardiff is much more diverse. Friends that are from a BAME background do experience racism there but I think because it’s more diverse there is perhaps less and of course racism is sadly alive and kicking in most places.

I know South Wales really well and have lived all over but this is just a general impression from my observations and experience and might not be backed up by figures. I’m also someone that people are more likely to talk to about difficult experiences because I f my job so there is that bias in there too.

Good luck with it!

Oh no i wouldn’t. How does is works then? They take it as language lesson? Like Spanish or french in primary school. Do they have to do it as gcse too?

Yes Zim. Welsh is treated equally with English in Wales.

Welsh is not a token effort in schools, and hasn't been for some time. It is compulsory up to 16.

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/subject-second-language-welsh-being-15693728

When people mention "Welsh Medium" schools, they mean schools where nearly all the curriculum is taught through welsh. It's area dependant, and around 1/4 of schools overall. Other schools teach welsh as a language, and that is changing (see link).

Your children will definitely have to do Welsh as a subject if you move. This often surprises english people , but don't worry, it will be fun!

My family moved to South Wales 3 years ago and we love it.

We are in Penarth (waves to MissHoney85's sister), which is right outside Cardiff, and it's really nice.
We liked the Swansea/Gower area but the jobs tend to be in Cardiff.
It can be hard to find school places and yes, they have to learn Welsh all the way up to GSCE.

My husband is black and kids are mixed and they've had no troubles so far.

I moved close to the areas your talking about and I've never heard so many racist comments in all my life even in the work environment but they brush it off as we're no racists that's just what that shops called or well that's what we've always said.