PIC: Staff from North Wales Police join children of Ysgol y Llys, Prestatyn

For North Wales Police, creating a bilingual workplace is all about meeting the needs of the people they serve. "It all fits in with our targets," explains the force's Welsh language advisor, Meic Raymant. "They include respect for race and diversity and effective communication, and when we're dealing with Welsh speaking communities it's vital we speak to people in their own language."

Julie Foster from the Administration Department at Prestatyn has arranged for an empty office to be turned into a Welsh language room with access to Welsh language software and books. Staff have also teamed up with the local Ysgol y Llys junior school, where learners can sit in on lessons - and in return officers will give talks to pupils about their work, or even a guided tour of a police helicopter. A regular 'Siop Siarad' helps staff use their Welsh within the workplace.

It was the idea of Michelle Richards, a supervisor in the Administration of Justice department, who has a 7 year old son at the school. "I went to Welsh medium high school, but I feel I've lost some of my Welsh language skills," she explains. "I already offer support to colleagues who are learning, but I need to improve my own skills too, so the idea is now that we can go once a week and sit in with the children.

"Julie, myself and two other members of the department - Gemma Johnson and Donna Pisani -join children whose language skills match our level of learning," she explains. "I have been sitting in with the Under 7s but I'm obviously doing well as I've been moved now to Year 6! Learning with the children is good fun for all of us."