Urdd Gobaith Cymru

Urdd Gobaith Cymru

Centenary Urdd Logo with traditional white, red and green colours in a triangle.
Formation	25 January 1922
Founder	Ifan ab Owen Edwards
Headquarters	Gwersyll yr Urdd Glan-llyn
Location	Wales
Membership (2021)	55,000
Official language	Welsh
Llywydd (president)	Mared Edwards
Chief Executive	Sian Lewis
Mascot	Mistar Urdd
Staff (2019)	313
Volunteers (2022)	10,000
Website	Official website

Urdd Gobaith Cymru (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈɨrð ˈɡɔbaɪθ ˈkəmrɨ]; known as the Urdd) is a national voluntary youth organisation, which claimed over 56,000 members in 2019^[1] aged between 8 and 25. It provides opportunities for children and young people across Wales to take part in a range of experiences through the medium of Welsh.^[2] The Urdd turned 100 on 25 January 2022 and celebrated by breaking two Guinness World Records.^[3]

The Urdd also has five residential centres for children and young people across Wales.

The main aim is to ensure that all young people in Wales are given the opportunity, through the medium of Welsh, to play a constructive role in the community, developing personal and social skills. Up to 2019, 4 million children and young people have engaged with the Urdd in one form or another.

The Urdd National Eisteddfod (Welsh: Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru or Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd) is an annual Welsh-language youth festival of literature, music and performing arts organised by Urdd Gobaith Cymru. Arguably Europe's largest youth festival,^[4] it is usually held during the last week of May, coinciding with schools' half-term holidays.