“At the British Council we create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries through our work in cultural relations. Raising awareness of language learning is a vital part of creating strong bi-lateral relationships between the UK and the rest of the world. In contemporary societies, people communicate with each other in many different ways but language is a fundamental resource for us in developing new understandings of each other, how we live and our cultures. Our recent Language Trends Survey highlighted the need to engage with languages now more than ever, so we’re delighted to see recognition of the importance of language learning as a means of preserving cultural heritage through projects like World of Love Family Festival.

Kathy McArdle, Director England, British Council