A new five-year strategy to promote the Manx language has been announced.

The Manx Language Strategy, which aims to ’broaden the appeal, understanding and use’ of the native language around the island and ’on the international stage’, was launched at Arbory School.

Education Minister Graham Gregeen and the Minister for Policy and Reform, Chris Thomas, took part in the scheme’s announcement last week.

Mr Cregeen said: ’At the heart of this new strategy is the ethos "Manx language for all".

’Working together, and partnering with the community, we hope to broaden the appeal of Manx, ensuring growth and sustainability in years to come.

’This work links directly to "Our Island: A Special Place to Live and Work" and the importance of promoting and supporting our national heritage, culture and language at home and around the world.’

The initiative was created by Jeebin, which is a Manx Language Network that was set up in 2015 by those eager to preserve and develop the native language, Yn Ghaelg.

It will be coordinated by Culture Vannin and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC), with the help of voluntary organisations and members of the Manx speaking community.

’The Manx language is indigenous to the Isle of Man and its very structure holds the story of our island,’ the Education Minister added.

’Although it is small in terms of numbers of speakers, its impact on worldwide efforts to protect and promote the language is huge.’

Culture Vannin will begin plans for a ’hang-out area and lending library’ to be established at its cultural centre in St John’s, as well as an online hub for Manx resources, a playground pack for primary school children and buddy system to connect learners.

The world’s only Manx speaking school, Bunscoill Ghaelgagh at St John’s, will also share ideas for the scheme along with its pre-school partner, Mooinjer Veggey.

Currently more than 1,000 students from all primary schools on the island receive Manx lessons.

Pupils aged nine to 11 are given weekly classes, organised by the DESC, which cover spoken and written sentence structures, greetings and words for colours, transport and locations during the half-an-hour sessions.

The new language strategy has been designed to supplement the 2001 Education Act, which states that ’the curriculum shall include the provision for the teaching of Manx Gaelic and the culture and history of the Isle of Man’.

But the Manx language is open to all ages, with adult classes also available.

The initiative, which is the first of its kind, will culminate in a celebratory ’Year of the Language’ in 2021.