Category: Consultations

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response the the Scottish Government’s consultation on Community Wealth Building. Among the points raised include:

We are responding to this consultation because the viability of the Gaelic language rests on viable Gaelic-speaking communities: particularly those in the islands and rural communities in the Highlands and Islands.

We believe that Community Wealth Building can be a powerful tool for supporting the sustainability of the Gaelic language. We urge the Scottish Government to consider how the needs and potential of Gaelic-speaking communities are integrated and made evident in Community Wealth Building.

The full response can be found here.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on an International Culture Strategy. Points raised include:

We would have expected some reference(s) to the role and contribution of Gaelic language and culture as a distinctive asset within Scotland’s international culture offering.  Bòrd na Gàidhlig will continue to work closely with other partners to ensure that Gaelic language and culture is fully integrated into the strategy to help ensure that its potential is realised. 

Read the full response here.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Scottish Highly Protected Marine Areas.

The response included the following text:

We are responding to this consultation because the viability of the Gaelic language rests on viable Gaelic-speaking communities: particularly those in island and rural areas in the Highlands and Islands.
These communities are also tradition bearers for the language and their loss would have irreversible negative effect on the indigenous culture which has survived for hundreds of years.

The full response can be read here.

The Scottish Parliament is currently seeking to know more about what is happening in our local communities. What works well? And what barriers are there to putting on or taking part in cultural activities?  Bòrd na Gàidhlig submitted a response on 29 March 2023.  Among the points we raised:

Gaelic langauge and culture is for all to enjoy and engage with.  Bòrd na Gàidhlig and our partners are committed to supporting communities across Scotland in accessing Gaelic language and culture.  We do, however, recognise that there is still much work to be done to ensure communities and groups know about our Gaelic culture and feel able to meaningfully engage with Gaelic speakers and learners.  We will continue to encourage community engagement with Gaelic culture through our funding streams and delivery partners. 

The full response can be found here.

The Scottish Government is currently holding a consultation on electoral reform.  Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response and among the points raised, we said:

Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan states that “for Gaelic to have a sustainable future, there needs to be a concerted effort” on the part of a range of bodies and individual Gaelic speakers-including “government”-to:

• Enable the use of Gaelic in a range of social, formal, and work settings.
• Expand the respect for, and visibility, audibility, and recognition of Gaelic.

Thus, extending the use of Gaelic to election materials would help to achieve Scottish Government’s own policies for the language. By increasing the use of Gaelic, it would also contribute to achieving the aims of the National Gaelic Language Plan.

This could include the use of Gaelic on election ballot papers in Scottish Parliament and local authority elections.

The full response can be found here.

On the 3 March 2023 Bòrd na Gàidhlig submitted a response to Aberdeen City Council’s consultation on their Gaelic Medium Education catchment area.

Among the points raised, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said:

The education authority has given due consideration to children & families that may be impacted by the proposed changes. For example, those outwith city boundaries, and highlighted that they will be able to continue with GME.

The education authority has highlighted how children & families living outwith city boundaries can access GME should they wish to do so.

Therefore, Bòrd na Gàidhlig welcomes the recommendation that a catchment area will be established for both Hazlehead Academy
Gilcomstoun School where there is GME provision.

The full response can be read here.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has submitted a response to Highlands & Islands Enterprise’s new 5 year strategic plan.  This is a follow up survey.

Points raise by Bòrd na Gàidhlig include:

RE SWOT: There are no references to the specific challenges faced by islands. That is in the context of the National Islands Plan. Within the Plan, Scottish Government recognises the importance of the Gaelic language to many island communities, and the importance of the Gaelic speaking island communities to the survival and sustainability of Gaelic in Scotland. The Plan includes commitments throughout to supporting individuals, communities, and organisations in Gaelic speaking island communities in their use of Gaelic.

The full response can be read here.

On 1 March 2023 Bòrd na Gàidhlig submitted a response to the UK Government’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into the health and future of minority Languages.

Included in the response:

Suggested Changes to UK Government’s Role

1. Become a signatory to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding for the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This would provide an global framework which supports each of the minority indigenous languages of the UK and provide international standards of status, recognition and support.

2. Each of the UK Government Departments whose remit includes Scotland to consider what they could do to support the National Gaelic Language Plan, in the light of the current policy of only applying this to the Welsh language. That would include Departments:

• With sites in Scotland. For example, Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, Department for International Development.
• Located elsewhere in the UK. There is a need for UK-wide legislation for minority languages so that services by relevant UK Government Departments and services (e.g. DVLA) are available in Welsh, Gaelic and Irish. That will help to ensure that each of the three minority languages commands equal respect to English.

3. Review current UK Government funding policy for MG ALBA and revise it so that it is equitable in light of the models that operate for Welsh and Irish language broadcasting.

4. The UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund is jointly managed by HM Treasury, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Transport. There should be a review of the criteria for the Fund to ensure equitable treatment of cultural and other projects that directly support UK indigenous minority languages.

5. As the UK is a signatory to the European Charter for Minority and Lesser Used Languages, the UK Government should raise awareness of the UK minority languages that are included and support more opportunities for learning them.

The full response can be read here.

In February 2023 Bòrd na Gàidhlig responded to the consultation by the Scottish Parliament on The Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill. Among the points raised by Bòrd na Gàidhlig:

Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s work includes distributing funds to organisations to assist the development of the Gaelic language. Our interest in this Bill reflects the key role of charities as delivery partners. They are critical to the work of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, with their activities contributing to successful delivery of NGLP activities and increasing our reach throughout Scotland.

Since 2018/19, we have awarded a total of 522 grants to 181 different charities. That is almost half (48%) of the total number of grants we awarded.

The value of our grants to charities during that time was almost £13m. That is more than two thirds (c70%) of the value of all the grants we awarded.

The full response can be read here.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has responded to the consultation by the public body Historic Environment Scotland on their new strategy. Among the points that were raised:

“Our heritage – whether tangible or intangible, cultural or natural – is the resource that allows us to create benefits and realise our outcomes”. The Strategy should state that intangible heritage includes language and associated culture: meaning that Gaelic, for example, is a national intangible heritage asset.

As such, Gaelic “helps to tell Scotland’s story to the world”. It is vital to understanding the landscape, culture, and society associated with many areas of Scotland, including place names and topographic features.

The full response can be read here.