Gaelic in the Borders
It is essential that steps are taken to create a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland. The Council recognises that we have a duty to assist with this process under legislation enacted by the Scottish Government and to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan for the region.
Border Gaelic Language Plan
Our Border Gaelic Language plan sets out our aims for the 5 year period, 2023 to 2028, with respect to the promotion of the Gaelic language.
The plan also supports implementation of the Scottish Government's National Outcome ‘We take pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity'. Our aim is to encourage the use of the Gaelic language and promoting opportunities for our communities to communicate in Gaelic in a proportionate way.
We will demonstrate equal respect for Gaelic and English regarding any bilingual services and resources.
We want to make a positive contribution to supporting the Gaelic language. We also recognise however that the Scottish Borders is an extensive rural lowland region with a dispersed settlement pattern, no single large urban centre, and a range of small towns. The Scottish Borders does not have a tradition of Gaelic speaking, nor a strong indigenous Gaelic culture, and we are therefore starting from a low base in promoting the language in our local schools and communities.
Our commitments within this Plan set out what we will do to raise the status of Gaelic in the Scottish Borders and in doing so help meet the aspirations and objectives included in the National Gaelic Plan.
We support the aim of the National Gaelic Language Plan 2023-28 that “Gaelic is used more often, by more people and in a wider range of situations.”
We are committed to achieving this aim by focusing our work, on these three priorities:
- Increasing the use of Gaelic within our organisation and encouraging more people to use Gaelic, more often when they interact with us.
- Increasing the opportunity for people to learn Gaelic as part of our day-to-day operations.
- Promoting a positive image of Gaelic whenever we can as part of our day-to-day operations as an organisation.
Our Gaelic Language Plan was prepared in accordance with statutory criteria set out in the 2005 Act and having regard to the National Gaelic Language Plan and the Guidance on the Development of Gaelic Language Plans.
Our Gaelic Plan was approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig on 25 July 2023.