The Scots language is set for a major uplift as the Scottish Government awards £650,000 to 11 organisations working to support Scots in schools, literature, and the media.
The investment was announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes during a visit to Glasgow’s Bill and Bain printworks, where she unveiled The Auchtermichty Aw-Stars a new children’s book in Scots produced by Scots Hoose Yaldi.
The book features three plays centred on a youth football club and will be distributed to schools and nurseries across Scotland as part of a wider drive to grow the language.
“This is part of a series of free Scots books, comics and poems which aim to provide young people with a better understanding of the language so that it can continue to grow,” said Ms Forbes.
“Scots is a treasured part of our history, heritage and culture.”
The latest census shows growing interest in the language, with 35% of young people aged 15 or under reporting some ability in Scots, a 6% rise since 2011.
The £650,000 package represents a £150,000 increase on last year’s investment and will support a range of initiatives including:
- New Scots language teaching courses through the Open University
- The Dictionaries of the Scots Language project, which traces the origins and meanings of Scots words
- Doric Film and Scots Radio, which promote the Doric dialect of North East Scotland on screen and air
Ms Forbes added:
“Research shows that learning the language benefits young people’s literacy skills and confidence.
“This work sits alongside our Scottish Languages Act, which seeks to give Scots and Gaelic official status and ensure strong teaching standards.”
Matthew Fitt, co-owner of Scots Hoose Yaldi and a driving force behind the book launch, welcomed the announcement:
“For many children and young people, reading a story or comic in Scots for the first time can be a transformative learning experience.
“It’s good to be recognised by the Scottish Government for our efforts, especially if it means we can help more young Scots speakers enjoy and learn about their own Scots language.”
