Councillors welcome GLAIF funding for key Gaelic projects
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Members of Highland Council’s Gaelic committee have welcomed an award £101,675 towards four key projects across the region.
The Gaelic Language Act Implementation (GLAIF) funding will enable the council’s Gaelic team to work in partnership with Bòrd na Gàidhlig and other organisations to assist in the delivery of both the council and the Bòrd’s gaelic plans.
A sum of £60,000 has been awarded for the Birth to Three Strategic Partnership between the Bòrd and the council which has had a substantial impact on the 0–3 Gaelic sector in Thurso, Bonar Bridge, Tain, Dingwall, Inverness, Nairn, Glenurquhart, Newtonmore, Ullapool, Gairloch, Acharacle, Mallaig, and Ballachulish with a view to looking at how to support the Skye and Lochalsh area in future.
£30,000 was awarded to Gàidhlig airson Inbhich (Gaelic for Adult Learning) which aims to increase Gaelic learning opportunities for adults in Highland focussing on areas where there is existing Gaelic medium provision in schools, with provision of online classes increasing following their popularity after being introduced as an alternative to in person classes during lockdown.
Gàidhlig anns a’ Choimhearsnachd (Gaelic in the Community) received a £5,675 GLAIF award to deliver a programme of Gaelic medium activity sessions for children and young people attending Gaelic medium secondary education in the Inverness and north areas. The programme will be delivered over the year including a summer activity programme for 2023 which will enable participants to hear Gaelic during the holidays.
Families in the school community of Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh on the Isle of Skye are to benefit from a £6,000 award for Prògram Taic BSGPR. This project will enable young people to further develop their fluency and ability to communicate in Gaelic through participating in organised activities and events. Building on the success of an after-school sailing club held in 2021, a Gaelic sports festival will be organised for Gaelic medium education pupils in Dunvegan, Kilmuir and Staffin primaries in 2022/23.
Gaelic committee chair, cllr Calum Munro said: “The GLAIF awards from Bòrd na Gàidhlig are vital in enabling the council’s Gaelic team to deliver and develop positive partnership projects with community groups and Gaelic stakeholder organisations which help to meet the priorities of the National Gaelic Plan and Highland Council’s Gaelic Language Plan.
“Most importantly the GLAIF projects allow people the opportunity to hear, speak and use Gaelic in their communities.”
