Thinkin on the wirk o the key Scots groups thit wis spake aboot in the paper - Whit is yer thochts aboot the wark o the Scots groups? Whit wad ye dae for tae strenthen an add tae the wirk o thir groups?

The Scots Language Centre strongly believes that, to the benefit of Scots language development, we build upon the amassed institutional and cultural knowledge and the excellent work of the key Scots groups funded by the Scottish government. 

Scots Language Centre
The Scots Language Centre is the longest-running and most successful organisation exclusively dedicated to the Scots language; and the only organisation dedicated to public education about Scots in all its forms. Support in learning about all aspects of Scots is available to speakers and non-speakers alike, both within Scotland and worldwide. 

We provide administrative and linguistic support to the Scottish parliament cross-party group on the Scots language; individual MSPs, MPs and councillors; the Scottish Government; international organisations; the Scots Language Resource Network; public bodies; community groups; and individuals. We consult with educational practitioners to produce original teaching resources, guide and support practitioners, and provide outreach services for learners. Through our website and our social media presence, we maintain free access to a comprehensive collection of resources, collated over the past thirty years. Furthermore, we commission new and original works, of cultural significance and value to adult learners, from Scots creators.

Over the past thirty years, we have campaigned for recognition of Scots in all civic spaces and facilitated and contributed to the creation of policy documents developed by ministers, government, and public bodies. This continues to be a significant part of our current work. Within the current parameters set by our resources and staffing levels, we meet the demands of the policies set within our founding documents; the Scots Language Working Group Report: Response from the Scottish Government (2011); and the Scots Language Policy, Scottish Government (2015). 

The object of the Scots Language Centre, as submitted to OSCR:

The Association objects shall be: (i) to promote, support and assist the interests of the Scots language through the establishment of a National Resource Centre dedicated to this end; (ii) to collect published and unpublished texts, audio tapes and film in or concerning or using the Scots language, according to a collecting policy agreed with the National Library of Scotland, and either directly or in association with partners, make these available to the public for lending or consultation; (iii) to support and assist other bodies with specific remits which involve the usage, furtherance, study or collection of Scots language resources, and to maintain liaison with such bodies to avoid duplication of effort; (iv) to support and assist in, or undertake original research or the preparation of educational materials or new publications in the Scots language; (v) to support and assist in the implementation of any national, regional, local or other scheme for the training of teachers, actors, broadcasters or others engaged in public uses of the Scots language; (vi) to maintain liaison with libraries and library organisations, to support and assist their efforts in defining good practice in regard to the provision by libraries of Scots language material.

Throughout the past few years, there has been an increased interest in Scots which has led to a significant increase in demand on the services provided by the Scots Language Centre. The development of the 1+2 languages policy and the SQA Scots Language Award; the COVID-19 pandemic; the reconvening of the Scottish parliament cross-party group on the Scots language; and the increased engagement in Scots in traditional and social media; as well as this consultation; have all been contributing factors. To meet this increased demand, and to maximise the opportunity for language development, further resources to increase staff hours and numbers are necessary.

In anticipation of any legislative requirements stemming from the Scottish Languages bill, we believe the Scots Language Centre is best-placed to advise on and facilitate any work necessary to bring legislation into effective policy and implementation. However, we recognise that this would be dependent on appropriate resource. The Scots Language Centre would welcome our legislative recognition to assure our central role in leading and facilitating the Scots language’s rehabilitation.  

Dictionaries of the Scots Language
The Scots Language Centre fully supports Dictionaries of the Scots Language in their ability to identify and express their needs to further develop their excellent work, and we support the fulfilment of their expressed needs.

Association of Scottish Literature
The Scots Language Centre fully supports Association of Scottish Literature in their ability to identify and express their needs to further develop their excellent work, and we support the fulfilment of their expressed needs.

Scots Hoose
The Scots Language Centre fully supports Scots Hoose in their ability to identify and express their needs to further develop their excellent work, and we support the fulfilment of their expressed needs.

Scots Radio/Doric Film Festival
The Scots Language Centre fully supports Scots Radio/Doric Film Festival in their abitily to identify and express their needs to further develop their excellent work, and we support the fulfilment of their expressed needs.

Scottish Book Trust
The Scots Language Centre fully supports Scottish Book Trust in their ability to identify and express their needs to further develop their excellent work, and we support the fulfilment of their expressed needs.

To support, maintain and encourage professional, high-quality contributions in the support of Scots and its speakers, the Scots Language centre recognises that the key organisations acknowledged above must be funded appropriately to ensure that employees and associates are renumerated in accordance with their skills, qualifications and experience. Key organisations must demonstrably employ workers within the national standards for a living wage and freelancers and consultants within the guidelines recommended by professional organisations such as the National Union of Journalists.