Young Scot’s YSHive is looking for a diverse group of 15 young people aged 11 to 25 to volunteer on the Scottish Languages Panel. You’ll join conversations and connect with likeminded young people, design a discussion day event focused on the Scots and Gaelic languages and help inspire key stakeholders to action commitments on Scots and Gaelic.
Project information
- For those aged 11-25 (inclusive) living in Scotland
- For Gaelic or Scots speakers. We expect you to have experience of speaking and understanding Gaelic and/or Scots, but you are not expected to be a fluent speaker. All sessions will take place in English.
- 4 session commitment over 3 months between April and June 2025. 2 sessions will be in-person at Young Scot’s office in Edinburgh and 2 will be online on Zoom.
Interested? Sign up here!
About the project so far
The original Gaelic and Scots Languages Panel was established in early 2022 by Young Scot in partnership with Scottish Government (SG). It was aimed at giving young people the opportunity to tell SG what they think the priorities should be for implementing SG’s Scots Languages commitments. These commitments included proposed actions around schools’ education, the new Scottish Languages Bill, the creation of a recognised Gàidhealtachd and a review of Bòrd na Gàidhlig. The Panel refined their work on these SG commitments to three key categories to take forward:
- Education and Work: Opportunities and gaps in resources that are found in both formal (e.g. school) and informal (e.g. meeting with friends) settings.
- Culture and Arts: The use of traditional and youth-friendly media and resources to provide the space to explore and champion the Gaelic and Scots languages.
- Community and Society: Being part of existing online and offline communities as well as creating spaces for young people to engage with the Gaelic and Scots languages.
The Panel have also been monitoring progress on the Scottish Languages Bill, which is now at Stage 3 in Scottish Parliament proceedings. The Bill gives the Gaelic and Scots languages official status in Scotland, makes changes to support Gaelic and Scots and includes changes relating to Gaelic and Scots education.
What you’ll do as part of this project
The Panel will meet 4 times over 3 months. You’ll work with dedicated Young Scot staff and collaborate with other young Gaelic and Scots speakers during the following sessions:
- Introduction Session (in-person): Learn about the previous work on this Panel and establish your key interests and priorities going forward as a group.
- Planning Session for Gaelic and Scots Languages Discussion Day event (online): Design how the event will be delivered as a Panel; exploring its content, overall ambitions and who should be invited.
- Take part in the Discussion Day event (in-person): Inspire Government, Local Authorities, Community Groups, Stakeholders and other young people to take positive action on the Gaelic and Scots languages and support the continued development of a creative network of people making change across Scotland.
- Wrap-up Session (online): Reflect on the Discussion Day event and evaluate its impact as a group. Reflect on the previous Panel’s manifesto commitments and develop further ‘calls to action’ to give to key decision-makers, influencing national action for Gaelic and Scots.
During these sessions we will support you to understand of the work of Scottish Government around the Scots and Gaelic languages. We’ll help support your ideas, insights and recommendations which will be given to Scottish Government to action going forward.
Interested? Sign up here!
We are happy to make reasonable adjustments to help you take part based on your needs. All young people are welcome at Young Scot including those with disabilities, neurodiversity, queer young people and ethnic minorities.
We’re keen to collaborate with young people who can sometimes have more barriers to taking part in opportunities like this one due to their personal circumstances. This includes BAME young people, disabled young people, young carers, care-experienced young people, and young people who live in low-income households.
This application form is also available as a word document and we also accept verbal applications made using video or voice recordings. If you need any support with signing up, please contact us at YSHive@young.scot and we’ll be happy to help.
Applications will close on Monday 12th of May.
Questions?
Email us on YSHive@young.scot if you have any questions or would like to know more about this project. We’re happy to help!
More information
We’ll ensure this project is a safe and trusted place for you to participate. We do not accept any form of discrimination or prejudice to anyone on our projects based on your life experience, background, culture, or identity. This includes age, disability, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.