Highland Community Planning Partners recognise Gaelic as a regional asset

The Highland Community Planning Partnership has agreed to consider the role that Bòrd na Gàidhlig could play in supporting the remit of the Community Planning Partnership to promote Gaelic as an asset to the Highlands.

Highland Council Leader and Chair of the Community Planning Partnership Councillor Drew Hendry said: “The Partnership members value and recognise the Gaelic language and each of the partners either has or is working towards developing Gaelic Plans for their organisations which will set out their ambitions for the language. The Members welcome the contribution that Bòrd na Gàidhlig could provide in supporting the work of the Community Planning Partnership.”

The Highland Community Planning Partnership members are: The Highland Council; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; the Highland Third Sector Interface; NHS Highland; Police Scotland; Scottish Fire and Rescue Service; Scottish Government; Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Police Authority; and University of the Highlands and Islands.

At a recent meeting of the Community Planning Partnership Board (5 December 2014) members agreed to work with Bòrd na Gàidhlig to make the most of Gaelic as an asset; to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Gaelic language planning; and to identify how best to locate Gaelic within the Community Planning Partnership.  

Councillor Hendry added: “All public bodies have a statutory duty to produce a Gaelic Language Plan. By taking this partnership approach to Gaelic language planning, we will be helping to ensure that our planning is more effective and efficient.  Also, by working more closely with the Bòrd, they will be able to identify where improvements to Gaelic Language Plans are needed, and while considering these in a partnership context could provide better support for individual partners.

“Examples of the need for a partnership approach in the use of the Gaelic Language Planning in the public sector can be found across the economy and employment; in Gaelic Medium education and care services (especially for older people); and in the environment  and cultural sectors. The Community Planning Partnership welcomes the contribution that Bòrd na Gàidhlig can make to their efforts to promote the language through their work.”