Cairngorms | Cairngorms National Park Authority

Shinty Shinty players at the Dell Dell in Kingussie © Ed Smith

Cairngorms National Park Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh

Gaelic Language Plan 2025 – 29

Bòrd na Gàidhlig

This plan has been prepared under Section 3 of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and was approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig on 28 February 2025

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Foreword…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4 1.1 About our Gaelic Language Plan….4 1.2 About the Cairngorms National Park………………………………………………………………………………………..5 1.3 About the Park Authority……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6 1.4 Gaelic within the National Park…………………………………………………………………………………………………..7 1.5 Gaelic within the Park Authority and how we support partners………………………………………………8 1.6 Gaelic in Scotland………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10 1.7 The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005………………………………………………………………………………11 1.8 The National Gaelic Language Plan………………………………………………………………………………………….12 1.9 Internal Gaelic capacity audit…………………………………………………………………………………………………….13
Key principles………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15 2.1 Equal respect……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….15 2.2 Active offer…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15 2.3 Normalising………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
Plan commitments……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16 3.1 Strategic priorities……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16 3.2 Corporate service aims……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….23
Links to the national performance framework……………………………………………………………………..31
Links to local and regional frameworks…………………………………………………………………………………32 5.1 Local government priorities………………………………………………………………………………………………………..32 5.2 Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan priorities……………………………………………………………32
Publication, resourcing and monitoring………………………………………………………………………………34 6.1 Publishing and publicising the Gaelic Language Plan……………………………………………………………34 6.2 Resourcing the plan…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….34 6.3 Monitoring the plan…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….34
Embedding the plan within the Park Authority………………………………………………………………….36 7.1 Overall responsibility for the plan…36 7.2 Day-to-day responsibility for the plan………………………………………………………………………………………36 7.3 Gaelic Language plan implementation and monitoring group……………………………………………….37 7.4 Engaging with staff………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………37 7.5 Arm’s length organisations and third parties…………………………………………………………………………….37 7.6 Internal Gaelic skills audit……………………………………………………………………………………………………………37

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Foreword Part of what makes the Cairngorms National Park so special is the rich tapestry of cultures and languages that have helped shape it. From early Pictish communities to Gaelic, Scots and Doric, the impact of centuries of dialogue and cultural activity can be felt in communities right across the region.

Over 1,000 years ago, Gaelic became the dominant language in the Cairngorms. It’s for this reason that so many of our place names are Gaelic in origin: ‘allt’ meaning a large stream, ‘coille’ a forest; ‘meall’ a conical hill and so on. The language has played a vital role in shaping our music, storytelling, sport (especially through shinty) and wider cultural life.

And that heritage is very much alive and well in the Cairngorms of the present day. According to the last census, around 3.6% of the National Park’s population speak the language, more than twice the number for the rest of Scotland. The language is particularly strong in Badenoch and Strathspey, where the Badenoch: The Storylands project (amongst others) has done much to celebrate the area’s linguistic and cultural heritage, rooted as it is in Gaelic storytelling and creative practice.

For our visitors, too, the appetite to experience Gaelic while in Scotland, especially for those with Scottish ancestry, has never been greater, and the Cairngorms provide an excellent opportunity for people to immerse themselves in the language and the culture of this very special place.

As a Park Authority, we take our duty to recognise and celebrate Gaelic extremely seriously. This plan is of course a key part of that; however, the roots go deeper still. Our vision is for a national park where people and nature thrive together and underpinning this is the concept of Dùthchas, the deep-rooted connection between people and nature. The people of the National Park have an instinctive connection to the land and to this place and that indelible connection – through language, landscape and culture – inspires us all to care.

It’s my pleasure to introduce this third edition of our Gaelic Language Plan. I look forward to working with many of you to deliver it.

Sandy Bremner, Convener

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1.1 About our Gaelic Language Plan As the public body responsible for coordinating activity within the UK’s largest national park, we are committed to ensure that the unique cultural and linguistic value of Gaelic to the Cairngorms National Park is fully recognised and celebrated. This third edition of the Park Authority’s Gaelic Language Plan, covering the period 2024 – 28, sets out how we intend to achieve this and how activity in this area aligns with our five-year National Park Partnership Plan.

This plan has been prepared under Section 3 of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and was subject to a six-week public consultation, which took place between 25 January and 7 March 2024. Responses were collected via an online survey (available in both Gaelic and English), with phone, paper and email options also provided.

The consultation was promoted extensively both on- and offline across a range of channels. This included a bilingual media release and consultation landing page on our website, plus working with social media influencer Somhairle to produce tailored Instagram and TikTok content to engage a younger audience. We estimate that over 150 responses overlapped with this activity, and over 32,000 people watched the videos Somhairle created. The consultation was also shared with over 100 contacts within the new Gaelic Officers Network, which has led to multiple organisational responses and direct email correspondence around potential partnerships.

A total of 427 responses were received, out of which 31 (7.3%) were in Gaelic. This compares to a total of 36 total responses submitted to the public consultation for the Gaelic Language Plan 2018 – 22. 82% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the three strategic priorities outlined within the plan; 78% agreed or strongly agreed that the draft plan was easy to understand; and 76% agreed or strongly agreed that the plan ‘helps safeguard and promote Gaelic language and culture’. The majority who did not agree did so because they do not believe organisations such as the Park Authority should prioritise Gaelic in their day-to-day work. A full breakdown of the consultation results can be found in our Gaelic Language Plan consultation report.

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The structure of this plan is informed by the National Gaelic Language Plan for Scotland, with specific aims and actions identified that help increase the learning and use of Gaelic in the National Park, as well as promoting a positive image of the language. It was submitted to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for approval on 5 July 2024.

If you have any questions about this plan, or would like to receive a copy in an alternative format (including large print), please contact us via the various channels outlined below.

For hard copies, write to us or visit: Cairngorms National Park Authority 14 The Square Grantown-on-Spey PH26 3HG

For telephone enquiries, call us: 01479 873 535 For online requests, email enquiries@cairngorms.co.uk

1.2 About the Cairngorms National Park The Cairngorms National Park was established in 2003. It is the UK’s largest national park at 4,528 sq. km, covering parts of Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Angus and Perth and Kinross. The Park is home to 18,000 residents and welcomes around two million visitors a year. Nearly half of the National Park is considered ‘wild land’, with one quarter of Scotland’s native forest and a quarter of the rare and endangered species in the UK found here.

The National Park has four distinct aims as set out by Parliament: • To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area. • To promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area. • recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public. • To promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of To promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.

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These aims are to be pursued collectively. However, if there is conflict between the first aim and any of the others, greater weight is given to the first aim (as set out in Section 9.6 of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000). This helps ensure conservation of the natural and cultural heritage underpins the economic, social and recreation value of the Cairngorms National Park.

1.3 About the Park Authority The Cairngorms National Park Authority was set up to ensure that the unique aspects of the Cairngorms – the natural environment, local communities and its culture are cared for, sustained, and enhanced for current and future generations to enjoy. The Park Authority provides leadership to all those involved in the Cairngorms and works in partnership with a range of communities, businesses, non-government organisations and public sector partners to deliver practical solutions on the ground.

This work is coordinated through our five-year National Park Partnership Plan, which sets out how all those with a responsibility for the National Park will work together to tackle critical issues that relate to its people, nature and places and ultimately address the climate and nature emergencies.

The Cairngorms National Park was established in March 2003 and the Park Authority became fully operational – taking on all its statutory powers on 1 September 2003. We are designed to be an enabling organisation, promoting partnership-working and giving leadership to all those involved in the National Park. We do not duplicate the work of other organisations, such as the enterprise agencies or NatureScot, but ensure there is a joined-up approach to projects and initiatives that help to meet the four aims of the National Park.

Our statutory duties are planning and development, outdoor access and the production of a Local Development Plan and a National Park Partnership Plan for the Cairngorms National Park. Other areas of work such as economic development, managing for visitors, path signage and interpretation are delivered through partnership working, with over 100 organisations and groups represented in our Partnership Plan.

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In education, we support five local authorities (Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, and Perth and Kinross) and Education Scotland to develop projects that will help them deliver the Curriculum for Excellence and continued professional development.

We also make clear commitments about what we (the Park Authority) will deliver as a corporate organisation in terms of the third edition of the Gaelic Language Plan, and will work and agree with partners Gaelic deliverables for the Cairngorms National Park.

The Park Authority has around 110 staff plus 19 board members. We are funded by the Scottish Government and Scottish Ministers appoint seven of our board members. Another seven board members are nominated to the board by the five councils in the National Park – Aberdeenshire (2), Angus (1), Highland (2), Moray (1), and Perth and Kinross (1) – and five are elected locally. Through our board, we are responsible to the Minister and so to the Scottish Parliament. The Park Authority has offices in Grantown- on-Spey and Ballater.

1.4 Gaelic within the National Park The Cairngorms National Park has a rich history and culture of languages. Gaelic became the dominant language of the Cairngorms area over 1,000 years ago (superseding the Pictish language and culture) and because of this the majority of the current place names within the National Park are Gaelic in origin. However, by the 18^th and 19^th centuries, many people in the Cairngorms area were bilingual, speaking Scots as well as Gaelic. On the east side of the National Park, the local dialect of Doric is widely spoken in the community and adds to the culture and history of the area.

According to the 2011 census, 657 people aged three or over living in the National Park can speak, read and / or understand Gaelic (3.6% of the National Park’s population and 0.8% of Scotland’s total Gaelic population). 146 said they used Gaelic in the home (0.8% of the National Park’s population and just under a quarter of Gaelic speakers in the area). The majority of these people live in Badenoch and Strathspey.

Information compiled by Bòrd na Gàidhlig for the 2021 — 2022 academic year found that there were 17 Gaelic Medium Education Early Learning Centres across the Highland region and one within Perth and Kinross (out of a total of 55 centres nationwide). Only one of these – Newtonmore – is located within the National Park boundary. 1,081 pupils are in Gaelic Medium Education primary schools in Highland, and 40 in Perth and

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Kinross. Nine students are enrolled in a Gaelic Medium Education class at Whitehills Primary School in Forfar, Angus. No provision is currently available in Moray or Aberdeenshire. There were 13 Gaelic Medium Education secondary schools in the Highland region and one in Perth and Kinross, accounting for 445 and seven pupils respectively. Kingussie is the only school located within the National Park boundary.

There are a number of Gaelic companies and voluntary groups operating in or near to the National Park offering services in Gaelic language and culture (a number of which have been supported and / or part-funded by the Park Authority). Gaelic voluntary groups in the National Park include Sinne (Strathspey and Badenoch Gaelic Group), which provides learning and sharing events for Gaelic learners and fluent speakers, and Gàidhlig anns a’ Phàirc, a Gaelic action group. A number of national groups are also active in the National Park, including Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Spòrs Gàidhlig and An Comunn Gàidhealach.

1.5 Gaelic within the Park Authority and how we support partners In August 2022, Lorna Slater MSP (Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity) launched the fourth Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022 – 27, setting out how all those with a responsibility for the National Park will work together to tackle critical issues that relate to its people, nature and places and ultimately address the climate and nature emergencies.

The Partnership Plan is divided into three sections – Nature, People and Place – and within the People section there is a specific objective (B8) around the Gaelic language and our statutory duty as a public body: • Gaelic is part of the cultural and natural heritage of the National Park and has a vibrant part to play in its future. There is a need to support the continued use of Gaelic and maintain it as an active language and culture within the communities of the National Park.

Objective: Encourage greater use of Gaelic in the National Park. Target: Increased opportunities for individuals and communities to engage with Gaelic language and culture.

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This third edition of the Gaelic Language Plan explains how we propose achieving this objective and should be read in context with the vision, objectives and policies outlined in the Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022 – 27. A related objective (C10 cultural heritage) sets out our approach to community-led cultural heritage and makes specific reference to Scots / Doric.

In terms of direct delivery, the Park Authority and its partner the Cairngorms Trust have funded a number of Gaelic-specific projects over the years and has also run a number of Gaelic awareness courses for ranger services, board members, staff and partners. We conduct an annual equalities survey which includes five questions about Gaelic, the results of which can be found in our annual Gaelic progress reports: • How would you assess your ability to read Gaelic? • How would you assess your ability to write Gaelic? • How would you assess your ability to speak Gaelic? • How would you assess your ability to understand Gaelic? • Would you be interested in receiving training on using the Gaelic language?

We refreshed the National Park, Park Authority and VisitCairngorms brands in 2023 to give English and Gaelic equal prominence for the first time, and embedded the use of Gaelic within our new brand guidelines. This includes ensuring all new brands created by or for the Park Authority follow these principles. This approach has been rolled out across our website, social media channels, publications and leaflets, signage, video assets and all corporate templates.

Online, we have translated over 20 key pages on our website into Gaelic and will prioritise this as part of our new website redevelopment project. We have created dedicated Gaelic assets celebrating the sport of shinty and encouraging businesses to incorporate Gaelic into their interpretation activities, and have placed the Gaelic concept of Dùthchas at the heart of our £43 million Cairngorms 2030 programme. A poem commissioned for our 20^th anniversary also includes a specific Gaelic verse focusing on the concept.

On social media, we have focused on integrating Gaelic translations into a wide selection of our posts (over 50 per annum), making content more accessible to our audience and encouraging our followers to learn and engage with the language. We explicitly reference the value of Gaelic and the connection between the Cairngorms National Park and the language in terms of culture and heritage, and provide simple

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resources for our partners to do the same. We also work with our partners the Cairngorms Business Partnership and the local community to celebrate the cultural heritage of the Badenoch area (including Gaelic) through the Badenoch: The Storylands website and app.

Offline, we use bilingual signage at Park Authority offices internally and externally, on ranger vehicles, and on railway signage throughout the National Park. Our Gaelic Place Names leaflet helps residents and visitors to appreciate which place names in the National Park have Gaelic language origins and what they mean. The publication has proved to be extremely popular and has had several reprints for distribution across the region. We also provide a Gaelic foreword in all our statutory and policy publications.

Gaelic is celebrated through the bilingual version of the brand identity throughout the National Park. It is used on various point of entry markers and on panoramas (both of which are produced and funded by the Park Authority). The panoramas are on display at ranger and visitor information centres, and those in communities also include a welcome and introduction in Gaelic. We provide advice and support to partners to encourage the increased use of Gaelic where this is relevant.

Staff guidance on using Gaelic in their everyday activities is included within our staff induction and Gaelic training is made available to staff who request it. Gaelic is included within the desirable criteria on all Park Authority job adverts and we have recruited a number of Gaelic interns over the past few years to take forward specific pieces of work celebrating the language and associated culture.

Please note: due to significant budgetary pressures at the time of writing, the Park Authority has been unable to commit to increases in provision for every single objective and action listed in edition three of this Gaelic Language Plan. However, no targets have been reduced from the second edition of this plan and – should budgetary pressures ease over the coming years – the Park Authority will increase provision accordingly.

1.6 Gaelic in Scotland Across Scotland, the total number of people aged three or over recorded as being able to speak read and / or understand Gaelic increased from 87,056 in 2011 to 130,000 in 2022 (2.4% of the Scottish population). Na h‑Eileanan an lar has the highest proportion

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of people with any Gaelic skills, at 57%. The next highest is Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch (including part of the Cairngorms National Park), at 12%.

Between 2011 and 2022, the number of people who could speak, read and write the language increased by 12,000 to 44,000. By way of contrast, 50,000 fewer people reported being able to speak, read and write Scots over the same period. Those who can understand, but not read, write or speak Gaelic increased by 23,000 to 46,000. Understanding Gaelic is now the largest ability category for the language, increasing from 27% to 36%. Those who can read, write, and speak Gaelic account for around a third (34%) of all people reported to have any skills in Gaelic in 2022, falling from 37% in 2011.

The 2022 census asked respondents what their main language was. Respondents could choose English or state any other language. This showed that for those aged over two, 0.1% of people had Gaelic as their main language. The 2011 census did not ask exactly the same question; rather it asked whether a language other than English was used in the home. This showed that for those aged over two, 0.5% used Gaelic in the home.

The 2021 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found that the proportion of people who ‘can speak a word or two’ of Gaelic has doubled over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2022 from 15% to 30%. Meanwhile a survey of over 1,100 young people for Young Scot found that 59% of young people who could not speak Gaelic were interested in learning the language, up 10% since 2020. Though these statistics are drawn from a much narrower sample than the census, they do indicate an upward trend in support for the Gaelic language.

There is no authoritative figure for the number of non-fluent adult learners; however, a study in 2016 for Bòrd na Gàidhlig estimated that there were 3,467 in Scotland. There are over 5,000 primary and secondary school children in Gaelic medium education nationally at present, with a further 1,000 children in Gaelic medium nurseries. Within English medium education, over 3,000 learners study Gaelic as a secondary subject each year between S1 and S6. Many children in English medium primary schools take part in Gaelic learning as Language 2 or Language 3 each year.

1.7 The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005

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The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 was passed by the Scottish Parliament with a view to securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland, commanding equal respect to the English language.

One of the key features of the 2005 Act is the provision enabling Bòrd na Gàidhlig to require a public authority to prepare a Gaelic language plan. This provision was designed to ensure that the public sector in Scotland plays its part in creating a sustainable future for Gaelic by raising the status and profile of the language and creating practical opportunities for its use.

This document is the third edition of the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s Gaelic Language Plan, prepared within the framework of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act

It sets out how we will use Gaelic in the operation of our functions, how we will enable the use of Gaelic when communicating with the public and key partners, and how we will promote and develop Gaelic.

The Park Authority’s Gaelic Language Plan has been prepared in accordance with statutory criteria set out in the Act and has regard to the National Gaelic Language Plan and the Guidance on the Development of Gaelic Language Plans.

The Park Authority recognises that Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland and the National Park’s heritage, identity and cultural life. We are committed to the objectives set out in the National Plan for Gaelic and have put in place the necessary structures and initiatives to ensure that Gaelic has a sustainable future in Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park.

We recognise that the position of Gaelic is extremely fragile and, if Gaelic is to be revitalised as a living language in Scotland, a concerted effort on the part of government, the public and private sectors, community organisations and individual speakers is required to: • Enhance the status of Gaelic. • Promote the acquisition and learning of Gaelic. • Encourage the increased use of Gaelic.

1.8 The National Gaelic Language Plan

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The Cairngorms National Park Authority supports the vision of the National Gaelic Language Plan 2023 – 28, which seeks to achieve: ‘A measurable increase in the numbers of people speaking, learning, using and supporting Gaelic’. We are committed to the achieving this vision by focusing our work on three key areas, as agreed with Bòrd na Gàidhlig: • Increasing the use of Gaelic within our organisation and encouraging more people to use Gaelic more often when they interact with us. • Increasing the opportunity for people to learn Gaelic as part of our day-to-day operations. • Promoting a positive image of Gaelic whenever we can as part of our day-to- day operations as an organisation, and encourage others within our network to do the same.

1.9 Internal Gaelic capacity audit Details about the Park Authority’s current work on Gaelic is summarised in section 1.4 above. The Park Authority conducts an annual audit of existing internal Gaelic capacity and the results were taken into consideration when developing commitments in this plan. The findings have also helped us work out how to establish, maintain or improve our practices in order to develop the use of the Gaelic language.

We recognise that Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s and the National Park’s heritage, identity and cultural life and we are already committed to a number of activities with staff, partners and the public which help to enhance Gaelic language and culture. Our offices show that commitment and raise awareness of Gaelic. Our welcome notice boards in the Grantown-on-Spey and Ballater offices use the bilingual logo and a Gaelic introduction, and all our meeting rooms feature English and Gaelic with equal prominence. Our leaflet rack for visitors uses the bilingual brand and includes a Gaelic Place Names leaflet. Our ranger uniforms and vehicles feature English and Gaelic with equal prominence.

Our annual Gaelic capacity audit shows there are no staff who are fluent / moderate Gaelic speakers, albeit one person does identify as having a moderate ability to read the language. Six staff say they have ‘some’ and 32 ‘a little’ ability to read Gaelic, with five saying that have ‘some’ ability to write Gaelic and eight ‘some’ ability to speak it. When

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Gaelic was offered as a training course in late 2023, 40 staff members (over 1/3rd of our staff body) signed up to four separate sessions, highlighting the widespread commitment to the language amongst our staff body.

The Park Authority funds and runs a number of projects, training courses and events which promote, develop and increase the Gaelic language and culture, both for staff and the public. We have offered Gaelic training through a variety of programmes in recent years, including our volunteer ranger project, staff and board training and ranger induction process. Gaelic resources have also been created for the ranger team, including a useful glossary of key terms.

Staff are offered further Gaelic training and learning opportunities through the appraisal system and we continue to encourage and offer these opportunities as they arise. Gaelic language guidance has been provided for all staff, including how to handle enquiries received in Gaelic to help staff use and feel confident in Gaelic. To date we have dealt with two Gaelic enquiries which were responded to within our regular response times.

Our recruitment and selection policy states: ‘Knowledge / experience of the National Park’s traditional languages like Gaelic should be a desirable criterion where it will make an effective contribution to the Partnership Plan’s aims. Where a certain level of Gaelic skills is part of the job description, the post should be advertised bilingually.’

To date, six jobs have been advertised with Gaelic as a desirable criterion; however, there were no applicants who met this criteria. No jobs were advertised as essential as no job description met this requirement. Gaelic monitoring on job application forms has been in place since May 2015. To date no job application forms have been received in Gaelic.

We monitor and evaluate all our Gaelic activities, including Gaelic and bilingual corporate materials and signage, publications, web content, support materials, educational resources, events, media and social media, and educational projects such as the John Muir Award (which is offered in Gaelic).

The Cairngorms Trust has supported a variety of Gaelic projects over recent years, including two Youth Local Action Group grants to Fèis Spè and Gaelic culture and spoken word support via Badenoch: The Storylands. Additional activity is included in our annual progress report sent to Bòrd na Gàidhlig, published on our website.

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Key principles 2.1 Equal respect Under the terms of the 2005 Act, Bòrd na Gàidhlig works with a view to securing the status of the Gaelic language as an official language of Scotland, commanding equal respect to the English language, and the Bòrd in turn expects that public authorities will demonstrate in their plans how the principle will be achieved and maintained in practice.

The Park Authority will ensure that, where Gaelic is included as part of our operations and services, these services will be of an equal standard and quality as those that we provide in English.

2.2 Active offer The Park Authority will make an active offer of our Gaelic services to our employees, partners and the public. This will ensure that, where Gaelic services are made available by us, Gaelic users will be made aware of their existence and will be actively encouraged to use them. This will take the responsibility away from the individual to ask for the service and will give Gaelic users the confidence that their needs will be met if that is their choice. We will ensure that our Gaelic language services are as accessible as our English language services.

2.3 Normalising The Park Authority will ensure that opportunities for the public and our staff to use Gaelic are normalised, in support of the National Gaelic Language Plan’s aims.

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Plan commitments 3.1 Strategic priorities Following discussions between the Cairngorms National Park Authority and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the following set of strategic priorities were agreed for the third edition of the Park Authority’s Gaelic Language Plan: i. Increasing the use of Gaelic • Work in partnership with local authorities and other organisations in the National Park area to provide more opportunities for young people to use Gaelic. • Encourage use of the Cleachdi initiative by staff and visitors. • Ensure that any Park Authority responses or evidence provided in land reform consultations include references to using Gaelic. ii. Increasing the learning of Gaelic iii. Promoting a positive image of Gaelic • Increase existing Gaelic educational resources. Create all new Park Authority educational resources in both Gaelic and English. • Create Gaelic resources, based on the National Park’s natural and cultural heritage, aimed at different levels of Gaelic proficiencies, in the wider community. • Use partner agreements and other grant mechanisms with the Cairngorms Business Partnership, Growbiz, Countryside Learning Scotland and others to ensure Gaelic is reflected in work to promote business collaboration and in the development of green and rural skills. • Conserve, enhance and promote the Gaelic language and cultural heritage of the Park Authority area for the benefit of residents and visitors.

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Objective 1 – increasing the use of Gaelic Strategic priority: To encourage and enable more people in the Cairngorms National Park to use Gaelic more often and in a wider range of situations.

We recognise that the status of a language is affected by its use in the daily environment and the extent to which it is valued and perceived to be valued by those institutions which play an important role in our daily lives. The Park Authority believes that creating a sustainable future for Gaelic requires not only increasing the number of people able to speak the language, but increasing actual usage. We recognise the importance of enabling more people to use Gaelic as their preferred and normal mode of communication in an increasingly wide range of daily activities. Current position: According to the 2011 census, 657 people aged three or over living in the National Park can speak, read and / or understand Gaelic, the majority living in Badenoch and Strathspey.

We work with the five local authorities that cover the Cairngorms National Park (Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, and Perth and Kinross) to identify areas where the third edition of our Gaelic Language Plan can contribute to priorities set out in community planning partnerships, single outcome agreements and their own Gaelic language plans. Through our Badenoch: The Storylands programme we have celebrated Gaelic language and culture, including through the groundbreaking Storylands Sessions series. See latest Gaelic Language Plan progress reports for more information. Actions / timing: a) Work in partnership with local authorities and other organisations in the National Park area to provide more opportunities for young people to use Gaelic. One resource created each year of this plan, responding to specific

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Cairngorms National Park Authority - Gaelic Language Plan 2025-29

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