Forget auld textbeuks. The real story o the Scots leid the day is bein scrievit in the hert o oor communities—in social enterprise cafés, local support initiatives, an businesses that dae mair nor juist haiver awa. The nominees for the 2025 Scots Leid Awards pruive that the “mither tongue” is no juist a brandin tool, but the vyce o a pouerfu girseruits muivement biggit on action an connection.

This vibrant, community-first revival will be celebrated in Dundee on the 6t o September. Hostit at Discovery Pynt by the city’s ain Scots Scriever, Taylor Dyson, the awards shine a licht on the fowk an organisations whase deeds truly mak them award-worthy.

Actions Spik Looder: The Businesses Biggin a Brawer Scotland

Naewhaur is this resurgence mair pouerfu nor in the businesses that weave Scots intae thair verra fabric. Thae nominees gae far ayont braw brandin; thair uise o the leid reflects a deep-seated commitment tae thair communities.

• Leuk at Braw Tea in Broughty Ferry. Its name, the Scots for “guid,” is juist the stairt. This social enterprise is dedicated tae providin vital trainin an wark experience for disadvantaged wimmen, hostin community cinema nichts, an makkin a tangible difference in fowk’s lives.
• Or consider The Selkie in Dundee. Named efter the mythical seal-fowk fae Scots folklore, this faimily bistro became a community lifeline, deliverin meals tae vulnerable fowk durin the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This spirit o engagement is echoed by Dundee’s Run4It, a specialist rinnin shop that actively supports local events an fosters a sense o community throu its podcasts on rinnin culture.

Alangside thae trailbleezers, businesses like Captain Dugwash dug wush in Airdrie, beachside café Dook in St Andrews, an publisher Scunnered Ink are makkin Scots a visible, iveryday pairt o the commercial landscape. Thay pruive that embracin the leid is pairt o a wider story aboot local pride an vitality.

This commercial energy is matched by a pouerhoose o girseruits projects. Frae the musical preservation o a fishin dialect in ‘Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie’ tae the vital performance platform o ‘Blether – Dundee Scots Nicht’; an frae the cultural celebration o ‘Orkney Voices Vaigan b’ the shore’ tae the charity fundraisin pouerhoose that is the ‘Seagully Blonde’ student shaw, communities are the ingine o this revival.

The Unsung Heroes: Nurturin the Neist Generation

This girseruits boom is biggit on a solid foond laid in Scotland’s schuils. The awards richtly honour the dedicated teachers wha are makkin shair the leid is passed on wi pride. Thae educators are no juist teachin a subject; they are nurturin a livin culture.

Nominees for Scots Teacher o the Year include Antonia Uri o Peterheid Academy, a native Doric speaker that champions the dialect in her scrievin; Mirren Aird o Perth High Schuil; an Nicola Daniel o Broughton High Schuil in Embro. Thay are supported by forrit-thinkin schuils that hae embedded Scots in their identity.

Meethill Primary Schuil, whase pupils recently won the Doric Film Festival, is nominated for Scots Schuil o the Year, alangside Perth High Schuil, Stanley Primary Schuil, an Turriff Academy. Thegither, they are creatin a pipeline o confident young speakers wha see Scots no as an echo o the past, but as the vyce o their future.

A Flourishin Creative Scene

This strang community base is fuelin an explosion o creativity. The rhythm an saul o local dialects are bein brocht tae life by a diverse range o performers, includin storyteller Eileen Budd, singers Josie Duncan an Robyn Stapleton, an actor Lawrence Boothman. Thay are jyned by Aberdeenshire folk sensation Ellie Beaton.

This energy is electric on Scotland’s stages. The nominees for Scots Production o the Year celebrate regional identity, frae the Glesga banter o Up a Close tae the Clydesdale drama o So Lang, Wee Moon, an the mirk comedy o Goodbye Dreamland Bowlarama. The list includes The Not So Serious Burns Unit, Throu the Shortbreid Tin, The Concert Pairty, an the first Scots version o Mistero Buffo.

Even in literature, the connection tae community is undeniable, wi scrievers like Shetlandic storyteller Yvonne Tait an Orkney innovator Josie Giles nominated alangside literary giants. The nominated beuks tell stories that mait noo, frae the first LGBT+ inclusive Scots fairy tale, The Lass an The Quine, tae the Dundonian public health beuk for parents, Hiya in There Wee Bairnie.

Yer Vyce Maitters!

The 2025 Scots Leid Awards are a celebration o a nationwide muivement biggit on meaninfu action. Ye can be pairt o it by castin yer vote for the champions that are makin a real difference.

• Event: 2025 Scots Leid Awards
• Date & Time: Setterday, September 6, 2025, at 12:30 PM
• Venue: Discovery Pynt, Dundee
• Public Votin Period: August 18 – August 31, 2025
• Whaur tae Vote: www.scotslanguageawards.com

For mair information aboot the event an tae cast yer vote, visit the official wabsite at www.scotslanguageawards.com. Jyne the muivement that’s haudin Scots vibrant, relevant, an thrivin in communities aw ower Scotland.