Forget auld textbeuks. E rael story o the Scots leid e day is bein scrievit in e hert o oor communities—in social enterprise cafés, local support initiatives, an businesses aat dee mair nor juist haiver awa. E nominees for e 2025 Scots Leid Awards pruive aat e “mither tongue” is nae juist a brandin tool, but e vyce o a pouerfu girseruits movement biggit on action an connection.

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

Actions Spik Looder: E Businesses Biggin a Better Scotland

Naewey is iss resurgence mair pouerfu than in e businesses aat weave Scots intae their verra fabric. Iss nominees ging far ayont sleekit brandin; thair eese o the leid reflects a deep-seated commitment tae their communities.

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

Alangside iss trailbleezers, businesses like Captain Dugwash dug wash in Airdrie, beachside café Dook in St Andrews, an publisher Scunnered Ink are makin Scots a visible, ilka-day pairt o the commercial landscape. They prove aat takkin e leid intil wir bosie is pairt o a wider story aboot local pride an vitality.

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

E Unsung Heroes: Nurturin e Neist Generation

Iss girseruits boom is biggit on a solid foond laid in Scotland’s skweels. E awards richtly honour e dedicated teachers aat are makkin siccar e leid is passed on wi pride. Iss educators are nae juist trauchlin a subject; they’re nurturin a livin culture.

Nominees for Scots Teacher o the Year include Antonia Uri o Peterheid Academy, a native Doric speaker aat champions e dialect in her scrievin; Mirren Aird o Perth Heich Skweel; an Nicola Daniel o Broughton Heich Skweel in Embro. Thay are supported by forrit-hinkin skweels aat hae embedded Scots in thair identity.

Meethill Primary Schuil in Peterheid, fits pupils won e Doric Film Festival, is nominated for Scots Skweel o the Year, alangside Perth Heich Skweel, Stanley Primary Skweel, an Turra Academy. Egither, thay’re makkin a pipeline o confident young spikkers aat see Scots nae as an echo o the past, but as e vyce o thair future.

A Floorishin Creative Scene

Iss strang community base is fuelin an explosion o creativity. E 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. They’re joined by Aiberdeenshire folk sensation Ellie Beaton.

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

Even in literature, e connection tae community is undeniable, wi scrievers like Shetlandic storyteller Yvonne Tait an Orkney innovator Josie Giles nominated alangside literary giants. E nominated beuks tell stories aat maitter noo, fae the first LGBT+ inclusive Scots fairy tale, E Quine an E Lass, tae the Dundonian public health beuk, Hi There Wee Bairn.

Yer Vyce Maitters!

E 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 e champions aat are makkin a rael 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
• Far tae Vote: www.scotslanguageawards.com

For mair information aboot e event an tae cast yer vote, fowk can visit e official wabsite at www.scotslanguageawards.com. Jyne e movement aat’s haudin Scots vibrant, relevant, an thrivin in communities aa ower Scotland.