Day: September 21, 2026

Edinburgh arts organisation wins Scots Language Awards after record public vote

The winners of the Scots Language Awards 2026, organised by Hands Up for Trad, have been revealed at a sold-out ceremony at Dundee’s Discovery Point, following a record public vote.

The awards honour the individuals, organisations and communities who actively use Scots – one of the three indigenous languages of Scotland – in their everyday work and life, helping preserve and promote a core pillar of the nation’s heritage and identity.

The eighth edition, expertly hosted by Scots singer and storyteller Lynne Campbell alongside writer and performer Taylor Dyson, saw a 49-strong shortlist from across the worlds of literature, performing arts, education and business vie for 13 awards.

Ten of these awards were decided by members of the public, drawing an unprecedented 7,000 votes – almost double the number received in 2025 and a testament to the nationwide revival of the Scots tongue.

It was a triumphant afternoon for Edinburgh-based arts organisation and venue Scottish Storytelling Centre who took home the Scots in Business award for their continual programming of and support for the Scots leid.

Other winners from across Scotland included Inverurie’s Lucy Beth for Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by National Library of Scotland.

Her recent credits include solo show Ma Name is Isabelle, performed at The Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, and a spoken-word poem celebrating the 120th anniversary of His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.

The award for Scots Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust, was presented to Wirds o Banff: A Doric Glossary o the Wild – a year-long collaboration written and illustrated by pupils at Banff Academy in celebration of the natural world around them.

Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government,went to Doric Books’ Awa Doon e Toon written by Julia Lynch with illustrations from Caitlin Moffat. The book tells the amusing tale of a young boy whose attempts to head into town on different modes of transport are repeatedly thwarted by the unpredictable Scots weather. 

In the performing arts, actress Olivia Caw was named Scots Performer of the Year, sponsored by TRACS, for her role as Bonnie McKay in the hit one-person play Common Tongue, while Scots Stage Production of the Year went to Through the Shortbread Tin by the National Theatre of Scotland, described as a ‘poetic, poignant and playful exploration of the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves’. 

Multi-day residential immersion event, Doric Bootcamp in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire was crowned Scots Community Project o the Year for its achievements in helping people build confidence in speaking, reading and writing in Scots leid. 

In secondary education, Antonia Cant from Peterhead Academy was awarded Scots Teacher o The Year, sponsored by Qualifications Scotland, for championing the relevance of the Scots leid in the present day and helping youngsters practice their skills in real-world contexts. 

Banff Academy, meanwhile, took home the trophy for Scots Schuil of the Year, having incorporated Scots skills lessons into the curriculum to great effect. 

The inaugural Scots Language in the Media award, sponsored by Corrie Campbell Communications, went to Millie Graham whose TikTok account, whatsername1.0, has attracted over 3m followers and rising.

A further highlight of this year’s ceremony, which followed the successful daytime format introduced in 2025, was the unveiling of the judges’ choice awards which saw a trio of Scots ambassadors crowned.

Renowned singer and advocate for traditional music Sheena Wellington received the Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Creative Scotland, for her significant contribution to the Scots language over the decades. 

The judges’ award for Scots Champion, sponsored by the Rubric Foundation, was presented to Dr Clive Young, creator of one of the first websites dedicated to the Scots language and author of Unlocking Scots: The Secret Life of the Scots Language.

In recognition of emerging talent in the language, Young Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by Education Scotland, was awarded to budding talent Innes Ingram for his impressive tale End o’ the aul ways.

Attendees also welcomed news of an inaugural Scots Language Week, which will be hosted from 6 – 11 September 2027. Modelled on the success of World Gaelic Week, the nationwide language initiative supported by the Rubric Foundation, will celebrate the importance, prevalence and uniqueness of the Scots leid.

Adding to the atmosphere throughout, attendees were treated to live performances by Scots singers Iona Fyfe and Scott Gardinar.

Yvonne Tait and Hugh Macmillan – both recipients of the Wee Grants for Creativity in the Scots Leid initiative, supported by Creative Scotland and Rubric Foundation – also shared rousing recitals from their funded work.

The celebrations continued into the evening with a Blether at Elfie Picket Theatre and ceilidh at the Dundee Fringe.

Simon Thoumire of Scots Language Award organisers Hands Up Trad, said: “The sheer variety o work and activities celebratit at these awards is as inspirin as it is impressive.

“Fae literature and the performin airts, tae education and business, the Scots leid is woven through sae mony pairts o everyday life, which is jist braw tae see.

“Oor congratulations gang tae aw oor worthy nominees and winners, alang wi oor heartfelt gratitude. It’s thanks tae dedication like theirs that oor mither tongue remains truly thriving and relevant in Scotland the day.”

The Scots Language Awards are one of several flagship national events and community outreach activities that Hands Up Trad are involved in to help celebrate, promote and increase the profile of Scottish traditional culture. 

Visit www.scotslanguageawards.com.

 Scottish ambulance workers demand new training route for ‘left behind’ colleagues

  • Frontline health workers across Scotland locked out of paramedic positions unless they leave paid work to go to university
  • Over 700 Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) staff support new campaign to create a training route from technician to paramedic positions
  • Hard-working ambulance workers with families, mortgages and caring responsibilities being forced to choose between their NHS careers and university study
  • Campaign warns experienced NHS staff are being left behind despite already having years of frontline clinical experience
  • New pathway could help tackle paramedic recruitment challenges in remote and rural communities
  • Campaign to stage major actions at ambulance stations all over Scotland in order to secure negotiations with Health Secretary Angela Constance
  • Backed by all major unions (GMB, Unite and UNISON) who represent thousands of ambulance workers

More than 700 Scottish Ambulance Service staff are backing a campaign to give experienced Ambulance Technicians a route into paramedic roles without having to leave their jobs to study full-time.

Technicians are skilled frontline NHS workers who already work alongside paramedics, responding to emergencies and caring for patients across Scotland. But since 2021, new paramedics have been required to complete a university degree, leaving experienced technicians with few options to progress.

For workers with children, mortgages, caring responsibilities and other financial commitments, giving up a paid NHS job to become a full-time student simply isn’t realistic. As a result, experienced staff are being left behind despite years of frontline clinical experience.

The campaign is calling for a Technician-to-Paramedic pathway that recognises technicians’ existing education, skills and clinical experience, while maintaining the same academic, clinical and professional standards required of all paramedics.

This is not about lowering standards. It is about making sure experienced NHS staff do not have to start again from scratch when they have already demonstrated the knowledge and skills required.

A new pathway could also help strengthen paramedic recruitment in remote and rural communities by allowing experienced technicians who already live and work there to progress their careers while continuing to serve their local communities.

Adam Clearly, Ambulance Technician, Paisley: “After the first lockdown, I found myself in admiration for the NHS and wanted to contribute as much as I could. I took great pride in my work as a dispatcher. I wanted to help patients on the front line and challenge myself”

“Because technicians across the country are truly the backbone of SAS, and there is no replacement for the experience, knowledge and compassion that technicians gain. Having time as a technician prior to completion your paramedic degree would ensure staff are well prepared for the realities of the ambulance service, and that candidates for the paramedic ticket have proved in practice they are capable of the step up.”

“I am currently unable to progress my career, and at times this has made me consider leaving the service. I feel somewhat trapped. Progression is limited, and will always favour those that are paramedics, despite having much less experience and regardless of their skills or knowledge.

“This campaign would give me a pathway to success and give technicians across the country a new sense of purpose, a chance to prove their worth, which is slowly fading from SAS.”

Frances Malley, Technician, Ellon: “I joined SAS in 2022 as a technician after working in a community based job. I left that role because Covid required me to work from home which I found very challenging. My 2 children had left for university so I had the opportunity to go for a job I had always wanted to do.”

“Historically, Technician wasn’t simply a job you entered and stayed in indefinitely, it was described by SAS as the first stage towards becoming a registered paramedic. During the interview process I was told that I would be expected to progress from Technician to paramedic but the option has been taken away.

“The tech to paramedic pathway would mean that we would get that opportunity without having to spend 3 years at university. If I went to university it would have financial implications, plus the difficulties of juggling work and placements.

“A new pathway would give rural technicians like myself, an equal opportunity to progress and service our communities.”

PETITION: https://www.change.org/p/create-a-fair-route-for-ambulance-technicians-to-become-paramedics