Hands Up for Trad are gled tae annoonce that amang the braw nominees includit on the shortleet for a Scots Leid Award 2025, are weel worthy fowk fae Scottish literature, theatre, eddication an business.
Fae braw sangsters, wunnerfu theatre productions, dedicatit dominies, giftit scrievers throu tae a dug groomin ootfit an a social enterprise cafe, ilka ain o the 45 nominees, are celebratin an showcasin the Scots leid in their ain wey.
Noo in its seventh year, the ‘Scots Language Awards’ wir set up an organisit bi the cultural advocacy ootfit Hands Up for Trad wi the aim o giein recognition tae the importance o the Scots indigenous language tae ilka day Scottish life. Thae wir delichtit whan Scots wis gied official status as a leid in June this year wi the passin o the Scottish Languages Bill in the Scottish Parliamint.
The 2025 nominees cam fae aa ower Scotland, includin Orkney, Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth an mair. Votin is open until Sunday 31st August.
Makkin a walcom return tae the toun o Dundee, the 2025 awards will be haudit at Discovery Point on Seturday 6th September an hostit by Dundee’s ain Taylor Dyson, wha is this year’s National Library of Scotland Scots Scriever, and Scots fowk singer fae Angus, Lynne Campbell.
The nominees are:
Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by National Library of Scotland
- Josie Giles
- Kathleen Jamie
- Len Pennie
- Yvonne Tait
Scots Community Project o the Year
- Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie – Grace Stewart-Skinner
- Blether – Dundee Scots Nicht
- Celtic Croft – Limelight Music
- Orkney Voices Vaigan b’ the shore
- Seagully Blonde, Aberdeen
- Soond ae Scots by Stanley Primary School (Perth and Kinross) and HES
Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government
- Foggie Bummer Rescue by Aaron Gale (Doric Books)
- Coorie Doon by Jackie Kay (Walker Books)
- Hirda Da Oorick (Peerie Oorick)
- Hiya in There Wee Bairnie (NHS/Dundee Contemporary Arts)
- The Lass and the Quine (Tippermuir Books)
Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Qualifications Authority
- Antonia Uri, Peterhead Academy
- Mirren Aird, Perth High School
- Nicola Daniel, Broughton High School
- Olivia Stephen, Meethill Primary School, Fraserburgh
Scots School o the Year
- Meethill Primary School, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
- Perth High School, Perth and Kinross
- Turriff Academy, Aberdeenshire
Scots Stage Production o the Year
- Goodbye Dreamland Bowlarama by Calum Kelly and Taylor Dyson (Elfie Picket Theatre)
- Mistero Buffo (Translator: Joseph Farrell, Director: Ben Standish, A Play, A Pie and A Pint)
- So Long Wee Moon (Braw Clan)
- The Concert Party (Garidge Theatre)
- The Not So Serious Burns Unit by Hamish and Liza
- Through the Shortbread Tin (National Theatre of Scotland)
- Up a Close (Kingsman Travelling Theatre Company)
Scots Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust
- Bloodsongs by Mae Diansangu (Tapsalteerie)
- Fower Pessoas – Colin Bramwell (Carcanet Press Ltd)
- Goonie by Michael Mullen (Little, Brown)
- Iain MacLachlain, This Is What You Get (Rymour)
- William Soutar, Collected Poems (vols 1&2) (Tippermuir Books Ltd)
Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS
- Eileen Budd
- Ellie Beaton
- Josie Duncan
- Lawrence Boothman
- Robyn Stapleton
Scots in Business, sponsored by Scots Hoose
BRAW TEA
Braw Tea is a social enterprise in Broughty Ferry. Oor purpose is tae help support women fae aa walks o life through trainin, live experience o workin in a cafe, freendship and buildin confidence. Wi oor staff sportin Braw Coffee sweatshirts and oor braw Scots name, we’re up tae high doh tae be nominated for a Scots language award.
www.brawtea.co.uk
DOOK
Dook is a popular beach-side on the West Sands at St Andrews. A faimly run business wi freenly staff and guid scran, Dook wi its bold business name and its Dook-branded merch promotes Scots tae locals and folk fae aw the airts at this famous thrang Scottish links.
www.facebook.com/dookscotland/?locale=en_GB
SCUNNERED INK
Scunnered Ink is the creative force behind the hugely successful Still Game graphic novel. Beaming Jack and Victor intae comic book form wi the Craiglang residents giein it laldy and a great Scots business name, Scunnered Ink is a worthy nominee for a Scots language award.
www.instagram.com/tait.gordon
THE SELKIE
The Selkie is a much-loved Dundee shop and cafe. With excellent food and a great atmosphere, The Selkie and its sister restaurant the Ferry Selkie are nominated in this year’s Scots language awards for their brilliant Scots business name.
www.theselkie.scot/the-selkie
RUN4IT
Run4It is a Dundee sports shop specialising in running shoes. Their store front motto in bright bold lettering is NAE HILLS? NAE BOTHER? For use of Scots in marketing, Run4It are nominated for a Scots language award.
www.run4it.com/pages/dundee
CAPTAIN DUGWASH
Captain Dugwash is self-service dug washing service based in Airdrie. Dog owners can wash their pets here in a fun and easy way and keep their dugs looking and smelly fantastic. Captain Dugwash is nominated for a Scots language for its fantastic and fun Scots business name.
www.captain-dugwash.co.uk
The esteemed Scots Champion, Janet Paisley Services to Scots Award, sponsored by Creative Scotland, and the Young Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by Education Scotland, will be decidit by a panel o judges an presentit at the event.
Scots Language Awards host Taylor Dyson said: “Scots is oor language – it’s intrinsically linked to oor culture and we are so proud tae celebrate it. This is a chance tae gie credit tae aa the guid fowk daein work in Scots. We’ll be gien oot awards tae teachers wha promote Scots in scuils, tae actors yaisin Scots on stage, fowk scrievin books for bairns an adults, as weel as aa sorts o ither awards. We would encourage folk tae cast a vote for the projects, poets, businesses and figures they reckon deserve it maist and why not come alang for a celebration of all things Scots in Dundee this September.”
Alang wi the awards, there will be performances fae some o the verra finest Scots cultural practitioners including Scots sangster Ellie Beaton, Slam poetry champion Hamish MacDonald an young Edinburgh vocalist Amy Leach. Ahint o the event, there will be an efter pairty at Dundee Scots Language night Blether.
The Scots Language Awards 2025 will tak place at Discovery Point, Dundee on 6th September. Votin is open until 31st August. Visit www.scotslanguageawards.com.