Have your say on Gaelic in Argyll

YOU don’t have to speak Gaelic to have an idea for a Gaelic project or event in Argyll and Bute.

The Scottish Government has made funding available to Argyll and Bute Council to help strengthen and grow Gaelic across the area.

Through a scheme known as participatory budgeting, local communities are being invited to decide how £15,000 should be spent to help give Gaelic a boost.

Ideas on how the money could be spent can be posted and discussed at the online site http://tiny. cc/growinggaelic between January 25 and March 6.

The second stage of the process will run between April 6 and May 6, when members of the public can vote for which of the final ideas should be funded.

Whether you have an event in mind or just want to encourage older Gaelic speakers to share the language with young people, there are lots of ways to make Gaelic heritage sustainable and available to everyone.

Argyll and Bute Council’s policy lead for strategic housing, Gaelic, community and culture, Councillor Robin Currie, said: ‘Participatory budgeting means that communities can decide how a specific amount of money can be used to make a positive difference, and then put the money to good use in growing Gaelic.

‘This gives the community a direct say on how the money should be spent, and allows us to look at how we can engage better with people across such a wide geography. I would encourage everyone to visit the site and take part.’

To find out more about the project, visit the ideas site directly, see https://www. argyll-bute.gov.uk/ growinggaelic or contact communitydevelopment@argyll-bute. gov.uk.