Bòrd na Gàidhlig Mainstreaming & Outcomes Report
Following the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations (the
Regulations) Bòrd na Gàidhlig (the Bòrd) has committed to publishing progress on mainstreaming the
public sector equality duty (PSED) and the outcomes the organisation has set annually. This report
has two sections: the first provides an overview of progress with mainstreaming initiatives; and the
second summarises progress with delivering the organisation’s outcomes.
Mainstreaming Progress
The Bòrd is committed to providing a working environment that engenders fair and equal treatment of
all staff, customers and other stakeholders. Inclusion and diversity are acknowledged as being vital to
the Bòrd’s success in delivery of core function and services, and mainstreaming offers an opportunity
to ensure the needs of a diverse a range of people as possible inform the development of strategies
for service provision. The Bòrd continuously strives to improve the way in which all aspects of
furthering the equality of opportunity are integrated into the way in which the organisation operates,
and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all.
The ultimate aim of the mainstreaming initiatives remains the integration of the requirements of
equalities legislation into the day-to-day activities of the Bòrd, and progress with each of the areas
identified as delivering this aim is detailed at the appendix to this report. Many of the initial actions
required to implement legal requirements are complete although the review and monitoring of their
success is ongoing.
As has been reported in previous years, the rate at which data becomes available for some of the
monitoring requirements is resulting in very low numbers and therefore it may be some time before
the Bòrd has meaningful datasets. In the meantime, the Bòrd has been proactively considering
alternative approaches to advancing the equality of opportunity, how the data can be used, and
whether there are opportunities to improve collection or benchmark with the limited data that is held.
Some of the considerations have been summarised below.
The past year has been one of significant organisational change for the Bòrd. The work towards
mainstreaming has focussed on embedding the principles of advancing the equality of opportunity
and ensuring the initiatives that have been implemented are achieving their objectives through:
 Continued integration of the equalities policy into relevant Bòrd policies and procedures up to
and including board level;
 Introduction of procedures to review policies for opportunities to address potential equality
issues as and when each policy is reviewed and updated;
 Ongoing collection of equalities monitoring forms for recruitment, leavers and current staff,
and individuals receiving funding from the Bòrd;
 Ongoing research to establish what equalities data is available to help inform the Bòrd’s
strategy and policy work in a number of core areas. This is relevant to both mainstreaming
and delivering against the Bòrd’s outcomes, and is discussed further below.
Progress Achieving Outcomes
In addition to compliance with the Regulations, the initial outcomes set by the Bòrd were designed to:
 facilitate compliance with the PSED;
 identify where further consultation may be appropriate;
 start gathering accurate data about equalities. This will put the Bòrd in a more informed
position to accurately assess the success of equalities initiatives as well as having more
detailed information to determine the need for any positive action.
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As highlighted in previous reports, the rate of data collection in some areas is very low and the
difficulties in collecting accurate data are compounded by the fact the Bòrd does not deliver services
directly to service users. The Bòrd’s role, which is laid down by the Gaelic Language Act 2005, is
primarily involved with developing strategies and policies to develop Gaelic language. These are
subsequently used by other organisations to inform Gaelic language initiatives. Consequently the
Bòrd is almost totally reliant on intermediary organisations, not all of which are in the public sector, to
gather and then make information available regarding equalities monitoring.
The Bòrd set 4 outcomes. Each of the outcomes is stated below with a brief summary of progress
and how the Bòrd will be moving forward.
Outcome 1
Allocation of funding for individuals (currently funding for teacher training) has the same
representation from groups with protected characteristics as in the general population.
The Bòrd has implemented procedures to capture equalities information about individuals that are
awarded funding (currently one teacher training scheme). It should be noted that people can only
apply for funding from the Bòrd once they have been offered a place on a teacher training course.
Consequently those that are eligible to apply for funding may not be representative of the general
population in the first instance.
The number of returns provided by those in receipt of funding has fallen with 13 forms returned this
year. This is a return rate of 48%. While there will always be a non-return bias to take into
consideration, the collective of returned form are taken as being generally representative of those in
receipt of funding from the Bòrd.
From the evidence provided by the data, there is an opportunity to implement measures to increase
representation from some groups of protected characteristics, in particular those in ethnic minorities.
Figures from the previous year indicated a fall in the representation of male recipients although the
number increased this year to 30% and is likely to be representative of those who are male and
eligible to apply for a grant. Work will also be carried out to encourage return of the forms given the
drop in return rate.
Outcome 2
The Bòrd will have a diverse, talented and motivated workforce that reflects at all grades the diverse
communities being served.
The Bòrd has implemented procedures to capture equalities information about staff during the
recruitment process, and from leavers. Currently all staff attend a number of staff training and
development days each year.
The return rate for the areas being monitored remains exceptionally low and therefore returns will be
aggregated over a number of financial years to ensure the Bòrd is working with a meaningful dataset.
To the year ending March 2016, there continues to be an average of 2 people leaving the
organisation and one person recruited each financial year. This includes a change in the Chief
Executive Officer, whose recruitment is managed by the Scottish Government.
Consideration will be given during the next year whether this particular outcome would be better
addressed by introducing other mainstreaming activities, for example, looking at alternative ways of
monitoring the accessibility of training opportunities.
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Outcome 3
Using information gathered from other public bodies submitting Gaelic Language Plans, identify key
issues facing those with protected characteristics accessing Gaelic services across Scotland.
Many of the Gaelic services provided across Scotland are provided by other public sector
organisations and form part of their Gaelic Language Plans, all of which contribute to the National
Gaelic Language Plan (NGLP). As determined in previous research, there is very little monitoring of
equalities in relation to Gaelic services and therefore no reliable information available to the Bòrd.
The Bòrd commissioned a survey of adult learners that was conducted towards the end of 2014. The
survey included questions asking about age and disability and looked to establish what, if any, effect
disability had on adult learners of Gaelic.
This work was then commissioned for a further 3 years and the most recent survey found a slight
increase in those that considered themselves to have a disability (6% up by 1% on the previous year).
As with the previous survey, there was some evidence to suggest under reporting as people tend to
only indicate they consider themselves disabled if their disability affects their ability to learn or acquire
Gaelic language skills. Using work commissioned by the EHRC, the percentage of adults learning
Gaelic that considered themselves disabled was slightly higher than the overall percentage for adults
learners with a disability in Scotland, although fell short of the national figure for those that consider
themselves disabled within the general population in Scotland, which was reported as being 20% in
the 2011 census.
The 2015 survey of adult learners also highlighted the emerging trend of an ageing population of adult
learners. Both of these findings were used to inform the development of the strategy to support adult
learners of Gaelic.
Outcome 4
Those with some Gaelic ability from non-white ethnic groups will have the same representation as in
the general population within their area, in all geographic areas of Scotland.
As stated in previous progress reports, this outcome will require work over a significant period of time
reflecting, at least in part, the length of time it takes to become proficient with another language.
Initial findings suggested there is very little data available, and this was supported by the major piece
of research undertaken since setting the outcomes, discussed above.
In order to move forward with both this outcome and Outcome 3, the Bòrd will be integrating a
focus on equalities in the appropriate priorities identified in the next National Gaelic Language
Plan (the Plan). The Plan is due to be published in the first half of 2017 and should be used by
other public bodies to formulate and review their own Gaelic Language Plans (GLPs). The
approach will be firstly to encourage other public bodies to identify potential opportunities for
advancing equality of opportunity within their GLPs and collect data where appropriate.
Secondly, it will identify strategic areas where the Bòrd can most effectively monitor and take
action to address equality issues.
As well as taking action to meet the outcomes, the Bòrd is always looking to improve engagement
with groups representing those with protected characteristics, particularly around the development of
strategies for service provision across Scotland. Services users or those seeking to access the
Bòrd’s services are actively encouraged to contact the Bòrd with feedback about any aspect of
service delivery and the Bòrd would particularly welcome comments from those representing groups
of people with any of the protected characteristics.
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