Call for Views on the Ulster-Scots Expert Advisory Panel’s Recommendations Report

Overview

A Call for Views has been launched alongside the publication of the Expert Advisory Panel Recommendations Reports. The information gathered will help inform the development of two new draft strategies led by the Department for Communities:

(i) an Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy; and
(ii) an Irish Language Strategy

There is a commitment under the New Decade, New Approach agreement to adopt the principals and practice of citizen and community engagement, co-design and coproduction during the development and delivery of both strategies. In addition, Section 28D of the Northern Ireland Act (1998) commits to the development of both strategies, and will enhance and protect the development of the Irish language and enhance and develop the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture.

Minister Hargey established two Expert Advisory Panels to bring together a wide range of academic and community experience for the purpose of providing recommendations that the strategies should seek to address.

How to share your views

We welcome your views on the Expert Advisory Panels’ Recommendations Reports and there are a number of ways that you can get involved. You can use as many of these as you wish by clicking the relevant links.
Complete our online survey as a member of the public (aged 16 or over). The Call for Views Public Survey should take 20-25 minutes to complete.
Submit information, evidence and data by completing our online written response form, which contains a number of questions in relation to each area of the report.

To complete this please click on the continue button at the bottom of this page.

Take part in a stakeholder focus group (the Departments will contact our key stakeholders about this or you can email us at
LanguageStrategiesTeam@communities-ni.gov.uk)

An Easy Read version of the Call for Views document contains a number of questions that you can answer.

A Children and Young People’s version of the Call for Views document contains a number of questions that you can answer.

Before responding, using any of the options above, you may find it helpful to read the Call for Views document.

Why are we doing this survey?

Thank you for your interest in taking part in this survey. We are interested in hearing the public’s views on the Recommendations Reports produced by the Expert Advisory Panels. This information will be of great assistance and will be used to help us develop the Irish Language Strategy and Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy.

Each survey is open to individuals aged 16 and above and everyone is welcome to complete one or both. For those aged under 16, we are asking our partner organisations to facilitate targeted focus group discussions.

What does my participation involve?

The survey should take no more than 15 – 20 minutes to complete. There are no right or wrong answers; please give as honest an opinion as you feel able.

All responses to the questions will be totally anonymous and no-one will know that you participated. We do not ask for your name at any point (except for your email address if you want a copy of your response). We will, however, ask about some of your characteristics (e.g. age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc.) as it is helpful for us to understand the views of individuals from a range of demographic backgrounds. These questions are, however, voluntary and there is no pressure on anyone to answer them.

Why your views matter

Your views are being sought in order to inform the development of the new draft Ulster-Scots language, Heritage and Culture Strategy and the Irish Language Strategy.

It is advisable to read the Call for Views document prior to completing the survey.

To complete this questionnaire in Ulster-Scots click here