Leid Strategy – Draft Ection Plen 2023-2026

This baes a draft Ection Plen acroass aa o’ the leid strands in the Cooncil’s Leid Strategy 2018 – 2023.

The Cooncil launched hit’s Leid Strategy in Aprille 2018. The strategy commits tae the settin ap o’ a transparent set o’ principles tae heft, bield an’ mak’ betther the leid diversity o’ the city. Thaire ir five leid strands wi’ in the strategy:

Airish
Ulster-Scots
Minority Ethnic Commonities
Sign Leids (British Sign Leid an’ Airish Sign Leid)
Disability Communications

This strategy baes organised oan thematic strands o’ waark settin’ oot hoo the Cooncil wul deliver oan hit’s commitments in the leid plen. Hit identifies both immediate priorities an’ lang tim’ goals. Quyhles hit’ll bae airted aa immediate priorities tae stairt wi’, hit’s oor hope tae deliver aa o’ the priorities identified wi’in the lif’tim’ o’ the plen.

The Cooncil’s Laa an’ Civic Services Depairtment wul hae owreaa responsibility fer monitorin’ progress oan the priorities in the Ection Plen. Hooiniver hit’s ap tae ivry Cooncil Depairtment tae mak’ siccar at the Leid Strategy an’ this Ection Plen infoarms delivery o’ thair waark. This ection plen wul bae reviewed ivry yeir wi’ apdate reports brocht tae the Electred Member Leid Statutory Waarkin Curn at reports tae the cooncil’s Strategic Policy an’ Resources Committee.

1.0 Access tae Cooncil Services
2.0 Brandin’
3.0 Commonity Education an’ Business
4.0 Staff Awareness an Trainin’
5.0 Engagement
Annex 1 – Intherim Approach fer selected leids fer Minority Ethnic Commonities

1.0 Access tae Cooncil Services

Leid		Ection	Depairtment (Resourcin. tae bae confirmend)	Immediate Priority	Langer Tim’ Priority
1.1	Aa Leids	Gien a heftin tae interpretation an’ owresettin service acroass cooncil.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)		Aye
1.2	Minority Ethnic Commonities	Tae leuk intae the forderin o' a signpostin’ wittens base taakin in adwice available noo aboot hoo tae uise public services in Bilfawst through differ leids an’ a speirin intae quhat micht bae available aaready heftin’ thae wittens.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Guid Relations Meercetin an’ Comms		Aye
1.3	Minority Ethnic Commonities	Tae cairry oan gien guid quality automated owresettin software oan ootby wabsteid.	Meercetin an’ Comms Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
1.4	Disability Communications	Tae forder steerins tae heft depairtments in accessibility tae cooncil paipers, sources an’ Facilities fae a perspective o’ disablement	Legal an’ Civic Services (EDU) All Departments	Aye
1.5	Airish	Maakin an’ Heftin a gaelige@belfastcity.gov.uk epoast address an’ wabsteid paige shewin’ the public hoo tae get oantae iz in Airish.	Meercetin’ an’ Comms Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
1.6	Airish	Codify arrangements fer uise o’ Airish in Cooncil meetins.	Laa’ an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
1.7	Aa Leids	Mak’ siccar at Cooncil rin daeins an’ festivals hae regaird tae the heftin o’ differ leids an’ encourage the houlin o’ apt daeins in City Haa.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Place an’ Economy/Economic Forderin City an’ Neighbourhood Services	Aye
1.8	Airish	Forder a leet o’ cooncil paipers tae proectivly bae maide available. in Airish.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Lead depairtment Meercetin an’ Comms	Aye
1.9	Minority Ethnic Commonities	Tae gie wittens oan the wabsteid (an’ City Matthers) aboot hoo tae uise the owresettin function oan the wabsteidither leids. Hoo tae tellyphone the cooncil uisin BigWord an' axin fer an’ interpreter.	Meercetin an’ Comms Customer Airtin Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Guid Relations	Aye
1.10	Airish	Forder a protocol fer gien press statements in Airsh quhar the subject baes sib tae Airish ir baes adae wi’ a key cooncil strategic initiative quhar the subject bae adae wi’ Airish quhar resources/timin’ aloo.	Meercetin an’ Comms Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
1.11	Airish	Airish leid content wul bae gien acroass Cooncil’s social media pletfoarms quhan the subject baes adae wi’ Airish an’ quhar resources ir timin’ permit.	Meercetin an’ Comms Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
1.12	Aa’ Leids	Quhar hit’s possible requests tae owreset social media content intae ither leids quhan hit’s adae wi’ adae wi’ specific daeins ir celebrations wi’ cooncil inpit wul bae ‘greed tae.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
1.13	Sign Languages	Tae gie clear description oan wabsteid an City o’ quhat services can bae gat in sign leid baer members o’ the public.	Meercetin an’ Comms Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Customer Airtin	Aye
1.14	All languages	Forder an approach tae gie regular content in ither leids in City Matthers, tae bae fordered in line wi’ ‘greed parameters aa Annex 1.	Meercetin an’ Comms Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Guid Relations	Aye
1.15	Aa leids	Review protocols fer staff tae heft non-inglis speakin’ customers tae tak’ in a code o’ courtesy fer indigenous leids an gie cultural awareness trainin’.	Customer Hub Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
1.16	Aa leids	Audit Cooncil staff tae access leid capability.	Laa an’Civic Services (EDU) Corporate HR	Aye
1.17	Airish	Forder a corporate Airish leid policy taakin in an’ approach tae signage.]	Aa Depiartments	Aye
1.18	Ulster-Scots	Forder a corporate Ulster-Scots leid policy taakin in approach tae signage.	Aa Depairtments	Aye
1.19	Aa Leids	Tak’ consideration o’ chansts fer forderin leid skeels in staff forderin process.	Customer Hub Human Resources Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)		Aye
1.20	Sign Leids	Tae graw proveesion o’ Sign Leid owresettin oan weill laiked pages o’ wabsteid.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Meercetin an’ Comms		Aye
1.21	Aa leids	Tae mak’ siccar operatin’ pairtners laike GLL gie apt leid interpretation an’ owresettin’ services.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
1.22	Airish	Leuk aa providin’ simultaneous interpretation fer members wantin tae address cooncil in Airish.	Laa an Civic Services		Aye

2.0 Brandin’

Leid		Ection	Responsible Depairtment	Immediate Priority	Langer tim’ Priority
2.1	Airish	Heft the availability o’ the Airish leid cooncil logo, uise o’ bi-leid Inglis/Airish corporate signatures an city brand fer uise in correspondence, paipers,literature, etc	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Meercetin an’ Comms	Aye
2.2	Airish	Cairry oot exploratory waark oan a bi-leid corporate logo	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Meercetin an’ Comms		Aye
2.3	Ulster-Scots an’ Airish	Waark wi’ stakehaulders tae forder an approach fer raisin’ awareness oan Ulster-Scots an' Airish street naimes. Waark wi’ stakehaulders	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Place an’ Economy/Economic Forderin Guid Relations Meercetin an’ Comms		Aye
2.4	Ulster-Scots	Forder an Ulster-Scots leid Cooncil logo, bi-leid Ulster-Scots/Airish documentation, literature, etc. Forder Ulster-Scots Leid Cooncil logo, bi-lingual Ulster-Scots/Airish corporate signatures an’ leuk intae forderin an’ U;lster-Scots City Brand fer uise in correspondence, paipers, etc	Laa an Civic Services (EDU) Meercetin an’ Comms	Aye
2.5	Sign Leid	Forder approach tae owreset Sign Leid “Welcome” wittens aa identified cooncil venues liasin’ wi’ apt depairtments oan buyin’ an’ installin o’ new screens quhar apt.	Physical Programmes Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Meercetin an’ Comms
2.6	Disability Communications	Forder approach tae signage acroass cooncil facilities liasin’ wi’ apt Depairtments oan buyin’ an’ pittin’ on new disability signage eg Braille, Tactile maps.	Physical Programmes Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Meercetin an’ Comms

3.0 Commonity Education an’ Business

Leid		Ection	Responsible Depairtmnet	Immediate priority	Longer term priority
3.1	Aa Leids	Leuk intae forderin a Leid Strategy Development Fund fer inby an’ ootby events an’ cairry oan hostin ‘ sich events an’ daeins heftin ivry strand o’ the Leid Strategy.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Finance Place and Economy/Economic Forderin		Aye
3.2	Aa Leids	Heft implementin o’ leid related ections in Bilfawst Stories Programme.	Place an’ Economy/Bilfawst Destination Hub Physical Programmes Laa an Civic Services	Aye
3.3	Airish	Forder range o’ warkshaps/ wittens sessions an’ daeins oan cooncil related matthers laike recyclin’ biodiversity etc airted aa Airish medium schuils.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) City an’ Neighbourhood	Aye
3.4	Airish	Yinst aff ootby coorse fordered langside stakehaulders , delivered taer commonity based Airish teachers oan teachin methods.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
3.5	Airish	Deliverin’ o’ Employment an' Apskeelin Academies fer Airish-medium clessruim assistants an’ ithers waarkin in the Airish medium education sector.	Place an’ Economy an' Economic Forderin Laa an’ Civic Services	Aye
3.6	Airish	Heft Airish leid cultural initiatives an’ waark langside tourist service providers tae ris’ visibility o’ Airish in Bilfawst’s tourism offerain	Place an’ Economy/Economic Forderin Legal an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
3.7	Airish	Creative screevin’ competition launched an’ airted aa students in Airish Medium Schuils an’ A Level students.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Guid Relations	Aye
3.8	Airish	Maakin o Airish Leid beuklet o’ basic Airish phrases an’ sayins an’ fects aboot benefits o’ bein’ bi-leid	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
3.9	Airish	Leuk aa the chansts fer houldin Oireachtas na Gaeilge (yeirly Airish cultural an’ arts festival) in Bilfawst.	Place an’ Economy/Economic Forderin Laa Services (EDU)	Aye
3.10	Ulster-Scots	Distrubution an’ heftin o’ Ulster-Scots Placenaimes o’ Bilfawst beuklet aa City Haa.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
3.11	Aa Leids	Leuk aa hoo the benefits o’ diversity o’ leid can bae hefted tae the business commonity in Bilfawst.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Place and Economy/Economic Forderin

4.0 Key Airt o’ Waark: Staff Awareness an’ Trainin’

Laa		Ection	Responsible Depairtment	Immediate priority
4.1	Sign Leids	Tae gie a wheen o’ sign Leid coorses tae staff.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Human Resources	Aye
4.2	Disability Communications	Tae heft awareness tae the public bae the wabsteid an’ City Matthers o’ hoo tae access cooncil paipers, services an’ facilities, laike hoo tae ax fer paipers/foarms in a differ format.	Meercetin an’ Comms Legal and Civic Services (EDU) Customer Airtin	Aye
4.3	Aa Leids	Forderin an’ roul-oot o’ Maakin Communications Accessible Steerin tae staff an’ forder steerins fer staff oan gien accessible chuses (laike subtitles, dubbin, etc) fer remote meetins an’ daeins	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Corporate HR Meercetin an’ Comms Digital Services	Aye
4.4	Airish	Stirt informal taakin curn fer Airish speakin’ staff an’ staff wantin’ tae lairn Airish an’ encourage uise o’ Airish amang staff.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye
4.5	All languages	Tae heft recruitment Cooncil wul ettle tae extend oor reach bae, maakin siccar at joab adverts ir pit oot widely an’ specifically tae employment an' heftin organisations adae wi’ gyely underrepresented curns.	Human Resources	Aye

5.0 Key Airt o’ Waark: Engagement

Leid	Ection	Responsible Depairtmrnt	Immediate priority	Langer tim’ priority
5.1	Minority Ethnic Commonities	Settin’ ap o’a Minority Ethnic Commonities stakehaulder collogue tae mak’ inpit intae ection plennin policy forders. Thon forum wud bae a sub-curn fer the migrant forum.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU) Guid Relations	Aye
5.2	Aa Leids	Maakin young fowk pairt o’ cooncil’s ootby Leid Strategy Engagement forum.	Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)	Aye

Leid

Ection

Responsible Depairtmrnt

Immediate priority

Langer tim’ priority

5.1

Minority Ethnic Commonities

Settin’ ap o’a Minority Ethnic Commonities stakehaulder collogue tae mak’ inpit intae ection plennin policy forders. Thon forum wud bae a sub-curn fer the migrant forum.

Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)
Guid Relations

Aye

5.2

Aa Leids

Maakin young fowk pairt o’ cooncil’s ootby Leid Strategy Engagement forum.

Laa an’ Civic Services (EDU)

Aye

Annex 1 – Intherim Approach fer Chusen Leids fer Minority Ethnic Commonities

Wittens hae baen gaithered fae a wheen o’ sources tae identify the leid maist in demand fer minority commonities.

The nummer o’ leid owresettin’/interpretation requests tae cooncil sine 2018 ir set oot ablow.

Leid	Nummer o’ Speirins
Arabic	15
Russian	4
Polish	4
Somalian	2
Chinese (Mandarin Traditional)	1
Chinese (Mandarin Simplified)	1
Romanian	1
Spanish	1

The Bilfawst Healtht an’ Social Care Trust hae gien latest statistics aboot the maist axed fer leids fer interpretin’health matthers: A collection o’ leid statistics from Census 2021 cum oot in sictimmer 2022, hooiniver mair wittens aboot leids wul bae brocht oot owre Wunter/Spring 22023. Ablow we hae a leet o’ leids spoke aa hame.

Leid	Requests
1. Arabic	9235
2. Polish	4697
3. Romanian	3032
4. Somali	2708
5. Slovak	2138

A collection o’ leid statistics from Census 2021 cum oot in sictimmer 2022, hooiniver mair wittens aboot leids wul bae brocht oot owre Wunter/Spring 22023. Ablow we hae a leet o’ leids spoke aa hame.

Main Leid	Population	Percentage
1. English	310,386	93.000944
2. Polish	3843	1.1514779
3. Irish*	2659	0.7967161
4. Chinese (Mandarin)	2272	0.6807593
5. Arabic	2046	0.6130429
6. Romanian	1460	0.4374597
7. Spanish	960	0.2876448
8. Portuguese	669	0.2004524
9. Slovak	649	0.1944598
10. Malayalam	527	0.157905
11. Tagalog/Filipino	462	0.138429
12. Hungarian	433	0.1297398
13. Chinese (Cantonese)	415	0.1243464
14. Lithuanian	397	0.1189531
15. Russian	228	0.0683156
16. Bulgarian	179	0.0536338
17. Latvian	123	0.0368545
18. Tetan	20	0.0059926
19. Other languages*	6017	1.8028735
Total	333,745	100

Tak’ tent at Census 2021 axed follae ap questions aboot Airish an’ Ulster-Scots leid ability:

17,986 fowk in Bilfawst allooed at they wur fit tae speak, screeve in an’ read the Airish Leid.

2,553 fowk in Bilfawst allooed thaimsels tae bae fit tae speak, screeve an read Ulster-Scots.

Recommendation – Top 5 Ethnic Minority Commonities leids fer owresettin cooncil material

Based oan nummers fae the 2021 census an’ fae leid requests tae Bilfawst Cooncil an’ Bifawst Trust in recent yeirs. We recommend at the leids ablow bae leeted es the Tap 5 fer owresettin cooncil materials:

Polish
Chinese (Manderin an’ Simplified
Arabic
Romanian
Somali