Island police officers strengthen Gaelic skills with UHI North, West and Hebrides

Police officers are the latest group from the Western Isles to learn Gaelic online through its fully funded Gaelic courses, supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

The programme gives officers the opportunity to build stronger connections with the communities they serve while increasing the use of Gaelic in public services. It also supports them to use the language in their everyday interactions at work and within their communities.

In 2026 so far, a total of 127 students have enrolled on Bòrd na Gàidhlig funded courses at UHI North, West and Hebrides, including staff from UHI, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highland Council, NHS Western Isles and Police Scotland. Courses are also offered free of charge to parents with children in Gaelic Medium Education.

Chief Inspector Ross McCartney, Area Commander for the Western Isles, said: “We understand the importance of the heritage and culture of the Western Isles and want to embrace this as much as possible, in order to be reflective of the communities we live and work in.

“Three officers are currently undertaking the course and I would like to thank UHI North, West and Hebrides and Bòrd na Gàidhlig for their support. This opportunity will continue to be offered to officers who are either moving to the islands or already based here, and who wish to learn Gaelic.

“We see this not only as an opportunity for our officers to learn the language, but also as a way to reduce barriers to policing and strengthen community cohesion by increasing the existing Gaelic language capability of local officers.”

Angela Weir from the Gaelic team at UHI North, West and Hebrides added:
“We are delighted to welcome Police Scotland officers from the Western Isles to our Gaelic online programme. Learning Gaelic is about more than language, it’s about embracing the culture, heritage, and identity of the islands. We hope this initiative will help officers strengthen connections with the communities they serve and encourage greater use of Gaelic in public life.”

Ealasaid Macdonald, Ceannard Bòrd a Gàidhlig said:

“Bòrd na Gàidhlig is delighted to see the number of people in our public services who have committed to learning Gaelic through UHI North, West and Hebrides. It highlights the importance of being able to engage effectively in our communities. I wish them all the very best in their language learning journey.”

The officers currently participating in the Ùlpan course are:

• Chief Inspector Ross McCartney, based in Inverness
• Inspector Euan Cowan, based in Stornoway, originally from Annan in the Scottish Borders
• PC Suzanne Blackie, based in Barra, originally from Lothian

Further Gaelic learning opportunities for public sector staff and community members are also being delivered as part of the wider programme and will be launched very soon.

This work supports UHI North, West and Hebrides’ wider Gaelic provision, including degree programmes and PGDE Gaelic Medium Teaching, helping to sustain and grow Gaelic for future generations.

• Find out more about our Gaelic courses.

Oifigearan poileis an eilein a’ neartachadh sgilean Gàidhlig le OGE a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall

’S iad oifigearan poileis am buidheann as ùire às na h-Eileanan Siar a tha ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig air-loidhne tro na cùrsaichean Gàidhlig làn-mhaoinichte aca, le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig.

Tha am prògram a’ toirt cothrom do dh’oifigearan ceanglaichean nas làidire a thogail leis na coimhearsnachdan a tha iad a’ frithealadh agus aig an aon àm a’ meudachadh cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an seirbheisean poblach. Tha e cuideachd a’ toirt taic dhaibh a bhith a’ chleachdadh a’ chànain nan eadar-obrachadh làitheil aig an obair agus taobh a-staigh nan coimhearsnachdan aca.

Gu ruige seo ann an 2026, tha 127 oileanach air clàradh air cùrsaichean maoinichte le Bòrd na Gàidhlig aig OGE a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall, a’ gabhail a-steach luchd-obrach bho OGE, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, NHS nan Eilean Siar agus Poileas Alba. Tha cùrsaichean cuideachd air an tabhann an-asgaidh do phàrantan le clann ann am Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig.

Thuirt An t-Àrd-Cheannard Ross McCartney, Ceannard Sgìreil airson nan Eileanan Siar: “Tha sinn a’ tuigsinn cho cudromach ’s a tha dualchas is cultar nan Eileanan Siar agus tha sinn airson seo a ghabhail os làimh cho mòr ’s as urrainn dhuinn, gus a bhith a’ comharrachadh nan coimhearsnachdan anns a bheil sinn a’ fuireach agus ag obair.

“Tha triùir oifigearan an-dràsta a’ dèanamh a’ chùrsa agus bu mhath leam taing a thoirt do OGE Ceann a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig airson an taic. Leanaidh sinn oirnn a’ tabhann a’ chothroim seo do dh’oifigearan a tha an dàrna cuid a’ gluasad dha na h-eileanan no a tha stèidhichte an seo mu thràth, agus a tha airson Gàidhlig ionnsachadh.

“Tha sinn a’ faicinn seo chan ann a-mhàin mar chothrom dha na h-oifigearan againn an cànan ionnsachadh, ach cuideachd mar dhòigh air cnapan-starra a lùghdachadh a thaobh obair poileis agus neartachadh co-leanailteachd coimhearsnachd le bhith ag àrdachadh comas cànain nan oifigearan ionadail a th’ ann mar-thà sa chànan.”

Thuirt Angela Weir, Òraidiche Gàidhlig aig OGE a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall:

“Tha sinn air leth toilichte fàilte a chuir air oifigearan Poileas Alba bho na h-Eileanan Siar chun phrògram Gàidhlig air-loidhne againn. Tha ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig mu dheidhinn barrachd na dìreach cànan, tha e mu dheidhinn a bhith a’ gabhail ri cultar, dualchas is dearbh-aithne nan eilean. Tha sinn an dòchas gun cuidich an iomairt seo oifigearan gus ceanglaichean a neartachadh leis na coimhearsnachdan a tha iad a’ frithealadh agus gum brosnaich e barrachd cleachdadh den Ghàidhlig ann am beatha phoblach.”

Thuirt Ealasaid MacDhòmhnaill, Ceannard Bhòrd na Gàidhlig:

“Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig air leth toilichte faicinn an àireamh dhaoine sna seirbheisean poblach againn a tha dealasach mun Ghàidhlig ionnsachadh tro OGE a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall. Tha e a’ comharrachadh cho cudromach ’s a tha e a bhith comasach air a bhith an sàs gu h-èifeachdach sna coimhearsnachdan againn. Tha mi a’ guidhe gach soirbheachas dhaibh air an turas ionnsachaidh cànain.”

Is iad na h-oifigearan a tha an-dràsta a’ gabhail pàirt anns a’ chùrsa Ulpan:

• Àrd-neach-sgrùdaidh Ross McCartney, stèidhichte ann an Inbhir Nis
• Neach-sgrùdaidh Euan Cowan, stèidhichte ann an Steòrnabhagh, à Annan sna Crìochan o thùs
• PC Suzanne Blackie, stèidhichte ann am Barraigh, à Lodainn

Tha cothroman ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig a bharrachd gan lìbhrigeadh do luchd-obrach na roinne phoblaich agus do bhuill a’ choimhearsnachd mar phàirt den phrògram nas fharsainge agus thèid an cur air bhog a dh’aithghearr.

Tha an obair seo a’ toirt taic do sholarachadh Gàidhlig nas fharsainge aig OGE a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall, a’ gabhail a-steach prògraman ceuma agus Teagasg tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig PGDE, a’ cuideachadh le bhith a’ cumail suas agus a’ leasachadh na Gàidhlig airson ginealaichean ri teachd.