Aberdeenshire Council joins forces with equalities charity to help build bridges between children from different cultures
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A LEADING equalities charity has joined forces with Aberdeenshire Council to use the Scots language to build bridges between children from different cultures.
Nil by Mouth secured support from the local authority to provide copies of Neeps and Tatties - a book which will go into more than 20 schools across Aberdeenshire ahead of St Andrews Day.
Created by author Carey Morning and illustrated by Anna York, Neeps and Tatties tells the story of two warring vegetable tribes who put their pasts behind them in the interests of a better future.
The book examines issues such as discrimination and prejudice.
The charity has devised a series of classroom games and activities based around the story to encourage children to explore different cultures, including looking at the significance of food and festivals in different traditions.
Councillor Gillian Owen, Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee chair, officially launched the partnership at Torphins Primary School on Monday.
“Aberdeenshire is the heartland of Scots and Doric and we are delighted to have been able to make this resource available across our schools," Cllr Owen said.
“Neeps and Tatties is a clever way of helping children learn more about their own culture as well as understanding more about those of others.
“It’s great to see so many schools have already signed up to take part on this project and I hope more of our schools will register for the resources and help bring this story of building bridges higher than walls to life in classrooms across the county.”
Teachers looking to sign up and claim their free book just needs to email mail@nilbymouth.org with their name and address of their school.
Emma Alexander, Nil by Mouth Engagement Officer, added: “The support we’ve been given by Aberdeenshire Council means that all its primary schools should be able to obtain teachers copies of the book and all the resources required to help them bring the story to life.
“Scots is widely spoken and understood in Aberdeenshire and we hope that in addition to helping pupils learn more about different cultures and belief it will also deepen their understanding and appreciation of the many Scots words which enrich their lives.
“So much of our work challenging bigotry deals with how words can be used to hurt or belittle others. That’s why its brilliant to be able to celebrate language and the different ways we can express ourselves.
“The stories we tell our children help shape how they see the world and make sense of the differences that exist around them.”
