Terms and Conditions

Read the Terms and Conditions of the Write and Recite competition before submitting your story.

The Sgrìobh is Aithris (Write and Recite) Competition is organised by Historic Environment Scotland, Comhairle Nan Leabhraichean, Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig and Coilltearachd agus Fearann Alba.  

These Terms and Conditions have been written in English and not translated to Gaelic to ensure their legal integrity.

The Sgrìobh is Aithris Competition is open to children who will be between the ages of five (5) and seventeen (17) years on 18 November 2022. Historic Environment Scotland reserves the right to request proof of age, identity and eligibility to enter the competition.

Historic Environment Scotland (“HES") will collect some personal data from you when you enter the competition. This will be restricted to the entrant’s full name, age and contact details (including postcode and the email address of your parent or guardian) so that we may contact winners and runner-ups and send prize winners their prize.  

We also ask for your postcode or county to confirm that you are eligible to participate in this competition as per the competition Terms and Conditions. In addition, once we know who the winners are, we will require your school’s name and address to send your school relevant prizes.  You can see more about how we manage your personal data in our Competition privacy notice.  

All entrants must have gained the permission of a parent or guardian to enter the competition or have their parent or guardian submit their entry on behalf of them. HES reserves the right to request evidence of such consent from the entrant where the entry is not submitted by the entrant’s parent or guardian.

1. The Promoter

The Promoters of this Competition are:

1.1. Historic Environment Scotland (“HES”), an executive non-departmental public body, incorporated and established under the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014, being a registered charity (Scottish Charity number SC045925) and having its principal office at Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SH (“HES”);

1.2. Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (The Gaelic Books Council), a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland with company registration number SC166766 and being a registered charity (Scottish Charity number SC025026) with its registered office at An Leanag, 32 Mansfield Street, Glasgow, G11 5QP;

1.3. Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig, a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland with company registration number SC190298 and having its registered office at 54 Seaforth Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2SD; and

1.4. Coilltearachd agus Fearann Alba (Forestry and Land Scotland), established by the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 and having our principal place of business at Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW;

(together “the Promoters”).

2. The Competition

2.1. These Terms and Conditions apply to the “Sgrìobh is Aithris” (Write and Recite) competition running on HES’s website and promoted by all of the Promoters on their respective websites and social media channels (including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) (“the Competition”). 

2.2. An adult is required to approve the entry and agree to these Terms and Conditions (including the Promoters use of the story submitted) on behalf of the Entrant (as defined in condition 3 below). The adult may be the child’s parent or guardian. Where the adult submits the entry, they must provide their own contact details (not the child’s) in the online submission. 

2.3. The opening date for entries is 9am on 5 September 2022. Entries must comply with the conditions set out in condition 4 and any entries that do not comply (in the sole opinion of the HES) will be disqualified.

2.4. The Competition will close on 18 November 2022 at 5pm (“the Closing Date”). All entries must be received by HES in accordance with condition 5 by no later than 5pm on the Closing Date. All entries received after the Closing Date will be automatically disqualified.

2.5. Entries must be submitted by entering online at https://www.historicenvironment.scot/sgriobh-is-aithris. Any entries submitted to HES in any other manner or medium will be disqualified from the Competition. Entrants are permitted to submit a maximum of one entry only.

2.6. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for entries not successfully completed due to a technical fault, technical malfunction, computer hardware or software failure, satellite, network or server failure of any kind.

2.7. Two members of HES staff shall carry out an initial sift of the entries on 21 November 2022 and will select up to five shortlisted stories per category to go onto the next stage (“the Shortlisted Entries”). The stories within this initial sift shall be judged on the Entrant’s story writing or story telling ability and shall not be judged on spelling or grammar, nor the photographs or images that are being submitted alongside the story.

2.8. The Shortlisted Entries will be judged by a judging panel made up of one member staff from each of HES, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean, Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig, BBC, Tobar an Dualchais and two independent judges, the week commencing 28 November 2022. The judging panel will choose one winner per each category and one runner- up per each category.  The entries will be judged on the Entrant’s story writing or story telling ability and shall not be judged on spelling or grammar, nor the photographs or images that are being submitted alongside the story. Each of the winners will be assigned the applicable Prize (as defined in condition 5 below). The decision of the judges is final.

2.9. For help with entries please contact HES on gaidhlig@hes.scot.

2.10. By submitting a Competition entry, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions, or where you are under 18 years of age, the parent or guardian authorising your entry will be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

3. Eligible Entrants

3.1. The Competition is open to all children aged between five (5) and seventeen (17) years of age on 18 November 2022.

3.2. An “Entrant” is the child whose story is submitted to the Competition. Where the person submitting the entry to the Competition is under 18 years old, they must provide an email address belonging to their parent or guardian as part of their submission or have their parent or guardian submit the entry on their behalf.

3.3. Entrants must be resident in Scotland, England or Wales.

3.4. In entering the Competition, the Entrant (or where the Entrant is under 18 years, their parent or guardian on behalf of the Entrant) confirms that they are eligible to do so and eligible to claim a Prize (as defined in condition 5 below). HES may require the Entrant (or their parent or guardian where the Entrant is under 18 years) to provide proof that they are eligible to enter the Competition.

4. Entries

4.1. The Competition will be separated into nine categories:

  • 4.1.1. Best written story – aged five (5) to nine (9) years;
  • 4.1.2. Best spoken story (narration) – aged five (5) to nine (9) years;
  • 4.1.3. Best spoken story (story to camera)– aged five (5) to nine (9) years;
  • 4.1.4. Best written story – aged ten (10) to twelve (12) years;
  • 4.1.5. Best spoken story (narration) – aged ten (10) to twelve (12) years;
  • 4.1.6. Best spoken story (story to camera) – aged ten (10) to twelve (12) years;
  • 4.1.7. Best written story – aged thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years;
  • 4.1.8. Best spoken story (narration) – aged thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years; and
  • 4.1.9. Best spoken story (story to camera) – aged thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years.

4.2. To enter the Competition, the entry must make reference to their favourite place in Scotland and be written or spoken in Scottish Gaelic.

4.3. Entries can be in:

(a) Written format – where the Entrant’s story is written and submitted as a Word document or PDF of no more than 1000 words; or

(b) Video format (spoken entry) - the narration of the Entrant’s story within video where only audio is heard and static image(s) are shown; the video should be 5 minutes in length or shorter; or

(c) Video format (story to camera) - where the video shows the storyteller’s face; the video should be 5 minutes in length or shorter; 

4.3.1 Stories can be accompanied by a drawing or photograph of the place their story is based, but should not include the face or images of people from which a person can be identified (“Entries”).

4.4. Entries cannot be returned so please remember to retain a copy.

4.5. Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, offensive, or any other unsuitable materials. Entries must be suitable to be broadcast, published or used online by the Promoters for audiences of all ages, but in particular for a child audience.

4.6. Entries should not include videos or images of people, from which a person can be identified, other than the Entrant. The Entrant’s permission or that of their parent or guardian, must be obtained prior to the video being submitted as part of this Competition.

4.7. HES reserves the right to correct any spelling or grammar errors in any written stories submitted as part of this Competition. HES also reserves the right not to include the Entrant’s drawing or photograph when publishing the story online and may substitute an alternative image at their sole discretion.

5. The Prizes

5.1. Each category of the Competition, as set out at condition 4.1, shall receive the following prizes:

  • 5.1.1. Gaelic card game;
  • 5.1.2. Ciste Ulaidh na h-Alba endorsed by Stòrlann for their school;
  • 5.1.3. one copy for the winner and two copies for the winner’s school of the book ‘A Thogail Dùn’ endorsed by Coilltearachd agus Fearann Alba; and
  • 5.1.4. Family tickets for a Historic Scotland site of their choice, subject to the site being open, valid for 6 months.

5.2. In addition, the following prizes for each category of the Competition set out at condition 4.1 are:

  • 5.2.1. Best written story – aged five (5) to nine (9) years - a voucher worth £20 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean;
  • 5.2.2. Best spoken story (narration) – aged five (5) to nine (9) years - a voucher worth £20 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean;
  • 5.2.3. Best spoken story (story to camera)– aged five (5) to nine (9) years - a voucher worth £20 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean;
  • 5.2.4. Best written story – aged ten (10) to twelve (12) years - a voucher worth £40 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean;
  • 5.2.5. Best spoken story (narration) – aged ten (10) to twelve (12) years - a voucher worth £40 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean;
  • 5.2.5. Best spoken story (story to camera) – aged ten (10) to twelve (12) years - a voucher worth £40 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean;
  • 5.2.6. Best written story – aged thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years - a voucher worth £60 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean;
  • 5.2.7. Best spoken story (narration) – aged thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years - a voucher worth £60 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean; and
  • 5.2.8. Best spoken story (story to camera) – aged thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) years - a voucher worth £60 endorsed by Comhairle nan Leabhraichean.

5.3. Also, the first prize for each age category shall receive a framed linocut print of the cover artwork of the book ‘A Thogail Dùn’ by artist Liz Myhill.

5.4. Together the prizes set out in condition 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 shall be known collectively as “the Prizes”.

5.5. All winners and runner-ups will be given a personalised certificate.

5.6. Only one entry will be chosen for each of the Prizes.

5.7. No Prize is transferable or exchangeable.

5.8. All Prizes are supplied by the Promoters.

6. Notification of winning entries and shortlist of entries

6.1. The Shortlisted Entries in each category, the winning entries in each category, together with a runner-up for each category, shall be selected by the judging panel in accordance with conditions 2.7 and 2.8.

6.2. All Entrants, who submitted a winning entry or runner-up entry in any category, will be notified of this on 16 December 2022. HES shall also notify all Entrants who have not been awarded a prize on 16 December 2022.  Entrants with a winning or runner-up entry will be advised of the procedure for receiving their Prize, according to the category their entry was submitted under.  Where an Entrant with a winning or runner-up entry is under 18 years, HES shall notify the parent or guardian via the contact details provided at the point of the entry submission.

6.3. If an Entrant (or the parent or guardian of the Entrant where the Entrant is under 18 years) with a winning entry in any of the categories is unable to be contacted after reasonable attempts, HES will be entitled to select a new winning entry from the runner-up or Shortlisted Entries for the relevant category in accordance with conditions 2.7 and 2.8. 

6.4. No Prize may be claimed by a third party on behalf of the Entrant with the winning entry, other than a parent or guardian claiming a Prize on behalf of an Entrant under 18 years old.

6.5. The Promoters must either publish or make available information that indicates that a valid award took place. To comply with this obligation, HES will send the surname and county of the winners to anyone who emails gaidhlig@hes.scot or writes to the address set out in condition 1 for HES (enclosing a self-addressed envelope) within one month after the Closing Date of the Competition.

6.6. If you (or the parent or guardian of the Entrant where the Entrant is under 18 years of age) object to either or both of your surname and county being published or made available, please contact the Gaelic Team, Historic Environment Scotland, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SH, email: gaidhlig@hes.scot. In such circumstances, HES will not provide the information to members of the public, but must still provide the information and winning entry to the Advertising Standards Authority (“ASA”) on request by the ASA, to comply with our legal obligation to do so. 

7. Data protections

7.1. As part of submitting an entry, Entrants are required to submit certain personal details, including the Entrant’s name, age and a contact email address. Where the Entrant is under 18 years, they shall be required to submit their parent or guardian’s email address.

7.2. The Promoters will comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation when collecting and otherwise processing personal data in connection with this Competition. Any such personal data will be processed in accordance with the HES’s Competition privacy notice.

8. Consents and copyrights

8.1. The entry must be an original story by the Entrant. As the stories (and the drawing or photograph accompanying the story) may be published, it is important that the Entrant does not include any personal details about themselves, other than such personal details as required to submit an entry to the Competition. By entering this Competition, each Entrant (or where the Entrant is under 18 years their parent or guardian on the Entrant’s behalf), warrants and represents to the Promoters that they have obtained all necessary third-party consents or permissions relating to any entries submitted to the Competition.

8.2. The entry (including the drawing or photograph accompanying the story) must be the original work of the Entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. By entering this Competition, each Entrant (or where the Entrant is under 18 years their parent or guardian on the Entrant’s behalf) warrants and represents to the Promoters that any entry (and the drawing or photograph accompanying the story) submitted to the Competition does not infringe the rights of any third parties, including, without limitation, copyright.

8.3. Ownership of copyright in each entry (and the drawing or photograph accompanying the story) will remain with the Entrant. In consideration of entering the Competition, each Entrant (or where the Entrant is under 18 years their parent or guardian on the Entrant’s behalf) grants to the Promoter a worldwide, non-exclusive, irrevocable and royalty-free licence for five years to distribute, communicate to the public and/or reproduce each entry and accompanying drawing or photograph(including but not limited to publishing entries on the Promoters’ websites and social media channels), all in connection with the Competition. 

8.4. The Promoters do not accept responsibility if an Entrant or an Entrant’s parent or guardian ignores these Terms and Conditions and the Entrant’s parent or guardian agrees to indemnify the Promoters against any claim by any third party from any breach of these Terms and Conditions.

9. Use and licensing of stories

9.1. Where an Entrant has confirmed this as part of the submission process, that Entrant (or where the Entrant is under 18 years their parent or guardian on the Entrant’s behalf) grants to each of the Promoter a worldwide, non-exclusive, irrevocable and royalty-free licence for five years to use each entry submitted by that Entrant in any manner for non-commercial purposes, including but not limited to reproducing each such entry and accompanying drawing or photograph on the Promoters’ educational learning materials, publicity materials websites and social media channels.

9.2. Where an Entrant received a Prize, that Entrant (or where the Entrant is under 18 years their parent or guardian on the Entrant’s behalf) grants to the Promoter a worldwide, non-exclusive, irrevocable and royalty-free licence for five years to use each such entry and accompanying drawing or photograph submitted by that Entrant in any manner for non-commercial purposes, including but not limited to reproducing each such entry on the Promoters’ educational learning materials, publicity materials, websites and social media channels.

10. Publication of entries

10.1. All Entries (including the drawing or photograph accompanying the story) may be featured in the Promoters’ educational learning materials and publicity materials including, but not limited to, the Promoters’ websites and social media channels, specifically Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

10.2. Where an entry (including the drawing or photograph accompanying the story) is used in any of the Promoters’ educational learning materials or publicity materials, the Entrant of such winning entry will be credited using their first name only, unless the Entrant’s parent or guardian has requested that they are not credited.

11. Removal or disqualification of entries

11.1. HES reserves the right to disqualify any Entrants that breach these Competition terms and conditions or any entries that, in the sole opinion of HES, are in any way obscene, violent, abusive, discriminatory, defamatory, fraudulent or otherwise unlawful or would damage the reputation of the Promoters.

11.2. Where condition 1 applies, HES shall remove any affected entries from the Competition and shall remove such affected entries from the Promoter’s websites or social media channels (where such entries have been published).

12. General

12.1. These Competition Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Scotland. By entering into this Competition, each Entrant (or where the Entrant is under 18 years their parent or guardian on the Entrant’s behalf) agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.

12.2. HES reserves the right to cancel this Competition at any time. HES reserves the right to amend these rules without notice by posting changes to HES’s website (https://www.historicenvironment.scot/sgriobh-is-aithris). HES will only notify Entrants (or the Entrant’s parent or guardian as applicable) of changes if we are required to do so by law.

12.3. Insofar as is permitted by law, HES will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate any Entrant or an Entrant’s parent or guardian or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of entering into the Competition or taking up a Prize except where it is caused by the negligence of HES or that of its employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.