SCOTLAND’S leading organisation tasked with promoting and supporting the Scots language is facing closure amid criminal allegations, board resignations, halted operations, and concerns over the future of public funding.
Documents seen by The National reveal a breakdown in governance that has left the charity effectively non-functional, just months before its accounts are due to be filed and its core Scottish Government funding reviewed.
The Scots Language Centre was founded by the late councillor John Law and for many years was based at the AK Bell Library in Perth. It is now mainly an online organisation, promoting Scots and providing information about the language to a variety of users and public bodies.
Concerns have been raised with both OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) and the Scottish Government about potential misappropriation of funds, and the legality of decisions made during an allegedly unauthorised board meeting held in March.
Treasurer Susan Grant wrote in a formal letter to the Government: “The board were deliberately misled and given false information ... This led to the board approving a series of payments to all individuals working for the centre."
That version of events is disputed by centre director, Michael Dempster.
The allegations relate to payments made following a March 24 board meeting that its treasurer was reportedly not invited to.
According to multiple sources, decisions made at that meeting – including salary payments and changes to financial operations – were rushed through without due oversight or qualification.
In the weeks that followed, Grant attempted repeatedly to raise concerns with the centre’s chair and other board members.
Bold and two other board members resigned immediately after receiving the report, leaving three other members. Two have also since resigned, leaving Grant as the sole trustee of the charity. She has recused herself to maintain impartiality during the investigation.
With no functioning board, the centre does not comply with regulations governing charities and is effectively out of action.
An email from the Scottish Government’s Gaelic and Scots Division, seen by The National, advises Grant to report the matter directly to OSCR and to consider contacting Police Scotland.
It confirms that until governance issues are resolved, future grant payments – including a key October instalment – may not be released.
“We are very sorry to hear of these difficulties,” the email states. “The most urgent step for you to take is to contact OSCR.”
Staff at the centre have expressed shock at the government’s response, particularly since Holyrood recently passed its Languages Act.
Staff have said they expected a more “interventionist approach” given that the centre is the main Government-funded body delivering on the SNP’s manifesto commitments on Scots.
One source said: “The civil service attitude seems to be, ‘go away and don’t bother us’, This is dismaying after so many years of working closely with the Government.
“If the centre is unable to pay for its website, the information and resources contained in it could be lost as early as August.
"We are shocked at how unbothered the civil servants appear to be about this.”
The Scottish Government declined to comment, pointing to the OSCR.
In a lengthy email to staff, Dempster describes the treasurer’s correspondence as “incomplete and incorrect” and accuses Grant of refusing to engage constructively.
“Due to the governance issues, the inability for the charity to remit invoices, and other issues, I am finding lawyers unwilling to engage with the matters. I will persevere,” he wrote.
He also suggests that the allegations are being “fully investigated” by OSCR, should not be treated as fact, and disputed any wrongdoing.
Staff remain in limbo. According to one, who asked not to be named, communications have dried up and day-to-day work is no longer being published on the centre’s website – reportedly because editorial access remains with Dempster.
It is understood staff have more than 15 articles written by staff "remain unpublished”.
Grant told the Government: “The centre is not operating effectively. No communication is taking place and staff members are concerned.”
Dempster had told staff: “I am unsure if we can be laid off until we can work again, as there is both work to be done and … workers and employees would be paid whilst they are laid off.”
There are now fears the charity’s annual accounts – as things stand – will not be signed off due to the ongoing row.
An OSCR spokesperson said: "OSCR has received concerns about the charity and is engaging with those involved to understand the issues raised.
"Any potential criminal matters fall outside OSCR’s remit and would be for Police Scotland to consider."
Dempster and Grant have been contacted for comment.
