What’s new?
About us
What is the Young Islander’s Network? How did we get started? Where are we going?
Our projects
We run lots of projects and events for young islanders across the Scottish islands.
Latest news
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Housing Roadshow!
This year, we have partnered with Argyll Community Housing Association to take a roadshow to Argyll & Bute. We’ll be visiting the islands to deliver workshops and hear from young people across primary and secondary schools. What is important in your place, and what makes the community yours? What unique challenges are you facing and what could be improved? We will…
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A Year of island identity and stories
Over the next year, Young Islanders Network will be working with young people across Scotland’s islands to gather stories from as many of Scotland’s 93 inhabited islands as possible. We want to hear what shapes your island’s culture, identity, and heritage. Maybe there’s a story people tell about your island. It could be a festival, sporting event, club, committee, tradition or place…
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Take Part in the Ferry Travel Challenge!
Following the success of our previous work on the transport challenge and ferry safety challenge which helped to shape the National Islands Plan, we are continuing our mission to have young islanders heard voices. Since the introduction of the Under 22s discounted ferry, we know that not all young islanders benefit from this. Mack, our Transport Rep and co-opted member of the…
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Island Voice Drop In Zoom
Are you a member of a youth voice platform or pupil parliament? Or do you live on one of the smaller islands with no youth voice group? Join us on our monthly lunchtime drop-in sessions on Zoom. Meet new friends, explore opportunities to get involved with YIN online and in person and most importantly, let us now what’s important to your…
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Mental Health Champions
YIN has partnered with Change Mental Health to co-produce a training programme that is island proofed. With over five decades of supporting people across Scotland, Change Mental Health is rooted in the reality of what people go through and informed by lived experience. We’re teaming up to co-produce an islands training programme for Mental Health Champions. There will be opportunities to be part of the design consultation, or you might…
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YIN Challenges
Take part in our Icons Challenge and Islander Challenge. Are you a group or school looking for an accredited award that gives young people the opportunity to exercise their right in decision making? Our challenges are fun, flexible and adaptable, suitable from age 8. They take around 5 hours to complete and explore what it is like to be an islander,…
Amazing to see Cumbrae Youth Project benefitting from The Scottish Government funding having an impact on young people across islands! … See MoreSee Less
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The great thing about our network is our young members sharing opportunities across the islands! Big thanks to SYPs that attend our full group meetings for sharing this last night.
Current elections are now open for Orkney and North Ayrshire for elections taking place in November.
elections.syp.org.uk/elections/
Scottish Youth Parliament Arran Youth Foundations Orkney Youth Forum Community Learning & Development Orkney Orkney YLAG Millport Youth Club … See MoreSee Less
SYP Elections
elections.syp.org.uk
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We loved meeting with Stronsay Development Trust and catching up with the Scottish Government Islands team to chat about the Addressing Depopulation project to pilot ways in which outer isles young people can access opportunities in Mainland Orkney.
Our Rep Liz also had the chance to meet the Heritage Society to hear about their plans. Our Young Islanders Network Rep is working with the Heritage Group on an audio project to share island stories about artefacts and exhibition pieces that will be used in future exhibitions. … See MoreSee Less
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Amazing to be involved with our partners at Western Isles Youth Services with a focus on transportEilean Siar Youth Conference – Lewis and Harris
On Tuesday 19 May, almost a hundred S2 and S3 pupils from Sir E Scott School and the Nicolson Institute took part in the Eilean Siar Youth Lewis and Harris Conference, designed to ensure their voices are heard by local decision makers.
The event, organised by Community Learning and Development (CLD) and Education staff from the Comhairle, brought together pupils from across the islands for a day of discussion, workshops and direct conversations with senior staff from local services. While adults often speak about what young people need, the Eilean Siar Youth conference gave young people the opportunity to explain their experiences and opinions in their own words.
The day began with a video introduction from the Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament for the Western Isles, who welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of young people taking part in discussions about their communities and future.
John Loughton, the new Chief Executive of Young Scot (the national youth information and citizenship charity in Scotland), compered the event, guiding pupils through a varied programme focused on issues that affect young people both online and in everyday island life.
Throughout the day, pupils took part in workshops covering youth voice, recognising misinformation online and the Young Islanders Network focused on the National Islands Plan. Speakers travelled from the mainland to support the sessions and encourage discussion. The workshops allowed pupils to share ideas, ask questions and consider how decisions made at local and national level can affect island communities.
One of the strongest messages from the conference was the importance of listening to young people directly. Many pupils spoke about the challenges they face and the changes they would like to see in services used by young people. The sessions also highlighted how informed and thoughtful young people can be when given the chance to contribute.
The conference concluded with a Q&A panel featuring senior representatives from NHS Western Isles, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Police Scotland. During the session, young people questioned decision makers on a range of issues affecting their daily lives. The panel heard honest views and gained a clearer understanding of how policies and decisions can have a direct impact on young people living in island communities.
For many adults attending the event, the discussions were a reminder that young people are not only the future of island communities but also active members of them today. Anne Graham, Quality Improvement Officer, said: “We are delighted that the conference has been successful, developing a broader approach to youth voice across organisations and our local authority. We are proud of every voice that contributed – and excited to see the actions that come from their contributions. We are currently working alongside our Community Learning and Development team and third sector services to plan and deliver a Youth Conference for our Uist and Barra learners.”
Erica Clark, CLD Officer, said: “The youth conference was a fast-moving day with lots of opportunities for the young people to express their opinions. We had so many questions for the panel, that we didn’t even get a chance to answer half of them!”
The CLD team will be following up on all the questions submitted at the Q&A session as part of their final report on the event, which will be fed back to the pupils, schools and partner agencies, ensuring young people’s voices are listened to.
The Eilean Siar Youth team would like to thank all the young people who took part for their enthusiasm, along with the partner agencies, panel members and speakers whose valuable support made the day possible. … See MoreSee Less
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Transport Scotland are continuing their needs assessments across the islands.
Next up is Kerrera on 11th June. Drop in to have your say! … See MoreSee Less
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Transport Scotland are continuing their Needs Assessment sessions.
Next up is Tiree on 10th June. Pop in and have your say on ferry and transport on yor island. … See MoreSee Less
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