Young Islanders Network has been on the road in Argyll and Bute, kicking off Phase 1 of the roadshow with young people from Bute, Islay and Jura in June.
The roadshow came from a call to action from young YIN members. After seeing the impact young people have had by being part of transport decision-making, they wanted to see the same thing happen in housing too. The message was that young islanders should not just be asked what they think once. They should be part of the conversations that shape what happens next.
That idea has grown into a wider piece of work linked to the National Islands Plan, supporting young people to build their confidence, skills and knowledge around Place Plans, community assessments and local decision-making as one of the commitments set in the plan.
Phase 1 was delivered in partnership with Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA), who answered the call to action supporting young people to turn their ideas into small, local impact pitches. This gave each group the chance to think about what would make life better in their own community, then pitch for funding to help make it happen.
And there were some brilliant ideas.
First stop: Bute
On Bute, we worked with S4 young people from Rothesay Academy, who were joined by the Chair of the Community Council for the pitching session.
This was a great chance for young people to speak directly into the development of the local Place Plan, sharing what they like about Bute, what frustrates them, and what they think could make the island better for young people.
Their ideas included expanding or improving the council gym, adding more equipment for island residents, and making the putting green feel more appealing and useful for young people. The pavilion was also raised, with young people talking about delays, rising costs and hopes for the rebuild.
The winning pitch went to Bute Youth Theatre Group. Their pitch focused on creating more opportunities through theatre, giving young people the chance to perform, build confidence, gain new experiences and work towards additional skills and qualifications.
The funding will support lighting and set materials, as the group currently only has access to a studio space. It will also help make performances more welcoming and accessible for audiences.
Islay
On Islay, the roadshow brought together young people from Bowmore, Port Ellen and Port Charlotte.
There was lots of energy in the room, with young people talking about the need for more things to do, more places to meet, and better spaces to relax during the school day. There were many conversations about the impact of high living costs and the impact of transport and ferry cancellations on opportunities for young people, particularly attending and accessing sporting competitions off island.
Ideas included support for lunchtime clubs, more sports equipment, and an intergenerational “tea and talk” project using local businesses to bring young people and older people together. The winning pitch was a collaborative idea focused on safe and welcoming spaces for young people.
Port Ellen young people decided they wanted the funding to reach further. Their idea was to split the support across all four island primary schools, helping each school create a wellbeing safe space for pupils. It was a lovely example of young people thinking beyond their own classroom and looking at how more children across Islay could benefit.
Port Ellen pupils are also continuing their journey by joining YIN’s pilot lunchtime Island Voice meetings, taking forward ideas from young people that can have a real local impact.
Jura
Jura hosted the final Phase 1 session at Small Isles Primary, with pupils from Keills Primary travelling over by ferry from Islay to take part. This brought an important rural perspective into the roadshow.
Keills young people spoke about the 40mph speed limit near their school and their hopes to campaign for it to be reduced. They also shared honesty box ideas, reflecting the reality of living somewhere without a local shop and thinking creatively about how communities can support each other.
Jura pupils raised a mix of local issues and ideas. They talked about the wider impact of the local private estate, including how local people do not always feel able to access opportunities such as the golf course, apart from some employment.
They also spoke about road safety and the need for better signage around the school.
Their pitches included improving the pier area with raised beds and community gardening, and supporting the care home with raised beds to create a nicer outdoor space.
One of the strongest messages from Jura was about communication. Young people said they want updates from decision makers, even when work is delayed or nothing is happening straight away. They were clear that consultation should not be a one-off thing. If young people are asked for their views at the start, they want to know what happens next.
The reality of island living and travel meant that the pitches weren’t fully developed, but with joint Headteacher, we are supporting both Islay and Jura to reach their impact by supporting both to grow these ideas.
What young people told us
Across Bute, Islay and Jura, young people shared plenty of positives about island life.
They talked about strong communities, beautiful places, knowing the people around you, being close to nature, and feeling proud of where they come from. They were also very honest about what could be better. Transport came up repeatedly. Ferries, buses, cost, reliability and missed opportunities all affect how young people get to clubs, activities, appointments, sports, shops and the mainland.
Housing and everyday services were also big topics. Young people noticed empty houses, limited housing options, second homes, the cost of living, and the pressure this puts on families and communities.
There was lots of chat about places to go and things to do. Young people value beaches, outdoor spaces, clubs, sport and community events, but they also want more safe, fun and affordable options, especially in the evenings, weekends and holidays.
When it came to the future, young people had plenty to say about jobs, training, college, leaving the island, staying on the island, and what would make island life possible as they grow up.
What happens next?
YIN will feed the local feedback into Argyll & bBute Council community development officers, local community councils and will continue to support young people with the campaigns and ideas they want to take forward.
The roadshow will also help build on the success of young people having a seat at the table in transport, by supporting more young islanders to get involved in housing, Place Plans, community assessments and delivery of the National Islands Plan.
A huge thank you to all the young people, schools and partners who took part, and to ACHA for supporting the roadshow and helping young people take their ideas one step further through the Community Grants.
Phase 1 was full of honest conversations, brilliant ideas and lots of island insight.
Next step…
Phase 2 will continue in August with the roadshow hitting Oban, Tiree, Mull and Coll.
This will include hearing from young people who live on islands but board in Oban during the school week to access education, bringing in another important part of the island experience. By visiting both island communities and the hostel accommodation linked to Oban High School, YIN will hear more about what support young people need at home, at school, while travelling, and while living away from their island during term time.
Some photos of our amazing mascot Claudio on tour!
