The Scottish Government has launched the second National Islands Plan, setting out how it aims to support island communities over the coming years with a particular focus on population retention and attraction.
Launching the Plan alongside a visit to Orkney and Shetland, First Minister John Swinney said:
‘Island communities are a key national asset and are central to our vision of Scotland as a successful country in which to live, work and study.
‘Islanders have told us clearly what they need to pursue their ambitions: homes they can afford, transport they can rely on, and more accessible local services – this plan will deliver for our island communities. It is focused, it is practical, and it puts islanders in the driving seat of their own future. ‘When our islands thrive, Scotland thrives.’
The Plan includes targeted actions across seven strategic objectives, including commitments around more affordable homes, improving access to childcare, exploring permanent transport links (including bridges and tunnels) to improve connectivity and further work to pilot remote diagnosis technology to improve access to medical advice.
The seven strategic objectives in the Plan
- Connectivity – improving transport links and digital coverage to strengthen two-way access to markets, jobs and services
- Housing – delivering more affordable homes and making sure the right types of housing are available where people need them
- Health and social care – making it easier to access services closer to home, including through video consultations and remote diagnosis
- Economy, education and skills – supporting local businesses, creating jobs and giving islanders opportunities to learn and train locally
- Climate, nature and energy – helping islands move to clean energy, protect their environment and benefit from renewable energy projects
- Poverty and social justice – tackling higher living costs on islands and making sure people can access the support they need
- Empowered communities and culture – supporting local leadership, building community capacity and supporting island cultures, languages and heritage
The Plan also includes actions to promote Gaelic and island languages, including Orcadian and Shetlandic, alongside an island scholarship pilot scheme for postgraduate students. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP said of the Young Islanders Network (YIN):
‘The Young Islanders Network has been a close and valued partner throughout the development of the Plan, working collaboratively with the Scottish Government to design and deliver a programme of engagement activities that enabled islanders from diverse backgrounds to contribute their views on the first Plan and to inform the development of the new framework. In parallel, you have provided considered advice and constructive recommendations that have significantly strengthened the policy process.’
Louise McQuaid, Young Islanders Network Senior Development Worker said:
‘The Young Islanders Network (YIN) is delighted to see the release of the New National Islands Plan and we are particularly pleased that some of our key feedback can be seen in the actions of the new plan. We welcome the continued support for YIN within the plan and look forward to helping ensure that the voices of young islanders are heard and able to influence decision making which affects their lives.’
What happens next
YIN will move into the delivery of the commitments, embedding young islanders directly within National Islands Plan structures. This will include capacity-building around inclusion Place Plans and our continued commitment in key policy areas of transport, housing, mental health, climate and culture.
As we build on our youth-led approach, YIN will strengthen youth champions and representatives across islands, expand engagement to underrepresented communities and age groups.
The programme will also prioritise wellbeing through Mental Health Champions training and cultural identity through heritage and language initiatives, providing young islanders with opportunities to share and celebrate their culture on and off island, ensuring that youth voice is not a parallel consultation but fully integrated into decision-making that supports population sustainability and empowered island communities. In the meantime, you can read the Scottish Government announcement and explore the Plan and the Easy Read version via the links included in that release.