Further actions being prepared to help island communities thrive

A new strategic plan to support Scotland’s islands will be published next year.

Scotland’s first National Islands Plan was launched in 2019 to strengthen resilience and well-being on the islands by providing the right support to help them thrive.

The refreshed plan is now being developed following extensive community engagements.

It will acknowledge updated priorities for islanders, while continuing to focus on improving outcomes for communities.

The plan will build on the strong sense of community in the islands – with 82 per cent of island residents agreeing or strongly agreeing that they see themselves belonging to their local community – high employment rates and good access to local services.

A public consultation on the current National Islands Plan ran from July-November 2023 and consisted of an online questionnaire and 16 workshops to evaluate the impact of the initiative.

The Scottish Government has now published an independent analysis of the consultation results, which will guide work on the new plan.

Ahead of a visit to the Isle of Lewis on Wednesday, April 24, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison welcomed the publication of the consultation findings.

“The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with communities to co-develop and co-deliver policies that address islanders’ priorities.

“While the first National Islands Plan was found to be comprehensive and ambitious, respondents told us that more needs to be done.

“We know that island communities face issues such as higher living costs than those in other areas, and the new plan will ensure we continue to do our best to support them to address those challenges whilst drawing on their considerable expertise and strengths.”