Islands

Scotland’s islands are profoundly important to our identity as a nation, contributing hugely to our culture, economy and society. The Scottish Government is working alongside our islands to build empowered, sustainable and successful communities.

The Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 was granted Royal Assent in July 2018 and was an important milestone in delivering on this vision. Scotland’s island specific legislation introduced measures designed to recognise and help meet the distinct needs of our islands now and in the future. These measures included the development and publication of the National Islands Plan and a legal requirement to ‘island proof’ policies, strategies and services through Island Communities Impact Assessments.

This page covers:

• The National Islands Plan
• Island Community Impact Assessments (ICIA)
• The Carbon Neutral Islands Project
• The Islands Programme
• The Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund

For more information on the work the Scottish Government is doing to support islands please see Empowering our island communities.

The National Islands Plan

A provision of the Act, Scotland’s first National Islands Plan was launched in 2019.   It provides a framework for action in order to meaningfully improve outcomes for island communities and provides the tools to help our islands thrive. The content of the Plan is rich and diverse, featuring 13 Strategic Objectives spanning from transport and housing, to environment and culture.

Scottish Ministers submit Annual Reports to the Scottish Parliament to provide updates on the progress made towards the Plan’s objectives  and publish Implementation Route Maps which explain how they intend to deliver the Plan going forward. All published reports can be found below:

• National Islands Plan: Annual Report 2020
• National Islands Plan: Annual Report 2021
• National Islands Plan: Annual Report 2022
• National Islands Plan: Annual Report 2023
• National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2020 – 2025
• National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2022
• National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2023
• National Islands Plan: Implementation Route Map 2024

The National Islands Plan  seeks to ensure that the needs of island communities are fully taken into account in decision-making, as close as possible to where the effects of such decisions will be felt. The implementation of the National Islands Plan is supported by the Islands Strategic Group.

In 2023-2024, as required by the Islands Act, the National Islands Plan was fully reviewed to make sure it remained fit for purpose. The National Islands Plan Review consultation offered everyone with an interest in Scotland’s islands the opportunity to contribute views and help us decide what the next steps should be in relation to the National Islands Plan.

On 23 April 2024, the Scottish Government published an independent analysis of the consultation results. We have welcomed the findings and remain committed to working with communities to co-develop and co-deliver policies that address islanders’ priorities. We are learning and building on the first Plan and development of a new one is now underway for publication in 2025.

Island Community Impact Assessments (ICIA)

Scotland’s islands face challenges around distance, geography, connectivity and demography, so it is important that policy makers consider these properly. From 23 December 2020, the Scottish Government and 70 other relevant authorities have a duty to consider whether an island community impact assessment (ICIA) is required when developing or reviewing policies, strategies or services. An ICIA is required where the policy, strategy or service is likely to have a significant different effect on island communities versus other communities (including other island communities).

Full guidance and a list of relevant authorities can be found via the links below:

• Islands community impact assessment (ICIA) guidance and toolkit
• ICIA Beginners Guide –  Video (English)
• ICIA Beginners Guide – Video (Gaelic)
• ICIA Beginners Guide – Video (BSL)
• ‘Island-Proofing’ your work Introducing Island Communities Impact Assessments (ICIA)
• ‘A’ Dìon-Eilein’ do chuid obrach A’ cur an aithne Measadh Buaidh air Coimhearsnachdan Eileanach (MBCE)
• Contact e-mails of relevant authorities
• Review of Island Communities Impact Assessments Decisions (Scotland) Act 2018

The Islands Programme

The Islands Programme is an important element in the delivery of the National Islands Plan. This capital investment supports the six island local authorities to fund the improvement, creation or safeguarding of locally developed infrastructure projects that align with the Strategic Objectives of the National Islands Plan.

Since 2021-22, the Islands Programme has distributed just over £15 million in support of 71 projects on 51 different islands, including £3 million in the 2024-25 financial year.

Further information on eligibility and the application process are available here.

Details of the 2024-25 successful applications can be found here.

The Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund

Since December 2022, our Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund has distributed £3.4 million to support island households facing cost-of-living pressures. This includes a further £1 million in 2024-25. The initiative was developed to specifically recognise and tackle the challenges faced by island communities and to help local authorities support islanders who are most affected.

The six island local authorities decide where funding will be directed based on their local knowledge and understanding of the impacts of the cost crisis on their islands. Previous initiatives funded by the Fund include food bank grants, Love Local food voucher cards and free school breakfasts.

To contact us, please email info@islandsteam.scot.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/scottishislandsact

Twitter/X: Scottish Islands Team (@IslandsTeamSG)