Boost for island communities

Funding for island projects to deliver critical infrastructure, boost local economies and improve access to services has been announced by First Minister John Swinney.

Thirteen projects across twelve islands will share in the Scottish Government’s £3 million 2026-27 Islands Programme Fund. Delivering on the visions and objectives of the National Islands Plan launched in February, the projects will all help retain and attract people to live and work in Scotland’s island communities.

The recipients include:

• A project to regenerate two neglected buildings on Skye into multi-use community hubs. These will include childcare space, gym space, arts and craft workshop spaces, and rentable units for small local businesses.
• A project to establish a permanent veterinary facility on Tiree. This will used by local crofters, helping safeguard the future of crofting on this island.
• A project to modernise and expand training facilities within the UHI Scalloway Campus, helping young people access skill development opportunities on the island.

First Minister John Swinney announced the successful funding recipients ahead of a visit to the Grimsay Heritage Centre. The centre will receive £600,000 to strengthen its role as a cultural and economic hub for the local community, supporting population retention and attracting new people to live and work on the island.

First Minister John Swinney said:

“Our island communities have so much potential, and this funding will help them pursue ambitions rooted in local priorities, strengthening their long-term resilience and prosperity. From delivering critical infrastructure to offering opportunities for small businesses, these projects will support employment, generate revenue and improve community wellbeing.

“The Scottish Government is committed to making islands even more attractive places for people to live, work and raise families –securing the populations and livelihoods that island communities need to create a sustainable future.

“Grimsay Heritage Centre is a fantastic example of how a strong community hub can benefit the local area, serving both as a social space, visitor attraction and a beacon of local heritage. This funding will help the centre to strengthen its contribution to the local economy and deliver a wider range of initiatives for the benefit of its community.”

Sara Stewart, Centre Manager at Grimsay Community Association said:

“We are delighted to welcome Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, to Ceann na h-Àirigh. The £600,000 landmark investment will help create a lasting community hub, protecting Grimsay’s unique maritime, crofting and cultural heritage while expanding opportunities for local people and visitors. It is a significant step towards securing a vibrant future for the island, ensuring Ceann na h-Àirigh continues to bring the community together and share Grimsay’s story for generations to come.”

Councillor John Finlayson, chair of Highland Council’s Eilean a’ Cheo committee, said:

“I was delighted to hear the very positive news regarding the Islands’ Programme Award for the Gaeltec Community Hub in Dunvegan. Having worked with the Dunvegan Community Trust in recent times to support their activities and move forward this exciting project, I know how important this award will be in supporting the ambitions the community have for the building and the many opportunities it will provide for people of all ages.

“The development of this project again shows what can be achieved when the Scottish Government, The Highland Council and the local community work in partnership to achieve shared goals.”

The projects receiving funds through the Scottish Government’s 2026-27 Islands Programme are:

The Islands Programme capital funding scheme invests in critical island infrastructure that supports the objectives of the Scottish Government’s new National Islands Plan, with an emphasis on population retention and attraction.

This additional £3 million brings the total volume of funding disbursed through the Islands Programme to £22.7 million since 2021-22. To date, the fund has made over 100 awards in support of 57 islands.

This also aligns with the strategic objectives of the Scottish Government’s Addressing Depopulation Action Plan and builds on the nearly £1.5 million funding provided to a total of ten local authorities and two regional economic development agencies to deliver pathfinder interventions that support sustainable communities in depopulating areas.

More information on the Scottish Government’s island policy: www.gov.scot/islands

Taic-airgid do choimhearsnachdan eileanach

Pròiseactan eileanach gu bhith a’ co-roinn maoineachadh de £3 millean.

Chaidh maoineachadh do phròiseactan eileanach fhoillseachadh leis a’ Phrìomh Mhinistear John Swinney airson bun-structar riatanach a lìbhrigeadh, spionnadh a chur ann an eaconamaidhean ionadail agus cothrom dhaoine air seirbheisean a leasachadh.

Bidh trì pròiseactan deug thar dà eilean dheug a’ co-roinn £3 millean bho Mhaoin Prògraman nan Eilean 2026-27 le Riaghaltas na h-Alba. Tro bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh na lèirsinn is nan amasan ann am Plana Nàiseanta nan Eilean a chuireadh air bhog sa Ghearran, bidh na pròiseactan uile nan cuideachadh le bhith a’ cumail agus a’ tàladh dhaoine do choimhearsnachdan eileanach na h-Alba airson fuireach agus obair ann.

Am measg nam pròiseactan a gheibh taic-airgid, tha na leanas ann:

• Pròiseact gus dà thogalach thrèigte ath-nuadhachadh anns an Eilean Sgitheanach, ’s iad gan tionndadh nan ionadan coimhearsnachd ioma-chleachdaidh. Gabhaidh seo a-steach àite cùraim-chloinne, rùm airson gym, àitichean bùtha-obrach airson ealain is ceàrdan, agus ionadan air mhàl do ghnìomhachasan beaga ionadail;
• Pròiseact gus goireas maireannach do chùram bheathaichean a stèidheachadh ann an Tiriodh. Thèid seo a chleachdadh le croitearan às an sgìre, airson ’s gun gabh àm ri teachd croitearachd san eilean seo a ghlèidheadh;
• Pròiseact gus goireasan-trèanaidh ùrachadh agus a mheudachadh taobh a-staigh campas OGE ann an Scalloway, mar thaic do dhaoine òga le bhith a’ sireadh chothroman anns an eilean gus an cuid sgilean a leasachadh.

Dh’ainmich am Prìomh Mhinistear John Swinney na pròiseactan a gheibh maoineachadh air thoiseach air an turas aige do dh’Ionad Dualchas Ghriomasaigh. Gheibh an t-ionad £600,000, airson pàirt nas motha a chluich mar ghoireas cultarail is eaconamach sa choimhearsnachd ionadail, ’s e a’ cumail taic ri oidhirpean gus àireamhan-sluaigh a ghlèidheadh agus daoine ùra a thàladh dhan eilean airson fuireach agus obair ann.

Thuirt am Prìomh Mhinistear John Swinney na leanas:

“Tha na h-uiread de chothroman an lùib nan coimhearsnachdan eileanach againn, agus cumaidh am maoineachadh seo taic riutha le bhith a’ ruigsinn àrd-amasan a tha stèidhichte air prìomhachasan ionadail, agus le bhith a’ neartachadh seasmhachd is soirbheas nan àitichean seo san ùine fhada. Eadar a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh bun-structar riatanach agus a’ toirt chothroman do ghnìomhachasan beaga, bidh na pròiseactan seo a’ cumail taic ri cosnadh, a’ cruthachadh teachd a-steach, agus a’ leasachadh math nan coimhearsnachdan againn.

“Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba dìcheallach eileanan a dhèanamh nan àitichean fiù ’s nas tarraingiche do dhaoine a tha airson fuireach, obair agus teaghlach a thogail ann. Bidh seo a’ glèidheadh an t-sluaigh agus nam beòshlaintean a dh’fheumas coimhearsnachdan eileanach airson àm ri teachd seasmhach a thogail.

“’S e Ionad Dualchas Ghriomasaigh sàr-eisimpleir dhen dòigh anns an gabh buannachdan a thoirt dhan sgìre ionadail le ionad coimhearsnachd làidir, ’s e na àite a tha sòisealta, a tharraingeas luchd-tadhail, agus a shamhlaicheas dualchas ionadail. Cumaidh am maoineachadh seo taic ris an ionad le bhith a’ neartachadh na chuireas e ris an eaconamaidh ionadail agus a’ lìbhrigeadh farsaingeachd nas motha de dh’iomairtean do mhath na coimhearsnachd ma thimcheall.”

Thuirt Sara Stewart, Stiùiriche Ionaid aig Comunn Choimhearsnachd Ghriomasaigh, na leanas:

“Tha sinn air ar dòigh fàilte a chur air Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba, John Swinney, aig Ceann na h-Àirigh. Bidh an tasgadh-airgid eachdraidheil seo de £600,000 na chuideachadh dhuinn le bhith a’ cruthachadh ionad coimhearsnachd a mhaireas, a dhìonas dualchas cultarail, croitearachd agus na mara a tha sònraichte do Ghriomasaigh, agus a bheir tuilleadh chothroman do mhuinntir an àite agus do luchd-tadhail. ’S e ceum air leth cudromach a th’ ann nar n-oidhirp gus àm ri teachd beòthail a ghlèidheadh dhan eilean, airson ’s gum bi Ceann na h-Àirigh fhathast a’ toirt na coimhearsnachd còmhla agus a’ taisbeanadh eachdraidh Ghriomasaigh fad ghinealaichean ri teachd.”