Funding for Scottish islands

During a visit to Shetland, Scottish first minister John Swinney is set to announce a £5 million package for Scotland's island communities.

The funding is intended to support island communities to tackle local issues and invest in new opportunities that will help deliver a more prosperous future.

The money will include a new £1 million scheme to support the six carbon neutral islands to reach net zero by 2040; an additional £1 million round of the Island Cost Crisis Emergency Fund to help communities tackle increasing costs, distributed to the six island authorities on a population basis, helping to tackle poverty; and an additional £3 million funding to support locally designed critical island infrastructure projects during a visit to COPE Shetland, the Island’s leading centre for community reuse and recycling.

First Minister John Swinney said: “I have made it clear that I will be First Minister for everyone in Scotland – including our island communities who face a number of unique challenges but have enormous potential.

“Islanders have been clear that more needs to be done to help them fulfil their ambitions and that is why we are developing a new National islands Plan, to be published next year.

“We will listen to island communities, and speak with local authorities to ensure the new plan meets their needs.

“In the meantime we will continue to invest in our Islands Programme, which over the last three financial years, has distributed over £12 million to support of 61 projects on 50 islands.”