On 27 March, Scottish Islands Federation hosted a members evening coinciding with the AGM. Chaired by Vice Chair Luke Fraser, the event brought together a diverse range of voices, from longstanding board members to Scottish Government representatives and island community members. It was a celebration of SIF’s work and achievements, a spotlight on the current challenges faced, and a moment to look forward to the next steps.
Where have we been?- Sandy Brunton, Isle of Mull
Sandy opened the evening with a historical retrospective, taking us through SIF’s origins. He remembered the early 2000s when Graham Robertson first imagined a unified voice for Scotland’s island communities. From the inception of the Scottish Islands Network (SIN) to the evolution into the Scottish Islands Federation (SIF):
He also acknowledged the challenges of connecting dispersed islanders before the age of Zoom, recalling early conferences, experimental Skype meetings, and community newsletters.
A Thanks to Camille
With Camille Dressler stepping down from her role as Chair after over a decade, the event was used to offer a grateful thanks for all Camille’s hard work and dedication to SIF. Camille shared her journey – from her arriving in the Hebrides to her central role in connecting Scottish islands with their European counterparts.
As demonstrated by her collaboration with the European Small Islands Network (ESIN) which also showcases a commitment to cross-border learning and solidarity.
Camille was thanked for building a voice for islanders in both Holyrood and Brussels, and for her unmatched ability to build bridges across nations, organisations, and communities. Thanks again Camille.
Scottish Government Islands Team
Scottish Government Islands Team representatives Erica Clarkson and Francesco Bertolldi provided an update on the drafting of the new National Islands Plan. With a fresh focus on population retention and attraction, they acknowledged the lessons learned from the previous plan and emphasized a need for greater clarity and community ownership.
They welcomed community input and promised more targeted, measurable objectives in areas such as housing, connectivity, healthcare, climate, and education.
Members from across the islands used this to raise real and pressing concerns to the Scottish Government, such as,
- Terry from Isle of Mull spoke about the impact of educational infrastructure on island depopulation.
- Brian from Climate Hebrides outlined housing challenges and proposed community-integrated retirement housing.
- David highlighted inequities in under-22 ferry fare coverage, questioning gaps in current transport policy.
Strategy
Nicola provided an overview of SIF’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, highlighting its focus on sustainable growth, community empowerment, and responsive policy engagement. Built around five strategic pillars—impact, finance, partnerships, organisational design, and communications—the Plan outlines how SIF will strengthen its network and ensure islanders’ voices remain central to shaping their future. The Strategic Plan will be published in Spring 2025, providing a clear roadmap for SIF’s priorities and ambitions over the next five years.
Working Group Updates
Housing Group – Elizabeth Taggart gave an update on the Housing Working Group which now includes 41 members spanning Scotland’s inhabited islands. The group serves as a collaborative space to tackle pressing challenges in island housing such as affordability, maintenance, land availability, and population sustainability. Elizabeth emphasised how housing constraints directly affect community viability and local economies.
Marine Litter Working Group– Vicky Last, SIFs Marine Litter Development Officer, presented an update on data collection, policy engagement, and public education. The group completed over 170 marine litter surveys, revealing that island beaches experience nearly twice the litter density of the mainland. Their work supports policy reform and promotes new approaches such as using AI and drones to identify and track coastal waste. Vicky highlighted the role of collaboration in managing this global challenge at the local
Their efforts have also included creative outreach campaigns, including the fantastic traveling Highland Cow sculpture made from beach litter, helping bring visibility to marine plastic issues.
Childcare– Ceiteag MacDonald from South Uist spoke passionately about the fragility of rural childcare infrastructure and its direct impact on family life and economic regeneration. The group emerged from a grassroots forum focused on Uist and Barra, now linking with SIF to build a Scotland-wide island childcare network.
The group is working to advocate for flexible, culturally appropriate childcare models that reflect the realities of island living. They are also pushing for regulatory flexibility and support for providers to ensure sustainability in areas with fluctuating child populations.
Thanks to our three speakers and the valuable insight to the work of SIF’s working groups.
A thanks was also extended to the external contractors behind SIF’s communications and marine litter work, and to the Scottish Government and Crown Estate Scotland for the continued funding support.