Posted on

Full programme for Island Gathering

Only a few weeks to go before the Island Gathering on Grimsay. It will bring together participants from islands across Scotland and Ireland. Have a look at the PROGRAMME here. If you are interested in participating in the event, please get in touch with Theona Morrison (theona@codel.scot).

With the focus of the Smart Islands project on YOUNGER PEOPLE who are returning, settling or staying on islands, we are particularly keen to involve younger participants (the Scottish definition of a young crofter, and the European definition of a young farmer is below 40).

For those coming from outside Uist there is some hostel accommodation available — please ask us for details.

Posted on

Latest news and website from CoDeL

We launch CoDeL’s new website today. Thank you to Liam Crouse for revamping the website.

Our Islands Revival blog is coming to a close, and has brought together some great posts from islands across Scotland, as well as from Arranmore in Ireland, Prince Edward Island in Canada and from the Caribbean. The project’s concluding workshop will be held at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye at the end of August 2019. Continue reading “Latest news and website from CoDeL”

Posted on

Launch of the Smart Islands project

We are excited to be launching the Smart Islands project with funding from Leader Action Groups in the Outer Hebrides and the four counties of Ireland with islands. Our first big event will be the gathering of island representatives from across Scotland and Ireland on Grimsay in Uist during the week September 30th to October 4th. In addition to sessions to share knowledge and experience on a wide range of island topics, the week will also include the AGM and annual gathering of the Scottish Islands Federation, and a video link to the presentation of the draft Islands Plan to the Scottish Parliament. Continue reading “Launch of the Smart Islands project”

Posted on

Conundrums on Population Trends: Happiness, young people, children, jobs

The common perception is that island populations are in decline and that lack of jobs is the key driver behind such decline. On the other hand, surveys reveal that the Highlands and Islands are the best place in Scotland to live and more young people want to stay or settle there, while many island jobs remain unfilled. So what do we make of these apparent contradictions? Continue reading “Conundrums on Population Trends: Happiness, young people, children, jobs”

Posted on

How island communities are seeking to boost their populations, and succeeding

Lewis & Uist, Mull & Iona, Eigg & Bute, Westray, and Caribbean islands also, show how much island communities are doing to turn around population … through housing, culture, identity, land ownership, social enterprise, young people, jobs, enterprise, island diasporas, integrating refugees ….  The posts on the Islands Revival blog keep coming, with more to appear shortly from Harris, Lewis, Kerrera, Colonsay, Barra.  Go here to find out more, and also follow us on Twitter @islandsrevival Continue reading “How island communities are seeking to boost their populations, and succeeding”

Posted on

Welcome to CoDeL’s new website!

We are still constructing this site. But there has been a lot of interest in our research on young people on Uist in the Outer Hebrides, so we wanted to make our report available to everyone as soon as possible. CoDeL is now developing a leadership programme for young people on Uist, and preparing to present at the Scottish Rural Parliament in Stranraer in November.