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”
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”
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”
Turning the Tide on island population
Follow our new blog Islands Revival collecting stories of population turnaround on islands, and identifying ways of supporting such developments through policy and action. We already have three great posts on Uist, Eigg and Mull/Iona. Continue reading “Turning the Tide on island population”
Young leaders
With funding from the Scottish Government, and a partnership with the Social Enterprise Academy, CoDeL is building on its research on young people on Uist by developing a leadership programme for them. Continue reading “Young leaders”
Reversing population decline?
CoDeL presented on its research at the annual gathering of the Scottish Islands Federation in September 2018 on the beautiful island of Tiree. Some island communities are clearly bucking the trend of population decline. Continue reading “Reversing population decline?”
Young People on Uist in the Outer Hebrides
CoDeL’s study of 469 young people on Uist shows a trend of young economically active islanders returning or staying, and young people new to Uist settling on the islands. Just as significant, many of these young people have children. Continue reading “Young People on Uist in the Outer Hebrides”
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.