Supporting healthier lifestyles on Scottish islands

People living on Scottish islands will soon benefit from a new fund to influence healthier lifestyles on the islands through community-led wellness initiatives.

The Healthy Islands Fund will help to deliver these initiatives with £1.3 million of funding from the Scottish Government from the wider £30 million Islands Programme and it will be managed by Inspiring Scotland.

It has been designed to align with existing islands initiatives and will focus on building local capacity to increase well-being, foster connections and promote healthy and resilient islanders and communities - helping them to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Announcing the new fund while visiting the Orkney islands, Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “We believe that community groups such as sports clubs, mental health service providers and other local island-based partners are best placed to convene and co-produce ideas for grant funding, so local ‘ownership’ is being built into the Healthy Islands Fund from the outset. 

“The Healthy Islands Fund will also support delivery of the commitments in the National Islands Plan which promote participation and equality in physical activity.”

CEO of Inspiring Scotland Celia Tennant said:“Inspiring Scotland is delighted to be managing the Healthy Islands Fund, which will support island communities to come together safely to connect and boost their wellbeing. Last year Inspiring Scotland managed Scottish Government’s Islands Green Recovery Programme, which successfully funded green recovery projects in 21 island communities. This new funding stream will provide additional support, dovetailing with other Scottish Government initiatives like the Island Communities Fund, and have a greater positive impact on islanders and their communities.”

Details of how to apply will soon be announced.