Strengthening islands resilience

Financial support for island businesses affected by ferry disruption will be made available through the first phase of the £10 million Islands Resilience Fund.

This will provide a further £3 million in 2026-27 to help mitigate the disproportionate impact faced by people and businesses living and operating in Scotland's islands. It builds on the £4.4 million Islands Business Resilience Fund delivered in 2025-26. 

The funding announcement comes ahead of a three-day visit to the Western Isles from the First Minister, during which he will visit Barra, South Uist, Grimsay, Scalpay, Lewis and Harris. His engagements on the islands will cover key areas including housing, energy and community wellbeing.

First Minister John Swinney said:

“Scotland’s islands are home to a wealth of talent, innovation and entrepreneurialism, but too often island businesses are held back by circumstances outside their control.

“The £10 million Islands Resilience Fund was one of our commitments for the first 100 days of government. This fund will support businesses to cope with challenging circumstances, helping them to thrive and ensuring that Scotland’s islands remain attractive places to set up businesses and livelihoods.

“Crucially, this phase of investment will ensure support can be put in place immediately while we establish the foundations for longer-term investment over the course of this Parliament.

“Over the next few days I will meet a wide range of organisations in the Western Isles, where I look forward to discussing more about how the Scottish Government can support island communities to build the resilience needed for a bright future.”

Rachel Hunter, Director of Enterprise and Community Support, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said:

“The Islands Resilience Fund will ensure that support reaches more island communities and sectors experiencing the effects of ferry disruption. By opening eligibility, we can provide practical assistance to businesses and community organisations that have experiences additional costs and challenges beyond their control.

“Working on behalf of the Scottish Government, HIE’s focus will be on delivering the fund and ensuring support reaches those who need it most. Organisations that received support through previous rounds of the IBRF will be contacted directly by HIE, rather than needing to submit an application.

“This investment will help strengthen resilience across our island communities, supporting organisations to adapt, recover and continue contributing to vibrant and sustainable local economies.”

Background

The First Minister will visit the Western Isles from 10 – 12 August.

Islands eligible for the Islands Resilience Fund include Arran, Barra, Benbecula, Berneray, Canna (including Sanday), Coll, Colonsay, Eigg, Eriskay, Gometra, Grimsay, Iona, Islay, Jura, Harris, Muck, Mull, North Uist, Rum, South Uist, Tiree, Ulva, Vatersay and Scalpay.

The fund will be administrated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and will open for applications at midday on Monday 17 August. Further phases of the wider £10 million commitment will be delivered over the lifetime of this Parliament.

A’ neartachadh seasmhachd nan eilean 

A’ chiad chuibhreann de mhaoineachadh luach £10 millean ga fhoillseachadh, ’s am Prìomh Mhinistear a’ tadhal air na h-Eileanan an Iar. 

Bidh taic-airgid ann do ghnìomhachasan eileanach a tha fo bhuaidh nan trioblaidean-aiseig, ’s a’ chiad ìre de Mhaoin Seasmhachd nan Eilean luach £10 millean ga foillseachadh.

Le seo, thèid £3 millean a bharrachd a thoirt seachad ann an 2026-27, airson lùghdachadh a thoirt air a’ bhuaidh neo-chuimsich a tha daoine is gnìomhachasan a’ fulang a tha a’ fuireach is ag obair ann an eileanan na h-Alba. Tha seo a’ togail air Maoin Seasmhachd Gnìomhachasan nan Eilean (IBRF), leis an deach £4.4 millean a lìbhrigeadh ann an 2025-26.

Tha am maoineachadh ga fhoillseachadh air thoiseach air turas a’ Phrìomh Mhinisteir dha na h-Eileanan an Iar a mhaireas trì làithean. Air an turas aige, bidh e a’ tadhal air Barraigh, Uibhist a Deas, Griomasaigh, Sgalpaigh, Leòdhas agus na Hearadh. Bidh an clàr-gnothaich aige anns na h-eileanan a’ gabhail a-steach chuspairean riatanach leithid taigheadais, cumhachd agus math nan coimhearsnachdan.

Thuirt am Prìomh Mhinistear John Swinney na leanas:

“Tha eileanan na h-Alba nan dachaigh do phailteas tàlaint, ùr-ghnàthachaidh agus tionnsgalachd. Ge-tà, ’s ann ro thric a thèid gnìomhachasan nan eilean a chuingealachadh le suidheachaidhean air nach urrainn dhaibh smachd a chumail.

“Bha Maoin Seasmhachd nan Eilean, agus na £10 millean na lùib, am measg na gheall sinn taobh a-staigh ceud latha bho thoiseach an riaghaltais ùir. Bheir a’ mhaoin seo taic do ghnìomhachasan le bhith a’ dèiligeadh ri suidheachaidhean dùbhlanach. Bidh i na cuideachadh dhaibh le bhith a’ soirbheachadh, agus nì i cinnteach gum bi eileanan na h-Alba fhathast nan àitichean tarraingeach anns an gabh gnìomhachasan a stèidheachadh agus beòshlaint a dhèanamh.

“Gu deatamach, nithear cinnteach tron ìre-mhaoineachaidh seo gun gabh taic a chur an sàs sa bhad, fhad ’s a thogas sinn na bunaitean do thasgadh-airgid san ùine fhada thar beatha na Pàrlamaid seo.

“Thar nam beagan làithean ri thighinn, bidh mi a’ coinneachadh ri farsaingeachd mhòr de bhuidhnean anns na h-Eileanan an Iar, agus tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith a’ bruidhinn riutha tuilleadh air mar a dh’fhaodas Riaghaltas na h-Alba taic a chumail ri coimhearsnachdan eileanach, airson an seòrsa seasmhachd a thogail a tha a dhìth airson àm ri teachd gealltanach.”

Thuirt Rachel Hunter, Stiùiriche Taic airson Gnothachas is Coimhearsnachdan aig Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean (IGE), na leanas:

“Le Maoin Seasmhachd nan Eilean, nithear cinnteach gum bi taic ann do bharrachd choimhearsnachdan is roinnean eileanach a tha a’ fulang le buaidh nan trioblaidean-aiseig. Tro bhith a’ fosgladh cothrom-maoineachaidh dhaibh, ’s urrainn dhuinn stiùireadh practaigeach a thoirt do ghnìomhachasan agus buidhnean coimhearsnachd a th’ air cosgaisean a bharrachd fhulang agus dùbhlain air nach urrainn dhaibh smachd a chumail.

“Bidh IGE ag obair às leth Riaghaltas na h-Alba, ’s iad a’ cur fòcas air lìbhrigeadh na maoine agus a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun ruig taic an fheadhainn aig a bheil am feum as èiginniche oirre. ’S e IGE fhèin a chuireas fios gu buidhnean a fhuair taic mar phàirt de chuairtean IBRF a chumadh roimhe; chan fheum na buidhnean sin iarrtas a chur a-steach.

“Gabhaidh seasmhachd a neartachadh thar nan coimhearsnachdan eileanach againn leis an tasgadh-airgid seo, ’s e a’ cuideachadh bhuidhnean le bhith ag atharrachadh nam modhan-obrach aca, a’ dol am feabhas, agus a’ cur às ùr ri eaconamaidhean ionadail a tha beòthail, seasmhach.”

Cùl-fhiosrachadh

Bidh am Prìomh Mhinistear a’ tadhal air na h-Eileanan an Iar bhon 10mh chun an 12mh latha dhen Lùnastal.

Am measg nan eilean a choileanas na slatan-tomhais airson Maoin Seasmhachd nan Eilean, tha Arainn, Barraigh, Beàrnaraigh na Hearadh, Beinn na Faoghla, Bhatarsaigh, Canaidh (agus An t-Eilean Gainmhich), Colbhasa, Colla, Diùra, Eige, Eilean Ì, Eilean nam Muc, Èirisgeigh, Gomastra, Griomasaigh, na Hearadh, Ìle, Muile, Rùm, Sgalpaigh, Tiriodh, Uibhist a Deas, Uibhist a Tuath agus Ulbha ann.

’S ann le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean a thèid a’ mhaoin a riaghladh, agus faodar iarrtasan a chur a-steach bho mheadhan-latha air Diluain an 17mh latha dhen Lùnastal. Thèid tuilleadh ìrean-maoineachaidh a choileanadh thar beatha na Pàrlamaid seo mar phàirt dhen ghealltanas nas fharsainge de £10 millean.