Islands business resilience fund: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment Template

1. Brief Summary

Type of proposal:

• Decision of a strategic nature relating to the rights and wellbeing of children

Name the proposal, and describe its overall aims and intended purpose: Islands Business Resilience Fund

The overall aim is to provide a level of resilience, by way of a one-off financial award, to businesses on the islands most affected by, and who have been disproportionately impacted by, the current situation of ongoing ferry disruption.

The intended purpose of the Fund is to be a direct response to ongoing disruption to ferry services due to a combination of constrained vessel capacity, breakdowns, vessel repairs and delays in replacement vessels which has led to increased cancellations over the last three years.

In November 2025, exploratory work relating to the expansion of the Fund to additional islands commenced which has informed this CRWIA.

Start date of proposal’s development: 13 April 2025

Start date of CRWIA process: 11 June 2025 (updated November 2025)

2. With reference given to the requirements of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which aspects of the proposal are relevant to/impact upon children’s rights?

The Island Business Resilience Fund will primarily affect businesses in Scotland’s island communities who have been disproportionately impacted by ferry disruption over the last three years. The Fund will be targeted at micro, small or medium enterprises in the perishable goods and tourism/hospitality sectors. The proposed eligibility, aims and intended impact of the Fund were reviewed against the Articles of the UNCRC (UN Convention on the Rights of Children) and the child wellbeing indicators under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. It was concluded that there were no specific aspects of this decision of a strategic nature which may impact on children and young people’s rights.

3. Please provide a summary of the evidence gathered which will be used to inform your decision-making and the content of the proposal

Not applicable.

4. Further to the evidence described at ‘3’ have you identified any 'gaps' in evidence which may prevent determination of impact?

Not applicable.

5. Analysis of Evidence

Not applicable.

6. What changes (if any) have been made to the proposal as a result of this assessment?

Not applicable.