Islands Forum to level up island communities and further work together on
shared opportunities and challenges
The Isle of Wight has been chosen as the location for the second Islands
Forum, which will take place on 24th – 25th May and be chaired by Secretary
of State Michael Gove.
The Islands Forum will help to level up island communities by encouraging
collaboration to tackle common challenges such as connectivity,
infrastructure, and demographic trends, and explore opportunities including
the transition to net zero. It will also allow the UK government to hear
and learn from island communities to inform future policy.
The UK government has invited eligible council leaders and chief executives
of island communities in all parts of the UK to take part in the second
Forum. The devolved administrations will also have a key role, with
ministers from the Scottish and Welsh governments invited and the Permanent
Secretary of the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
The first Islands Forum took place on the Orkney Islands in September last
year.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove MP said:
Island communities contribute richly to the UK and share their own unique
set of challenges as well as opportunities.
The Islands Forum creates a space for islanders to work together and give
feedback directly to the Government, ensuring that islands can be even
better places for people to work and live.
I am delighted that the inaugural forum in Orkney was a success and look
forward to meeting with islands representatives in May, at the next forum
on the Isle of Wight.
Council leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, said:
The Islands Forum is a superb opportunity to establish the challenges for
our islands, and continue our engagement with government ministers and
civil servants to find the right steps to address our issues.
Several projects in island communities are set to benefit from cash
injections through levelling up funds. This includes:
– Nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off
ferry for Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. The service is a lifeline for
the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and
without its replacement the community will become further isolated.
– £5.8 million for East Cowes Marine Hub project on the Isle of Wight,
which sits within the proposed Solent Freeport zone. The funding will
futureproof the marine engineering hub, creating jobs and boosting
productivity.
– Anglesey has seen a boost of £2.7 million through the UK Community
Renewal Fund for 6 projects including schemes to develop youth enterprise
and provide high quality Health and Social Care education. Anglesey is also
set to establish a new freeport, aiming to attract £1.4 billion worth of
investment in the green energy sector and create at least 3,500 jobs.
– £173,400 to Argyll and Bute Council for investment into the West Coast
UAV Innovation Logistics and training hub, which helps explore using drones
to transport medical supplies to islands.
– The Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar was awarded more than £166,000 to fund
projects for the Port of Ness Harbour and Horshader Community Asset
Development.
Further information
Invitations have been sent to representatives from the following islands:
NationMemberIsland(s)
England Isle of Wight Council Isle of Wight
England Council of the Isles of Scilly Isles of Scilly
Scotland Highland Council Skye, Rum, Raasay, Eigg, Muck, Canna, Sanday
Scotland North Ayrshire Council Arran, Great Cumbrae
Scotland Argyll & Bute Council Bute, Islay, Mull, Coll; Colonsay; Danna;
Easdale; Eilean da Mheinn; Erraid; Gigha; Gometra; Inchtavannach;
Innischonan; Iona; Jura; Kerrera; Lismore; Luing; Oronsay; Seil; Shuna
(Luing); Tiree; Ulva
Scotland Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Western Isles
Scotland Orkney Islands Council Orkney Islands
Scotland Shetland Islands Council Shetland Islands
Wales Isle of Anglesey County Council Anglesey
Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association, NI Department
for Infrastructure Rathlin Island
*Please note : I sometimes send emails at daft times, because it suits my
set up. That doesn’t mean I expect you to respond at daft times too, unless
that also suits your arrangements. And it doesn’t mean I will always reply
to an email you send me at daft times either! *
*Sent from my iPhone – sorry for any silly typos!*
UK News in Pictures | Real News |Real Time
Phone: +44 (0)7549775333 | Twitter: @uknip247
Email: [email protected] |www.wiltshire999.co.uk
*Information in this email including any attachments may be privileged,
confidential and is intended exclusively for the addressee. The views
expressed may not be official policy, but the personal views of the
originator. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender by
return e-mail and delete it from your system. You should not reproduce,
distribute, store, retransmit, use or disclose its contents to anyone.
Please note we reserve the right to monitor all e-mail communication
through our internal and external networks.*
shared opportunities and challenges
The Isle of Wight has been chosen as the location for the second Islands
Forum, which will take place on 24th – 25th May and be chaired by Secretary
of State Michael Gove.
The Islands Forum will help to level up island communities by encouraging
collaboration to tackle common challenges such as connectivity,
infrastructure, and demographic trends, and explore opportunities including
the transition to net zero. It will also allow the UK government to hear
and learn from island communities to inform future policy.
The UK government has invited eligible council leaders and chief executives
of island communities in all parts of the UK to take part in the second
Forum. The devolved administrations will also have a key role, with
ministers from the Scottish and Welsh governments invited and the Permanent
Secretary of the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
The first Islands Forum took place on the Orkney Islands in September last
year.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove MP said:
Island communities contribute richly to the UK and share their own unique
set of challenges as well as opportunities.
The Islands Forum creates a space for islanders to work together and give
feedback directly to the Government, ensuring that islands can be even
better places for people to work and live.
I am delighted that the inaugural forum in Orkney was a success and look
forward to meeting with islands representatives in May, at the next forum
on the Isle of Wight.
Council leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, said:
The Islands Forum is a superb opportunity to establish the challenges for
our islands, and continue our engagement with government ministers and
civil servants to find the right steps to address our issues.
Several projects in island communities are set to benefit from cash
injections through levelling up funds. This includes:
– Nearly £27 million has been guaranteed for a new roll-on, roll-off
ferry for Fair Isle in the Shetland Islands. The service is a lifeline for
the island, supporting its residents, visitors and supply chains, and
without its replacement the community will become further isolated.
– £5.8 million for East Cowes Marine Hub project on the Isle of Wight,
which sits within the proposed Solent Freeport zone. The funding will
futureproof the marine engineering hub, creating jobs and boosting
productivity.
– Anglesey has seen a boost of £2.7 million through the UK Community
Renewal Fund for 6 projects including schemes to develop youth enterprise
and provide high quality Health and Social Care education. Anglesey is also
set to establish a new freeport, aiming to attract £1.4 billion worth of
investment in the green energy sector and create at least 3,500 jobs.
– £173,400 to Argyll and Bute Council for investment into the West Coast
UAV Innovation Logistics and training hub, which helps explore using drones
to transport medical supplies to islands.
– The Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar was awarded more than £166,000 to fund
projects for the Port of Ness Harbour and Horshader Community Asset
Development.
Further information
Invitations have been sent to representatives from the following islands:
NationMemberIsland(s)
England Isle of Wight Council Isle of Wight
England Council of the Isles of Scilly Isles of Scilly
Scotland Highland Council Skye, Rum, Raasay, Eigg, Muck, Canna, Sanday
Scotland North Ayrshire Council Arran, Great Cumbrae
Scotland Argyll & Bute Council Bute, Islay, Mull, Coll; Colonsay; Danna;
Easdale; Eilean da Mheinn; Erraid; Gigha; Gometra; Inchtavannach;
Innischonan; Iona; Jura; Kerrera; Lismore; Luing; Oronsay; Seil; Shuna
(Luing); Tiree; Ulva
Scotland Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Western Isles
Scotland Orkney Islands Council Orkney Islands
Scotland Shetland Islands Council Shetland Islands
Wales Isle of Anglesey County Council Anglesey
Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association, NI Department
for Infrastructure Rathlin Island
*Please note : I sometimes send emails at daft times, because it suits my
set up. That doesn’t mean I expect you to respond at daft times too, unless
that also suits your arrangements. And it doesn’t mean I will always reply
to an email you send me at daft times either! *
*Sent from my iPhone – sorry for any silly typos!*
UK News in Pictures | Real News |Real Time
Phone: +44 (0)7549775333 | Twitter: @uknip247
Email: [email protected] |www.wiltshire999.co.uk
*Information in this email including any attachments may be privileged,
confidential and is intended exclusively for the addressee. The views
expressed may not be official policy, but the personal views of the
originator. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender by
return e-mail and delete it from your system. You should not reproduce,
distribute, store, retransmit, use or disclose its contents to anyone.
Please note we reserve the right to monitor all e-mail communication
through our internal and external networks.*
