The projects, spanning 22 islands across Argyll and Bute, Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar, North Ayrshire, Orkney, and Shetland, include four islands - Luing, Lismore, Scalpay and Ulva – which will benefit for the first time.

These local authorities will share £5.9 million of funding from the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme and the Carbon Neutral Islands Fund to create and safeguard infrastructure projects on their islands with the Scottish Futures Trust providing coordination and advice.  

The Scalpay Community Heritage Centre is one of this year’s Islands Programme recipients, with a £647,000 award supporting the first phase of redevelopment for the island’s only community hall. The money will be used to insulate the building and make internal layout changes to create a warm, accessible, and low-carbon facility that directly addresses local priorities such as depopulation, the cost of living, and limited community infrastructure.

The Sellafirth Community Hub is among the successful applicants of the Carbon Neutral Islands Fund, with £298,000 helping convert two garages into a training room and craft workshop. One unit will have a focus on business and community development and the other will offer space for tourism, exhibitions, performances, and retail, with accessible kitchen and toilet facilities.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Our island communities are bursting with ambition, innovation and potential, and the Scottish Government is committed to supporting local priorities and long-term sustainability. Indeed it the underpinning objective of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands to take a collective, strategic approach to unlocking economic opportunities and tackling issues.

“I am pleased we have been able to provide substantial funding towards projects across island areas. They are all fine examples of how we can work together with communities and local authorities to boost island economies in ways that are sustainable and generate revenue that can be reinvested locally.”

North Ayrshire Council’s cabinet member for communities, housing and islands, Councillor Alan Hill, added: “The Council is delighted to be hosting the autumn Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Brodick. The funding for Brodick Hall, transforming it into a modern Island Hub for everyone on Arran to use, means generations of islanders will have a fit-for-purpose facility that will be the heart of the community for the foreseeable future.

“Arran Youth Foundations, in Lamlash, is using the grant to create a new youth centre that will offer a safe space and fantastic services to young people for decades to come, while the Lochranza Securing a Future in Marine Tourism project will see the pontoon being refurbished and new moorings created – which will boost tourism on the north of the island.

Community development officer at Voluntary Action Barra and Vatersay David MacNeil commented: “The Carbon Neutral Islands Capital Fund has been instrumental in implementing our Decarbonising Community Spaces programme on Barra and Vatersay.

“This work addresses key concerns raised by the local community in our 2023 Community Climate Action Plan and will see increased energy efficiency and resilience, as well as transformative reductions in emissions and running costs, for each community building involved.”

The 18 successful applications for the Islands Programme this year include:

• Redevelopment of the former Royal Hotel - Bute - £400,000
• Community Halls Digital Hubs phase 2 - Colonsay, Jura, Luing and Lismore - £125,000
• Lighthouse Keepers Cottages Heritage Project - Tiree - £306,050
• Ulva Landing Craft - Ulva - £40,020
• North Uist Community Heritage Centre (Carinish Old School) - North Uist - £83,235
• Comunn Eachdraidh Nis - Lewis - £100,000
• Scalpay Community Heritage Centre - Scalpay - £647,280
• Leverburgh Village Hall Regeneration Project - Harris - £474,071
• South Skye Community Campus - Skye - £327,393
• Coroghon Barn Technical Design - Canna - £250,800
• Eigg Electric Resilience and Enabling Works - Eigg - £32,900
• Eigg’s Net Zero Homes phase 2 - Eigg - £94,946
• Arran Youth Foundation Youth Centre - Arran - £382,399
• Lochranza Securing a Future in Marine Tourism - Arran - £129,718
• Brodick Hall Island Hub - Arran - £323,925
• UHI Orkney Student Accommodation - Orkney Mainland and outer isles - £346,200
• Scalloway Waterfront Regeneration - Shetland Mainland - £80,000
• Janet Courtney Hostel Refurbishment to Affordable Housing - Shetland Mainland - £350,000

There were five successful applications for the Carbon Neutral Islands Fund this year:

• Vatersay Community Hall and Café – Decarbonising Community Spaces (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) £249,007
• Sellafirth Community Hub (Shetland Islands Council) £298,674
• Hoy Community Transport Electrification Project (Orkney Islands Council) £131,484
• Millport Solar PV and Battery Project (Phase 2) (North Ayrshire) £293,101
• Decarbonisation of Islay Community Buildings Phase 2 (Argyll & Bute) £401,843