Young Islanders To Have Their Say - Lìonra ùr ga stèidheachadh gus àrd-ùrlar a thoirt do dhaoine òga air feadh na h-eileanan

16th January 2021

New network set up to give platform for young people across Scotland's islands.

GaelicTranslation further down the page

Children and young people from all 96 of Scotland's inhabited islands will be able to have their say and make their voice heard on issues in their communities through the setting up of a new forum.

The new Young Islanders Network will enable children and young people to help shape the delivery of the National Islands Plan, ensuring that their interests and priorities are properly considered.

The network will also give those involved an opportunity to build their confidence, develop key skills such as leadership and organisation and to develop new relationships and friendships with others.

The network will explore issues such as the depopulation of islands and, crucially, will provide an opportunity for our young islanders to raise the issues that matter to them most and make their views known.

Islands Minister Paul Wheelhouse, said:"I am pleased that the Scottish Government is able to now establish this new and exciting network. The Network creates a great opportunity for children and young people on our islands to get involved in having their say and making their views known on key islands' issues and to help shape the future of their communities.

"Our extensive National Islands Plan consultation made it clear that a Network of this nature would be hugely beneficial, and that it will help to provide us with a better understanding of the experiences and views of children and young people and, through that, ultimately help us to create a better, more diverse living experience for all our islanders of all ages.

"The Network will also be hugely beneficial to those involved, as they will have the chance to be part of an exciting project, gaining valuable insights and developing themselves at the same time. I encourage all children and young people living on our islands to get involved, if they can - and I say to them: if you take the time to make your voice heard, the Government and I will take the time to listen to you."

Youth Scotland is setting up the new forum. Youth Scotland's Chief Executive Ian McLaughlan, said:"Youth Scotland believes in better outcomes for all young people - whether that's in our urban cities and towns, rural communities or Scotland's island communities. We are proud of our reach, membership and participation within the island communities. The Young Islander's Challenge is another fantastic opportunity to not only be inclusive of young people living there, but to put them front and centre of a project for and about them.

"Thanks to our partnership with the Scottish Government and our island communities, we can work together to deliver both short-term and lasting impact. I would urge any young person or group in our island communities to jump in, have your say and be part of something bigger!"

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Gaelic

Lìonra ùr ga stèidheachadh gus àrd-ùrlar a thoirt do dhaoine òga air feadh na h-eileanan.

Bidh cothrom aig clann is daoine òga às a h-uile eilean an Alba - 96 uile gu lèir - beachdan a thoirt seachad air cùisean agus cuspairean buntainneach anns na sgìrean aca, agus lìonra ùr ga stèidheachadh.

Bheir Lìonra ùr nan Eileanach Òga cothrom do chloinn is daoine òga cumadh a thoirt air lìbhrigeadh Plana nan Eilean Nàiseanta, a' dèanamh cinnteach gu bheilear a' beachdachadh gu cothromach air na h-ùidhean agus na prìomhachasan aca.

Bheir an lìonra cuideachd cothrom dhaibhsan a tha an sàs am misneachd aca thogail, prìomh sgilean a leasachadh leithid ceannardas is eagrachas, agus càirdeas is dàimhean ùra a leasachadh le daoine eile.

Bidh an lìonra a’ sgrùdadh cùisean leithid fàsachadh eileanan agus, gu deatamach, bheir e cothrom do ar n-eileanaich òga na cùisean a tha cudromach dhaibh a thogail agus na beachdan aca fhoillseachadh.

Thuirt Ministear nan Eilean Pòl Wheelhouse:

"Tha mi toilichte gun urrainn do Riaghaltas na h-Alba an lìonra ùr, inntinneach seo a stèidheachadh. Tha an Lìonra a’ cruthachadh cothrom math do chloinn is daoine òga anns na h-eileanan againn. Faodaidh iad a-nis a bhith an sàs ann a bhith a’ toirt seachad beachdan air prìomh chùisean agus a bhith a’ cur dreach is cumadh air na coimhearsnachdan aca san àm ri teachd.

"Rinn a’ cho-chomhairle fharsaing againn air Plana nan Eilean Nàiseanta soilleir gum biodh Lìonra den t-seòrsa seo air leth buannachdail, agus gun cuidicheadh e le tuigse nas fheàrr a thoirt dhuinn air saoghal agus beachdan chloinne is dhaoine òga agus tro sin, cuideachadh aig a’ cheann thall gus eòlas beatha nas fheàrr agus nas eadar-dhealaichte a chruthachadh airson ar n-eileanach air fad.

"Bidh an Lìonra cuideachd air leth buannachdail dhaibhsan a tha an sàs ann, oir bidh cothrom aca a bhith mar phàirt de phròiseact inntinneach, a’ faighinn lèirsinn luachmhor agus gan leasachadh fhèin aig an aon àm. Tha mi a’ brosnachadh chloinne agus daoine òga a tha a’ fuireach anns na h-eileanan againn an sàs, mas urrainn dhaibh - agus tha mi ag ràdh riutha: ma nì thu ùine airson do ghuth a sgaoileadh, gabhaidh an Riaghaltas agus mi fhèin ùine airson sin èisteachd."

Tha Òigridh Alba air am fòram ùr seo stèidheachadh. Thuirt Ceannard Òigridh na h-Alba Iain MacLachlainn:

"Tha Òigridh Alba ag iarraidh teachd-a-mach nas fheàrr airson daoine òga - ge bith gu bheil sin anns na bailtean-mòra againn, na coimhearsnachdan dùthchail no na coimhearsnachdan eileanach ann an Alba. Tha sinn moiteil às ar ruigsinneachd, ballrachd agus com-pàirteachadh taobh a-staigh choimhearsnachdan nan eilean. Tha Dùbhlan nan Eilean Òga na fìor mìorbhail eile. `S e cothrom a th’ann chan ann a-mhàin a’ toirt a-steach daoine òga a tha a’ fuireach ann, ach gus an cur air beulaibh agus meadhan pròiseact dhaibh agus mun deidhinn.

“Tron chom-pàirteachas againn le Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus na coimhearsnachdan eileanach againn, is urrainn dhuinn obrachadh còmhla gus buaidh geàrr-ùine agus maireannach a lìbhrigeadh. Chuirinn ìmpidh air duine òg no buidheann sam bith anns na coimhearsnachdan eileanach againn leum a-steach airson am beachdan a thoirt seachad agus a bhith mar phàirt de rudeigin nas motha!"

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