SARF priorities are the key themes that underpin development activity across Skye and Raasay. Shaped through community engagement in 2021, they reflect what matters most to local people and supports a more sustainable, inclusive future.​

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These have been collated from the Skye and Raasay Future  August 2021  Final Draft for Committee which can be downloaded here.

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Future Priorities & Responsibilities for Climate Action and Resilience

• Support climate strategies - Promote choices and actions that reduce emissions and protect the economy, communities, and environment.

• Decarbonise homes and buildings - Raise awareness of upcoming regulations (e.g. heating systems, wood-burning stoves) and tackle fuel poverty through greener, more efficient housing.

• Upgrade electricity infrastructure - Reinforce and future-proof the 132kV overhead line to secure supply and enable renewable energy growth.

• Develop hydrogen economy - Use constrained renewable energy to produce hydrogen for decarbonising transport and buildings.

• Expand EV infrastructure - Improve electric vehicle charging for residents and visitors to support low-carbon travel.

• Support sustainable agriculture - Keep crofting and farming central to rural life while contributing to climate and biodiversity goals.

• Achieve net zero across sectors - Decarbonise transport, housing, industry, and agriculture; offset remaining emissions through carbon sequestration (e.g. tree planting, peatland restoration).

• Prepare for climate impacts - Build resilience to extreme weather, flooding, droughts, and rising temperatures already affecting communities.

• Align projects with climate goals -  Ensure all projects reduce emissions or improve climate readiness to attract funding and demonstrate commitment.

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Future Priorities & Responsibilities for a Diverse and Green Economy

• Diversify the economy - Build a flexible, resilient business community less reliant on tourism.

• Encourage interconnected local enterprise - Support a cycle of economic activity where businesses collaborate and create more job opportunities.

• Invest in skills and training - Provide reskilling and education for residents, and attract new and returning workers to meet labour market needs.

• Support the green economy transition - Adapt to climate-driven changes in land use, work patterns, and travel through sustainable practices.

• Enable flexible working - Improve digital infrastructure and skills to attract remote workers and support local employment.

• Promote sustainable tourism - Celebrate cultural and environmental assets while creating year-round tourism jobs that support community wellbeing.

• Develop tourism management frameworks - Involve businesses and communities in managing visitor impact and protecting natural and cultural assets.

• Balance recovery and long-term growth - Support tourism-related recovery while prioritising broader economic development and diversification.

• Strengthen education-business links - Connect local education with job opportunities and support entrepreneurship among returners and working-age residents.

• Encourage longer visitor stays - Improve infrastructure and experiences to reduce ‘drive-by tourism’ and attract higher-value markets.

• Support marine and high-quality tourism - Expand access for marine tourism and shift from short-term lets to dedicated, high-quality accommodation.

• Empower community-led facilities - Enable Development Trusts to provide visitor infrastructure (e.g. toilets, parking, overnight stops) that generate income and support wider community goals.

 

Future Priorities & Responsibilities for Digital Infrastructure

• Ensure reliable and affordable digital access - Provide future-proofed connectivity to support participation in modern life, especially in rural areas.

• Boost economic and community growth - Use digital connectivity to attract residents and visitors, while addressing digital exclusion.

• Enhance digital learning - Review and build on online education experiences to support learning, Gaelic language, culture, and the arts.

• Expand gigabit broadband coverage - Support rollout through R100, private investment, and public funding (e.g. City-Region Deal) to reach more premises.

• Coordinate with national initiatives - Align with UK and Scottish Government commitments to increase gigabit access and improve infrastructure.

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Future Priorities & Responsibilities for Strengthening communities – Homes and services for all:

• Affordable Housing Availability

  • Prioritise accessible, inclusive, and quality housing to retain young people and families.

  • Tackle barriers such as limited land availability and private rental constraints.

  • Support flexible tenure models for local workforce needs.

• Strategic Housing Initiatives

  • Free up land through better public sector asset management.

  • Secure strategic housing sites via partnerships.

  • Promote and support community-led housing projects (e.g. Staffin, Raasay).

  • Advocate for local housing needs with national decision-makers.

• Access to Services

  • Improve care provision and accessible housing for self-directed care.

  • Ensure service accessibility supports population balance and wellbeing.

• Housing Promotion and Engagement

  • Run campaigns to promote the Highland Housing Register (HHR).

  • Educate residents on how to register and navigate the HHR process.

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Future Priorities & Responsibilities for Strengthening communities - Gaelic Language and Culture:

• Strategic Integration

  • Ensure local Gaelic priorities are embedded in the Highland Gaelic Language Plan 

  • Align with the National Gaelic Language Plan through collaboration with Bòrd na Gàidhlig and partners.

• Community-Based Initiatives

  • Integrate Gaelic culture and language promotion into local development projects.

  • Support opportunities for Gaelic learning, use, and visibility in daily life.

• Cultural Development

  • Leverage Gaelic language as a tool for economic, educational, and social enrichment.

  • Support intergenerational language transmission and cultural activities.

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Future Priorities & Responsibilities for Strengthening communities - Sustainable and Resilient Communities:

• Community Capacity Building

  • Support vulnerable communities through targeted development and resource access.

  • Strengthen community organisations to take ownership of local priorities and assets.

• Inclusive Participation

  • Encourage broad involvement in social, cultural, and recreational opportunities.

  • Remove barriers to participation for marginalised and underrepresented groups.

• Collaborative Networks and Partnerships

  • Develop strong community networks for shared learning and delivery of services.

  • Promote mutual support frameworks to reduce pressure on smaller community groups.

  • Establish inclusive partnerships to co-create and deliver the Skye and Raasay vision.

• Sustainable Project Support

  • Secure long-term resources to support community-led project delivery.

  • Share best practices from successful projects to scale impact across the area.

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Future Priorities & Responsibilities for Transport

• Develop an integrated transport strategy - Create a joined-up plan for Skye and Raasay, supporting a just transition to sustainable travel.

• Improve public transport to tourist sites - Reduce car dependency and parking demand by offering dedicated services to key destinations.

• Expand community transport - Support flexible options for dispersed demand, including village travel, school transport, and feeder services.

• Encourage cycling to schools  Promote cycling infrastructure as an alternative to short-distance school transport, especially in summer.

• Deliver active travel infrastructure - Invest in safe walking and cycling routes to set a new standard for future mobility.

• Manage motorhome and traffic impacts - Address road capacity issues caused by increasing large vehicle use.

• Improve central belt connectivity - Support net-zero flight options and infrastructure upgrades at Ashaig to reintroduce scheduled services.

• Expand EV charging infrastructure - Plan for home, workplace, public, and private EV networks to meet rising demand and support the 2030 phase-out of petrol/diesel vehicles.

• Explore community car clubs - Offer low-carbon transport alternatives for residents and visitors.

• Pilot Mobility as a Service (MaaS) - Support Go-Hi platform to enable seamless booking of buses, ferries, car clubs, and bike hire.

• Create transport hubs - Combine flexible, demand-responsive services with parking management to offer viable alternatives to private cars.

• Align with low-carbon travel plans - Coordinate active travel, road, public transport, ferries, and air to support sustainable movement of residents and visitors.

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Future Priorities & Responsibilities for Health and Social Care:

• Accessible, High-Quality Rural Healthcare - Residents across Skye and Raasay have access to high-quality, remote and rural health and social care services, including options for online consultations and reliable transport links to key facilities.

• Digitally-Enabled Services - Healthcare and education services are modernised and resilient, supported by improved digital connectivity that meets the needs of remote communities.

• Future-Proofed Facilities for an Ageing Population - Investment in healthcare infrastructure ensures facilities and services are equipped to meet the needs of an ageing population, supporting independent living and community wellbeing.

• Community-Led Health and Social Care Service Design - Communities are empowered to shape local healthcare delivery through ongoing collaboration with NHS Highland, supported by the SARF process to ensure services reflect local needs and aspirations.

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Future Priorities & Responsibilities for Education and Lifelong Learning:

• Expanded Learning Pathways for All Ages - A wide range of learner pathways, qualifications, and skills-based courses are available across Skye and Raasay through strong partnerships with schools, colleges, and training providers—ensuring education meets the needs of both young people and adults.

• Support for Young People’s Transitions - All young people are supported into employment, training, education, or volunteering through the Young Person’s Guarantee, delivered in collaboration with local employers, agencies, and youth voices.

• Equitable Access to Education -Young people across Skye and Raasay enjoy the same educational access and opportunities as their peers on mainland Scotland, regardless of geography or background.

• Youth Voice in Education Planning -Children and young people actively shape the delivery of local education plans, with their views reflected in decision-making and implementation.

• Promotion of Gaelic Medium Education -Gaelic Medium education is supported from early years to adulthood, helping preserve and grow Gaelic language and culture through partnerships with schools and national Gaelic bodies.

• Investment in Education Infrastructure - Learning environments are improved through continued collaboration on capital investment projects, including future phases of the Learning Estate Investment Programme.

• Closing the Attainment Gap - Educational outcomes for children living in poverty are improved through targeted support and national programmes like Pupil Equity Funding

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Next: SARF Delivery Programme 

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