National events strategy 2024 to 2035: island communities impact assessment

1.5 Step Four - Assessment

• Does your assessment identify any unique impacts on island communities? (Further detail in the Guidance):
• Economic
• Gaelic
• Social
• Does your assessment identify any potential barriers or wider impacts?
• Are there mitigations already in place for these impacts raised?

Demographic

Our assessment identifies unique economic and social impacts.

There are challenges around transport and connectivity and also the lack of appropriate event infrastructure due to the lower population density. This makes it more challenging for islands to secure events and then benefit from the economic, social and other aspects they generate. There are also some barriers to gathering and measuring data on their events, this is in part due to the smaller sample size that Island communities may offer compared to those in more urban areas.

There are also opportunities in this area. A strong portfolio of events across many of the islands already exists. The refreshed strategy recognises that Scotland has many unique assets that make us the Perfect Stage, including islands and island communities. It also recognises the importance of Gaelic as part of our cultural identity and heritage assets. As mentioned earlier in this ICIA, recent UK/SG investment in Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides that capitalises on the islands’ unique assets including renewable energy schemes and projects aimed at boosting tourism, and cultural and heritage attractions. The Orkney Islands will host the International Island Games in July 2025, one of the largest events ever held on Scotland’s islands and an opportunity to significant boost the credentials of Orkney and Scotland’s other islands as hosts for large international events. Furthermore EventScotland’s National Events Programme is designed to spread events throughout Scotland and support innovative new projects and activity at events, including islands.

1.5.1 Is a full Island Communities Impact Assessment required?

You should now determine whether, in your opinion, your policy, strategy or service is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). To form your opinion, the following questions should be considered:

• Are there mitigations in place for the impacts identified and noted above from stakeholders and community consultations? (If further ICIA action is not required, complete the section below and publish).
• Does the evidence show different circumstances or different expectations or needs, or different experiences or outcomes (such as levels of satisfaction, or different rates of participation)?
• Are these different effects likely?
• Are these effects significantly different?
• Could the effect amount to a disadvantage for an island community compared to the mainland or between island groups?

Building on the above a full Island Communities Impact Assessment for the National Events Strategy Review has been recommended. Key considerations were:

• Although there are some mitigations in place these are entirely framed around existing activity, wider investment and planned major events. There remains a need to specifically explore the event opportunities and challenges across Scotland, including the islands as part of the event strategy review. Harnessing the benefits of events over the period 2025-2035 will be considered further through the implementation work supporting the strategy.

• The opportunity/challenges are different for each island - although there are some common threads like transport, connectivity and infrastructure challenges. These differences need explored in more detail with bespoke solutions considered for delivery by the lead local partners or collectively across a group of islands. A key part of this is the sharing of good practice and lessons learned from the current portfolio of island and rural events.

• The islands provide a unique events destination building on their world renowned landscapes, history and traditions. This currently largely focuses on cultural activity but the 2025 International Island Games in Orkney have potential to broaden this out to include sports too. Building on this there are significant challenges for the islands but even greater potential benefits.

• Effective partnerships are key across a range of national and local public and private sector bodies to fully harness the potential of Scotland’s islands as events destinations. Positive impacts have been achieved however, the evidence still suggests the islands are disadvantaged compared to the mainland and this needs to be explored further through the lifespan of the strategy.