STORNOWAY 2025

UHI North, West and Hebrides, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Organized by the Islands Book Trust in association with Nordic Atlantic Cooperation (NORA), this international event brought together experts, community leaders, and stakeholders to discuss the pressing economic challenges and explore sustainable opportunities for North Atlantic island communities. Participants exchanged insights, ideas, and action plans to foster sustainable futures for small island communities.

Outcome

Through six sessions, panel discussions, and group work, the conference highlighted key themes: the importance of community-led development, the need to empower youth, and the urgency of planning for both resilience and long-term prosperity.

Breakout groups identified several priority areas for future work. These included the need for long-term, place-based policies that reflect the realities of island life, rather than top-down frameworks. There was strong support for strengthening community ownership models, with calls for policy tools such as local tax incentives and easier access to public funding for small-scale initiatives. The groups also called attention to the urgent housing crisis in many islands, linking it directly to depopulation and youth retention.

Participants stressed that young people must be involved early and meaningfully in governance, not as symbolic participants but as real contributors. Proposals included youth seats on boards, mentorship systems, and networks for young island entrepreneurs. Additionally, the group work highlighted a need to rethink how success is measured - suggesting indicators focused on wellbeing, sustainability, and cultural value, not just economic growth.

The conversations in Stornoway were just the beginning. This work will continue at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík in October 2025, where a breakout session will build on the ideas and recommendations gathered in the Outer Hebrides.

You can find the conference presentations here.

International Conference

North Atlantic & Arctic Neighbours: Building Sustainable Futures for Island Communities

This was the first conference of its kind in Stornoway. It included Scotland and Scottish Isles, and the NORA countries: Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and coastal Norway.

Part 1: UHI North, West and Hebrides, Stornoway Campus

• Tuesday and Wednesday, 1-2 July.
• The two-day programme included key themes like resilience, governance, innovation, and community engagement. Sessions emphasized practical approaches, informed by case studies, expert presentations, and interactive discussions, to ensure tangible outcomes. Bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives served to inspire the development of practical strategies for resilient and thriving island communities.

Part 2: HEBRIDEAN CULTURAL HERITAGE EXCURSION

• Thursday 3rd July
• This day-long excursion offered insight into the cultural and historical heritage of the Hebrides. Highlights included a visit to Galson Estate Trust to explore community land ownership, Ness Historical Society to learn about crofting and language preservation, and the iconic Callanish Stones. The day ended with a Gaelic Musical Ceilidh on return to Stornoway.

 

• John Randall (Islands Book Trust) - john673randall@btinternet.com
• Ernst S. Olsen (NORA) - ernst@nora.fo