Outer Hebrides Youth Local Action Group

13/05/2026

📣📣📣 Cuairt-maoineachaidh 2026-27 fosgailte 📣📣📣

Our 2026-27 YLAG Fund is now open for applications. Let us know about your project, supporting young people (up to the age of 30) in the Outer Hebrides, that could be doing with some financial support from the YLAG.

Cuiribh a-steach son taic maoineachaidh bhon YLAG 💷💷
https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/council-tax-benefits-and-grants/community-led-local-development-clld/2026-27-clld-and-ylag-funds-now-open

Scottish National Rural Network Scottish Rural Action Donald MacKinnon for Na h-Eileanan an Iar

13/04/2026

13/04/2026

A slightly different form of hustings, with a particular focus on island and rural communities. One of the inputs will come from YLAGs, ensuring that our prospective political representatives are aware of issues that are important to young people and set out how they will support us.

09/12/2025

To round off the year, James and Ross (with support from Rachel in the wings) attended a Village Hall event organised by our local MP Torcuil Crichton. This proved a good opportunity to share a platform with the LAG and speak to those involved in running community halls about the support the Outer Hebrides Community-Led Local Development Programme and the YLAG can provide, as well as about the importance of including young people meaningfully in decision-making. We particularly appreciated that so many Hearachs made the journey over the Clisham and took the time to tell us about some of their plans.
Scottish National Rural Network

05/12/2025

🧭💙 UIST & BARRA RESIDENTIAL WEEKEND 💙🧭

During last month's residential weekend, the YLAG made some project visits to many of the recipients from our YLAG Fund!

It was a perfect opportunity for our group members to see how the different projects the YLAG have funded, continue to make a difference to communities and young people down in the Southern Isles.

In order of slides, the YLAG paid a visit to;

1) Barra Running Club, who were awarded £19,993.53, for their project, 'Every Body Moves: Inclusive Training for All'

3) Ceòlas / Cnoc Soilleir who were awarded £5,970.66, for their project 'Equipment for Youth Projects'

7) Bùth Bharraigh, who were awarded £872.78, in 2024-25, for their project 'Saving Our Textiles', as well as £1,144.53, in 2023-24, for a previous project 'Crafty Juniors'

9) Otter Mountain Uist, who were awarded £1,672.99, for their project 'Wee Woodland- Phase 1'

Over the past four years, the CLLD YLAG Fund has awarded £39,527.30 to projects in Uist & Barra. The YLAG are proud of our consistent support for young people in the Southern Isles, and are aiming to build on this success by welcoming new members from Uist & Barra.

If you, or anyone you know, aged 16-30 would like to take a step into youth-led decision making in your community, please get in touch:)

Scottish National Rural Network Outer Hebrides Community-Led Local Development Programme

01/12/2025

To round-off a busy year, the YLAG participated in TWO engagements last week! On Tuesday, Hector and Ross delivered a presentation to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's Sustainable Development Committee. A recording can be viewed online (link in comments).

On Saturday, Ross and James, with Rachel lending support in the background, attended a Village Hall event, organised by local MP Torcuil Crichton, to tell interested parties about relevant support the YLAG has delivered and how to include young people in committees in a meaningful way.

This was also a good opportunity to see for themselves the improvements Laxdale Community Association were able to make with YLAG funds received early this year. Now for a well-deserved break before planning for 2026.

Outer Hebrides Community-Led Local Development Programme Scottish National Rural Network

11/11/2025

💫💙 EUROPEAN RURAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT 💙💫

In October, Torcull, Iain & Catherine, as well as Mira, our CLLD Co-Ordinator and Domhnall, from the Outer Hebrides LAG, travelled to Aberdeenshire for the 6th annual European Rural Parliament (ERP). This event brought together over 350 participants from more than 40 countries. The ERP was created to share experiences and solutions for global challenges from a rural perspective. Here is what Torcull had to say about the experience 👇🏻

"A big focus for us was the the European Rural Youth Parliament (ERYP). We gained valuable insight through our YLAG counterparts from across Europe, through sharing experiences and hearing about projects. We discussed government policy, rural development, and importantly the role of youth in rural areas through the three days. It was a great experience to sit beside young people from various places such as Poland, Macedonia, and Spain, and see that many of the challenges we face in the Western Isles are shared across Europe.

We took part in various round table discussions and workshops around the Aberdeenshire area. In one session, we talked about how smaller communities can attract and retain young people, focusing on language and culture, which started a great conversation about Gaelic, identity, and housing.

Overall, the experience left us with many ideas to take back to the YLAG and Western Isles. It showed us that, while rural issues are diverse around the world, we share the same goal in building our communities, preserving local culture, and ensuring the younger generation builds a strong future".

Cuir an gnìomh!

Scottish National Rural Network Scottish Rural Action

12/10/2025

James & Torcull had the pleasure of visiting the wonderful OHCON, who were supported by our 2025/26 YLAG Fund, for their annual comic convention, held in the Town Hall!

James & Torcull were very kindly gifted guest access to the event, which saw them have a wee nosy around all things gaming; comics; crafts; manga; tabletop; cosplay and more!

The Outer Hebrides YLAG is delighted to award and support such an interesting project, to a group who go from strength to strength each year with their OHCON!

Thanks for having us guys, we can't wait to see what you come up with next year!

🎮🧩👾

06/10/2025

It's wonderful seeing the number of young people who turned out to the Barra & Vatersay Relay Triathlon. We are delighted our funds are being put to such good use. Well done to the organising committee for pulling this all together!
Outer Hebrides Community-Led Local Development Programme Scottish National Rural Network

20/09/2025

Building on the success of previous years, we're very excited to share the first of our successful projects from our latest 2025/26 YLAG Fund.

Barra Running Club's project 'Everybody Moves' immediately struck a cord with our members. We're delighted to be able to support such a strong community in Barra!

We look forward to seeing how this funding helps to improve and increase the capacity of this brilliant volunteer-led group, and how it will support the health and wellbeing of young islanders in Barra:)

🏋🏻‍♀️🚴🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️