New rural action group for young people in Highlands
Young people from across the Highlands are being given a chance to play their part in improving opportunities in rural areas.
A new Highland Youth Local Action Group (YLAG) will be formed under the existing Highland Strategic Local Action Group, made up of cross-sector representatives and responsible for allocating development funding.
Members of Highland YLAG will be responsible for setting their own priorities and delivering a Youth Action Fund which will support youth initiatives across rural communities.
At the end of May, the first Highland YLAG residential trip will bring together prospective members to learn from the experiences of the neighbouring Cairngorms YLAG.
The Highland group will then set its own priorities and open its Youth Action Fund. YLAG members will meet online to manage the fund by scoring applications and awarding grant allocations.
Across Scotland, YLAGs have allowed young people to be involved in decision-making processes and to tackle social issues. Others have been established in Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, Forth Valley and Lomond, Fife and the Borders, as well as the Cairngorms.
Highland YLAG is expected to distribute £25,000 in its first year.
At Scotland’s first Rural Youth Action Network residential hosted in March 2025 in Inverness, the existing YLAGs came together to explore opportunities for collaboration – including at the European Rural Parliament taking place in Aberdeenshire in the autumn.
Young people aged 16-30 living across Highland and interested in rural action are invited to express their interest in joining Highland YLAG to the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub by April 30.
The initiative will be facilitated by the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub and Highland Council’s economic regeneration team, funded by the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development Fund.
Joan Lawrie, CEO of the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub, said: “I’m thrilled that the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub can support the formation of a Highland Youth Local Action Group. It’s so important to amplify the voices of young people.
“To have support from experienced youth local action groups is an invaluable asset for my team too.
“As a member of the Highland Local Action Group, I’m excited to see the youth group develop a range of new skills which will set them up for their working life.
“While I’ll have a specific interest in any climate action-related projects, applications will be welcome from a huge range of projects which bring people together to address local issues and improve their local environment or community.”
Ashleigh Coghill, graduate apprentice at the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub, said: “As a young person, the opportunity to form a YLAG in Highland is very exciting. Being empowered to tackle local issues through the Youth Action Fund will make progress in improving rural living according to the priorities of young people and attract others to the area to live and work.
“Being able to meet other young people passionate about rural action, both local to Highland and through the wider Scottish YLAG network, is really positive as well to share our collective ambitions and generate momentum for rural action on a national stage.”
