SRUC – December 2025
This report provides a significant compendium of evidence and new insights for use by a range of stakeholders to understand the changing characteristics of Scotland’s rural and island communities. The policy context in which this report is situated has changed significantly over the past year. The Scottish Government’s priorities are now framed around four key objectives:
- Eradicating child poverty,
- Growing the economy,
- Tackling the climate emergency, and
- Improving public services.
For rural and island communities, these priorities sit alongside commitments such as the Rural Support Plan, Rural Delivery Plan, and the new draft National Islands Plan (published in December 2025). These plans, with the accompanying (voluntary) Rural Assessment Toolkit – a “rural lens” designed to test the impact of policies across different geographies and community types – and (mandatory) Island Communities Impact Assessments respectively, are intended to integrate rural and island realities more fully into government decision-making.
Rural and island economies and communities in Scotland are central to achieving national goals on economic growth, climate action, nature recovery, food security, and social justice. Yet these regions face persistent challenges including higher living costs, ageing infrastructure and transport and connectivity barriers, poor access to affordable housing, persistent poverty – particularly fuel poverty – and economic change.