Yesterday MSPs voted to pass the Scottish Government budget for 2025/26.
We are pleased to see issues progressed that MSYPs have been calling for, such as extending concessionary travel discount to inter-island ferries. MSYPs representing island communities in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles have long campaigned for better connectivity between islands and for young people to have equal access to free essential travel to school, college and work.
Free inter-island travel for young people under 22 will help to tackle rural isolation and improve mental health outcomes by providing more opportunities to access essential services and leisure facilities, without facing significant costs.
Alannah Logue, MSYP for Na-h Eileanan an Iar said: “I think that it’s great that the Scottish Government has budgeted free inter-island ferry travel for young people! It is something that we have been campaigning about for years, so it is nice to see it finally come full circle.”
“It is great to see that the young people in rural areas will feel the benefits of the NEC card system the same way that young people in the central belt do.”
Bertie Summers MSYP, who represents Shetland, said: “I am pleased to see that everyone who is aged under 22 will finally be able to access inter-island ferry travel throughout Scotland. For the last few years, young people in rural and remote communities have been heavily disadvantaged in their transportation opportunities, compared with those in urban areas.”
“This is something MSYPs have campaigned for, before me and Bertie had ever been elected, it has been a campaign for years and we are delighted that it is finally going to be implemented”, added Joe Smith MSYP, who is also the Member for Shetland.
Ellie Denehy MSYP, from Na h-Eileanan an Iar, commented: “The free inter-island travel for under 22s would impact us young people so much. Often travel off-island can be very costly, especially for such a young age group. This will benefit all of us so much and become less of a burden for people to leave the islands.”
Other issues in the Budget that have been campaigned on by MSYPs include:
- Expansion of free school meals to some S1-S3 pupils
- Funding to tackle climate change at a local level
- Improvements across mental health services and treatments
