People who feel they can influence decisions affecting their local area

31% of people felt they could influence decisions affecting their local area in Shetland in 2025, a 10% increase from the previous year, the first upward trend since 2021. This was the second highest proportion in Scotland, behind Na h’Eileanan Siar’s 32%. The Scottish average was 17%, and Inverclyde had the lowest proportion with 7%. Despite fluctuations over time, Shetland has consistently recorded levels above the Scottish average. 

There are no local authority results for 2020 due to a smaller sample size. The 2021 results were published as experimental statistics as interviews were conducted by telephone rather than face-to-face.

Participation is closely linked to whether people feel they can influence decisions affecting their local area and is a priority of the Shetland Partnership. The current Delivery Plan for the Shetland Partnership is supported by Place-Based Working, focusing on how local services, organisations and communities can work together to design solutions tailored to the unique strengths, challenges and priorities of specific places. The Compassionate Shetland project also places participation at its heart. Participation is also a priority within the Community Learning and Development Plan.

To increase the number of people who feel they can influence decisions in their local area, partners involve the community in service delivery and the design of programmes and strategies. This may be done through surveys, consultations, verbal feedback, steering groups, or liaising with Community Councils, for example. The Participation Hub and Toolkit has been launched on the Shetland Partnership website to support partners and communities in planning and delivering engagement activities. 

The Hub includes resources on why and how to involve communities, national standards, methods of engagement, examples of good practice, and links to partners’ consultation web pages. 

Last updated: October 2026