The Shetland Partnership’s 2023/24 Annual Report highlighting trends in outcome indicators illustrating what life is like in Shetland has been published

The report reveals that nine out of ten people in Shetland feel positively about their local communities, saying they feel part of the community. Other positive trends include a reduction in the number of people drinking at harmful levels as well as a reduction in the number of children who are not a healthy weight in primary one. There has also been a significant rise in people engaging regularly in some form of sport or physical activity.

A number of indicators do however show a worsening picture over the last few years but this is not unique to Shetland. Areas of concern include increased food bank usage, and a rise in children living in low income families. The challenges identified are in-line with trends across the whole country, with the report published at a time when people in Scotland are living through the most severe economic crisis in a generation. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change are becoming more severe and widespread, and an overall reduced working age population is impacting on businesses and services.

The annual report is published to share information with communities and partner agencies on what has been achieved through Shetland’s Community Planning Partnership to support activity to improve outcomes for Shetland’s communities. It illustrates how collaborative working is being used to improve outcomes across the four priority areas of participation, people, place and money.

Chair of the Shetland Partnership, Health Board Chairman Gary Robinson said:

“The role of the Shetland Partnership is to identify a shared vision and key priorities for all of us to work towards, both individually and collectively, to improve the lives of everyone in Shetland.

“Our aim is for Shetland to be a place where everyone is able to thrive, live well in strong, resilient communities, and where people and communities are able to help plan and deliver solutions to future challenges.

“The reality is, within this report, there are some stark areas of concern facing the people of Shetland, but in presenting the data in this way, we can see a direct comparison with other local authorities in Scotland, and encouragingly, see that where we are facing challenges, these are not always unique to Shetland.

“Publishing the annual report is the most transparent way of ensuring we are accountable to the people of Shetland for the work we do as a Community Planning Partnership and illustrates clearly whether or not we are making a difference, and is an important tool to help people understand what we do and what we have achieved.”

The full report can be accessed on The Shetland Partnership website.