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New 'Islands Forum' To Be Set Up By Government To Support Island Communities

A new 'Islands Forum' is being formed to give island communities a voice to communicate directly - and work together - with Government.

The proposed forum will allow Government to hear and learn from island communities across the UK.

The Isle of Wight is among areas that face common challenges such as connectivity, travel, infrastructure, and depopulation.

Through the Forum, attendees will be able to share experiences and learn from success to overcome these challenges, as it plans to unite and level up every corner of the United Kingdom, while working closely with the devolved Governments.

Secretary of State, Michael Gove, said:

“Talent is equally spread across the United Kingdom, but opportunity is not. Our island communities face shared challenges and I want us to work together to overcome them, as we work to unite and level up the whole UK.

“A number of island communities have already benefited from the Levelling Up Fund and Community Renewal Funds. Creating a new Islands Forum takes our commitment one step further and provides a new opportunity for island communities to work together to help their communities prosper.”

Several projects in island communities have already benefited from cash injections through the levelling-up fund. For example, Anglesey has seen a boost of £2.7million through the UK Community Renewal fund provided to six schemes, including schemes to develop youth enterprise and provide high quality Health and Social Care education.

When establishing the Forum, the Government said it intends to work with island communities to find the best ways it can engage with them.

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