However, the 2022 Census shows a shift in that pattern, with growth appearing to have stalled and the working age population falling below the national average.

In Orkney, 49% of the population is aged over 50, compared to the national average of 42% and only 7% of Orkney’s population is aged between 16 and 24 years, compared to 11% for Scotland as a whole. If we are to reverse this trend and ensure the future sustainability of our island communities, we must make it easier for young people and working-age families to stay and settle here. Housing will be a key to this.

During the election campaign, the First Minister set out a clear commitment – a returned SNP Government would launch a First Homes Fund within its first 100 days. The fund will provide up to £10,000 to support first-time buyers with their deposit and help them onto the housing ladder. Just weeks into this new term, we are already making good on that pledge with applications for the first round of the fund to open before the end of June.

Across Scotland, the gap between wages and house prices remains one of the biggest obstacles to home ownership but in our island communities, those pressures are often even more acute. Data from the Office of National Statistics shows that as of March 2026, the average house price in Orkney Islands was £210,000, compared to the national average of £187,000. High numbers of second homes and short-term holiday lets in our islands can place additional strain on the local housing market, reducing the availability of homes and driving up prices.

Rising living costs, high rents and other economic pressures mean folk just don’t have the money at the end of the month to save. It is an injustice that so many are now paying more in rent than they would on a mortgage. Too often, this leaves people trapped in the rental market or facing the difficult choice of leaving the communities they grew up in.

The First Homes Fund is designed to tackle this. By providing up to £10,000 towards the purchase of a home valued at up to £300,000, the scheme will help first-time buyers overcome one of the biggest barriers to home ownership – the deposit. I would encourage anyone interested in applying to keep an eye out for updates in the coming weeks, when more information will be made available.

It would be impossible to discuss the causes of depopulation without mentioning the critical role that transport connectivity plays in sustaining our island communities. This has been brought into sharp focus by Loganair’s announcement of a temporary reduction in flights on the Inverness–Kirkwall–Sumburgh route, a service that I know many islanders and businesses rely on.

While the conflict in Iran has caused fuel costs to skyrocket, there are wider resilience challenges that must be looked at to ensure these essential air links are protected for the future. I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Stephen Flynn, to raise the concerns being expressed by constituents and to ask the Scottish Government to work with Loganair to ensure that this reduction in services remains temporary.

In less gloomy news, what a joy it was to stay up and watch Scotland’s men’s team secure a win against Haiti in the early hours of Sunday morning. The last time we won a World Cup game was the summer I left school. I was only 17 then – I’m a granny now.

It’s certainly been a long time coming but Scotland’s appearance on the world stage has been a source of national pride. It may have been a scrappy goal, but it’s three points all the same, and Scotland sit top of the group. We’ve never reached the knockout stage before, and this time we might just do it. We’re on the cusp of history and have made a brilliant start.

We’ve got McGinn, super John McGinn!

This is a regular column by SNP MSP Maree Todd. All Highlands and Islands MSPs can submit a column to The Orkney News if they wish to be included. email news@theorkneynews.scot