Meeting The Challenges Of A Growing Highland Population
Meeting the Challenges of A Growing Highland Population
A 10-point plan of action emerged from the second Population Summit, held in Inverness on Tuesday. More than 100 delegates from key public agencies, businesses and interested groups attended the event to discuss how best to meet the challenges from significant growth in inward migration and the ageing population profile in the Highlands.
It was agreed to:
The Highland Council Convener Alison Magee, who chaired the summit, said: "We will move forward with a comprehensive plan of action following a very stimulating and informed discussion on the key issues facing the Highlands. The established partnership working between the key agencies, the private sector and support groups will provide the foundation for the progress we aim to make."
The summit heard that inward migration, particularly from Eastern European countries but also from England and Wales, is helping the Highlands reverse trends of depopulation. The Highland population had risen to 213,590, 2,250 more than mid-year estimates of 2004 and 4,670 since the last Census in 2001.
Effective inter-agency working was essential to provide new workers to the area with good advice; help them to improve their English and find suitable jobs and accommodation.
Polish engineer Tomasz Berhard, who works with Lifescan, Inverness, told the summit he was attracted by the quality of life, the improved standard of living and the friendliness of his welcome in the Highlands.
He highlighted the difficulty in Polish people being able to open a bank account and finding jobs appropriate to their qualifications and affordable accommodation.
It would be a bonus if Polish people could read a Polish newspaper, buy Polish bread or cheese and if the Highlands marked, in some way, Polish culture.
To improve language support, The Highland Council will soon be recruiting three community-based language assistants to work in schools and help families settle in.
The summit was told that there are 627 pupils, who speak 58 languages, in Highland schools who do not have English as their first language.
Linda Cowie, Head Teacher of Crown Primary School, Inverness, told the conference that 10% of her 336 pupils did not have English as a first language. The pupils were readily welcomed into the school and were well behaved polite children eager and able to learn quickly and share cultural experiences. Additional support for teachers, as planned, would help significantly.
The summit also heard from Willie Roe, Chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Garry Coutts, Chairman of NHS Highland. Sandy Mackenzie, Tullochs, gave an employer’s perspective. Keynote speaker was Tom McCabe, Scottish Minsiter for Finance and Public Sector Reform.