Community Conversations

Tell us what matters most for Shetland's future

Have we got Shetland's priorities right?

Last year, people across Shetland took part in a series of Community Conversations to share their views on what matters most to the future of their communities.

The feedback from those conversations has helped us identify the issues that people feel are most important for Shetland's future and has informed the development of the Council's new Corporate Plan.

We now want to check that we have understood those messages correctly.

This short survey asks you to:

  • Tell us how important the priorities identified through the Community Conversations are for Shetland's future
  • Identify the issues that matter most to you
  • Tell us whether the Council's proposed areas of focus reflect the priorities raised by communities

Whether or not you attended a Community Conversation event, we would like to hear from you.

The survey is open until 11:59 PM on Sunday 4th October and takes around five minutes to complete.   

(The survey is embedded below, but can also be completed directly using the link provided.)

Complete the survey ↓

What we heard

The word cloud below highlights some of the themes that were discussed most often during the Community Conversations. The larger the word, the more often it featured in conversations across Shetland.


A word cloud featuring the words that came most clearly out of the community conversations events
Find out more about the Community Conversation drop-in events

Complete the survey

Having trouble viewing the survey?
If the survey does not appear below, you can complete it in a separate window.  (This may be easier if you are completing it on a mobile phone)

About the Community Conversations

Between November 2025 and January 2026, Councillors, the Chief Executive and Council officers visited communities across Shetland, hosting nine drop-in sessions alongside an online discussion for remote island communities.

The sessions provided an opportunity for local people to share their ideas, concerns and aspirations for the future, helping us better understand what helps communities thrive and what role the Council should play in supporting them.

Participants were invited to discuss three simple questions:

  • What helps your community to thrive?
  • What role should the Council take in making that a reality?
  • If your community is a place of positive wellbeing, what does that look like for you?

The conversations highlighted a number of recurring themes and priorities, including:

  • Housing
  • Transport and connectivity
  • Jobs and economic opportunity
  • Supporting young people to stay and thrive in Shetland
  • Affordable energy
  • Health and social care
  • Education and learning opportunities
  • Cost of living challenges
  • Community facilities and services
  • Ensuring communities are listened to and involved in decisions

The survey above is an opportunity to check whether these findings accurately reflect what matters most to people across Shetland today.

Thank you for taking the time to share your views.