AS a young woman growing up in an island community, Kerry Baker is well versed in the challenges of rural life.

The 24-year-old now uses her unique insight to improve opportunities for young people living in the Hebrides in her role as co-ordinator of Islay and Jura Youth Action Group.

But she knows all too well the continuing pressure of life in small communities and the particular problems encountered by those living in remote locations - from a lack of transport to access to healthcare.

Ms Baker is now preparing to outline the realities of rural isolation to politicians making a fact-finding visit to the islands tomorrow and Monday.

The Scottish Parliament's Equal Opportunities committee is making the two-day trip as part of its inquiry into loneliness and isolation.

The inquiry was launched after figures showed that more than 80,000 Scots over 65 say they always or often feel lonely, and Childline said it counsels thousands of children a year for whom loneliness, sadness and isolation are their main problems.

Research has also claimed that social isolation can be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

MSPs say the purpose of the visit is to understand the unique challenges of living in a remote island setting, and they will hold a formal evidence session with local people as well as attending a local ceilidh and looking at clubs and activities for young and older people.

Ms Baker, of Bowmore, said she believes rural isolation is a problem for young people for a number of reasons.

The lack of transport is a key one, she said. In her role with Islay and Jura Youth Action, she helps put on weekly youth clubs on a Friday and Saturday night and other events through the year, including bringing a temporary ice rink to the islands and vocational training through a partnership with a local college.

However, many local young people cannot attend. "We run our club at night but there is no transport after 6pm and unless parents can run them, it can be difficult for those who don't live in Bowmore to get here," she said.

Age-appropriateness is another factor. For 18-25s like herself the opportunities can be even more limited, which is why she is trying to set up open-mic jamming music sessions in Bowmore. "They don't want to be with the high school kids," she said.

The pressure of small communities can also be a problem, she said. A victim of bullying herself at school, she said social attitudes formed at school can carry on into adult life in a way that is unlikely in a busier urban setting.

"Some people here never grow out of high school. Even though I'm now 24, the same kind of name calling carries on. I think teachers could play more of a part in addressing those kind of conflicts, because they can carry on long past school."

She has suffered mental health problems including depression, but found a lack of mental health support in Argyll. She is not the only one, she said. "Some friends have had to go to private clinics on the mainland."

She will tell MSPs that better, later-running transport would help while more funding is needed for community projects for all ages.

Meanwhile, 85-year-old Mary Keith, author and crofter, will tell MSPs that good housing and support is needed to let people live on the island independently for as long as possible. A care home director, she now finds herself in need of care as her eyesight deteriorates.

"I'm partially sighted now and my vision is rapidly deteriorating. My doctor tells me nothing more can be done. I can't drive anymore and I especially miss reading," she said. "I rely on my daughter a lot.

"I believe you can be alone without being lonely. I can still listen to the TV. I feel content."

Margaret McCulloch MSP, convener of the equal opportunities committee, said: "The key questions for the committee are this an escalating problem and how can it be tackled effectively?"

She said there might be lessons to be learned from people and organisations on Islay.

"We know that far more people living in remote rural areas cite friendliness as something they like about their community, compared to urban areas and more people living in remote rural areas give up their time to volunteer than in the rest of Scotland," she said.