Rachael King

• Ward: West Mainland
• Address: Brodgar, Stenness, Stromness, KW163JZ
• Telephone: 01856 761428
• Mobile: 07885 201976
• Email Rachael King

How Best to Contact Me

You are most likely to reach me on my council mobile number above. If I cannot take your call, please leave me a message and I will phone you back as soon as possible.

Personal Profile

Orkney has been my home for 30 years, most of my adult life. I am married to Nick Card  who works for the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) and directs the Ness of Brodgar archaeological dig. We have two daughters, Megan and Beth, both born at the Balfour Hospital.

Since the second year of my degree course, I have worked alongside people with different backgrounds and experiences; from children with autism, young people with substance misuse challenges, the deaf community and blind community, adults with learning difficulties, people with dementia, in-patient acute psychiatry and finally specialising in adult mental health and wellbeing in NHS Psychotherapy and private practice as an Art Psychotherapist. I have been involved in the politics of both my profession as Chair of my national UK body and that of the wider Allied Health Professions as Convenor of the Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland.

Having previously been elected twice as a member of the Orkney Manifesto Group, I stood at the last election under the principles of the Orkney Way. 

• I am an independent candidate, and not a member of a National Political Party.
• I will support equity for Orkney within Scotland, for each island within Orkney and for each person living there
• I support Orkney to be ambitious, and lead the way towards ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions
• I support that in the event of any future constitutional change, Orkney should have the right to seek self- determination and to consider all the options available to our Islands
• I will support, promote and defend our unique culture, and maintain our international friendships including those with the Nordic and Arctic regions
• I will endeavour to be fair, honest, caring and compassionate in the Orkney Way

Whilst this moves away from being a formal political party candidate with a detailed manifesto, my hope is that it recognises the value that Orkney places in having a council of independent councillors who are not required to follow a national manifesto that may not reflect the needs of our islands.  It creates an opportunity for a greater number of local candidates to be democratically elected on the basis of shared values and ambitions that in turn will give Orkney a recognised mandate on the national stage. This will provide Orkney with a stronger voice to highlight the challenges that we face as a community but also to pursue the opportunities that exist for our islands through the support given to those candidates at the ballot box by members of their community.

But first and foremost, I am a mother, the West Mainland is where I live and Orkney is my home. I will work to the best of my abilities to ensure that my community and the islands as a whole are given the greatest opportunities to thrive.  I thank my family for all the immense support they have shown to allow me to undertake this role.

Committee Membership

Details of committee membership can be found in ‘Related Downloads’.

Outside Interests

I enjoy meeting, listening to, learning from and working collaboratively with people from all walks of life. I feel fortunate that my professional life has allowed me to do just that and in turn acts as a constant reminder of the important things in life - the role of councillor feels like a natural extension where I can put to good use the skills and knowledge I have gained. The roles I have previously undertaken in the West Mainland, such as Chair of Stenness Community School, member of Stromness Academy Parent Council, board member of the Friends of Happy Valley have all contributed to a deeper understanding of not just the issues that can arise, but also the way in which everyone is willing to give of their time to support the wellbeing of the community as a whole.

When I have time, I enjoy art making, pottering around the UK's best charity shops in Kirkwall and Stromness, making my children laugh, philosophical debates on everything and anything, and on a good day, hunting for groatie buckies at the Brough of Birsay or on Evie Sands.

Privacy Notice

Councillors represent residents as part of their work in the community. A Privacy Notice is available from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page. This provides information about the type of personal information Councillors might collect in carrying out their work, how it is collected, how it is used and how it is stored.