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Looking after our own
A campaign to find urgently needed foster carers for young children in the county has been launched by Orkney Health and Care’s fostering team.
‘Looking after our own’ aims to encourage everyone to consider whether they could make room in their family for a child in need.
Around 40 children in Orkney have needed foster care over the past three years.
Orkney Islands Council fostering and adoption social worker, Jane Beckwith, said: “Our current foster carers are absolutely fantastic and do an incredible job of looking after some of the most vulnerable children in our community.
“However, there is a pressing need for at least four new foster families to provide anything from short term relief for our existing foster carers to looking after a child longer term.”
Children may need foster care for many reasons. Councillor Roderick McLeod, Chair of OIC’s Social Services and Housing Committee, said: “Increasing our pool of foster carers would boost our ability to ‘match’ children in need with families and carers who are best able to meet their needs - and that’s something we really want to be able to do as often as we can.”
More information about fostering...
Image: Could your family be a fostering family?
What's New?
School crossing update - reliefs needed in Stromness
The School Crossing Patrol on Ferry Road in Stromness will be closed for the week starting Monday August 30. There is a shortage of relief School Crossing Patrol Officers in Stromness and the Council would love to hear from anyone who thinks they could take on paid relief work. Training and uniform are provided. If you enjoy working with children, would be available to work in Stromness around school opening and closing times and are willing to work outdoors, contact Karriz Rendall at Education & Leisure Services on 873535, or email karriz.rendall@orkney.gov.uk - or pop into Customer Services.
The school crossing patrol on Deerness Road, Kirkwall remains closed until further notice and will be reopened as soon as staff shortages are resolved. Meantime parents are advised to encourage their children to plan their route to school using alternative crossings nearby in the Meadows, at the top of the Clay Loan or on George Street instead.
Drivers are asked to take extra care near both these crossings around school opening and closing times.
Guide to Courses 2010-2011
Click here to access a PDF copy of the Council's guide to community learning courses. You can enrol for courses at Orkney College by contacting the college (telephone 01856 569000). For courses at other centres contact Customer Services at the Council (telephone 01856 873535). You will need your debit or credit card to book courses by phone.
Scottish Government review of ferry services
The Scottish Government is consulting on lifeline and internal ferry services. For details, read the press release- closing date for comments is September 30.
It's all about Orkney
Facts and figures about Orkney’s economy are now available in the latest Economic Review published by Orkney Islands Council’s Economic Development team. To find out more, read the press release and download the review.
Latest Press Releases
Adverse Weather School Closures
For information on any school closures you can follow the latest updates on the OIC Twitter page by clicking on the Twitter logo below. You don't need to join Twitter to see OIC's tweets. Be sure to fully read the terms and conditions on Twitter's website before joining Twitter.
