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It is with great sadness that we reflect on the tragic deaths of two young people within our community.

We're sure you will join us in saying that our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with all their friends and families at this unimaginably difficult time.

The children at Burray Primary School are appealing for folk to help out in the school kitchen – “We love our school lunches, they are tasty.  Please come and work at our school.”

There’s 63 bairns at the school and Head Teacher, Catherine Mackenzie, says: “School lunches play a crucial role in ensuring that all children get to eat healthy and nutritious foods - which in turn supports their ability to learn at school.

Today (28 April) is International Workers' Memorial Day. Held every year,, International Workers' Memorial Day sees the trade union movement remember all workers who lost their lives to workplace illness or injury, highlighting their commitment to fighting to keep workers safe.

Here’s the latest round-up of roadworks underway or soon to start around Orkney, from Monday 1 May 2023.

Scottish Water are currently working on the A960 in Toab, vehicles will be controlled by traffic lights until the works are complete. 

The Selbro Resource Centre is reopening for Wednesday drop-in sessions from next week.

The jointly funded Council and NHS Orkney facility, based at Scotts Road, Hatston, will be open for the drop-in sessions on a Wednesday from 2pm-4pm, starting on Wednesday 3 May.

The centre is for people who have difficulties managing their daily living activities and could benefit from the use of assistive equipment to help them manage more independently

It’s that time of year again, when we move into the summer opening hours for the Household Waste and Recycling Centres.

From Monday 1 May the opening hours will be:

Hatston – Monday closed. Tuesday-Friday 11am-6.45pm. Saturday and Sunday 9.30am-4.45pm

Hoy is set to enjoy a visit by champion cyclist and Olympian Sir Chris Hoy this weekend (29 April).

The Council is advising of changes to public transport and to Scapa Flow Museum opening times as a result of the ‘Hoy on Hoy’ events this Saturday (29 April 2023).

There’s still time to get your application in for the Council’s Cost of Living £200 grant before the closing date of Sunday 30 April.

The Council’s Service Manager (Improvement and Performance), William Moore, said: “We are delighted to have had 2,500 households in Orkney benefit from the payment, meaning half a million pounds of additional money potentially circulating within the local economy.

“We have received some wonderful feedback from grateful families who shared their stories publicly.

Unpaid carers in Orkney are being encouraged to attend a unique event in the county during May that will look at the key challenges they face on a daily basis – and, crucially, the support available to them and those they care for.

The Orkney Carers’ Conference at the Pickaquoy Centre on Thursday 18 May is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland, and possibly the UK, and will place the needs and challenges of community heroes providing vital, voluntary care for others in Orkney, front and centre. The invite to attend is for people who look after a friend, neighbour or relative, young carers, and those working with unpaid carers.