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Ukrainian refugees Olena Katsy and Natalia Simonova have been presented with free ActiveLife memberships thanks to the Council and the Pickaquoy Centre Trust agreeing that all refugees arriving in the county will be given the opportunity to benefit from free membership for a six-month period.

Olena, who arrived in Orkney on 17 May, said: “We are very grateful for the free passes and given I love exercising it will be really nice to take advantage of this when we can.

“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity.”

A Ukrainian refugee has secured a job less than two weeks after arriving in Orkney - not only a shining example of a welcoming community but also the determination of a mother to do the best for her family.

Olena Katsy is a credit to her war-torn nation, and her spirit in the face of adversity echoes that of which continues to be shown by her fellow countrymen and women fighting against the Russian invasion.

Olena arrived in Orkney on May 17 with her six-year-old daughter, Athina, and, despite speaking almost no English, incredibly started work on 29 May as a housekeeper in the Murray Arms Hotel.

Staff and P4/5 children at Firth School held a mouth-watering community local produce café on Friday last week – which went down a treat with the wider community and raised £500 for WaterAid.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses who donated products for use, the youngsters, with the help of staff, were able to offer up Orkney beef burgers, beremeal and Orkney cheese pizza, Humes smoke salmon salad, cheesecake and Orkney ice-cream, traybakes and Orkney Roastery coffee.

Families of pupils came along to sample the goods on offer.

Orkney Islands Council's Leader James Stockan has paid tribute to the special relationship Orkney enjoys with Heriot Watt University as the educational institution celebrates its bicentenary.

Ruby Ionides, a P6 pupil from North Walls Community School, has won the Primary-Age category of the Scottish Civic Trust ‘My Place’ photography competition, for her photo entitled ‘White Wood Window and Reflections’.

There once was a girl called Lorraine Kelly

A Scottish lass who made her fame on the telly

On her most recent visit she joined a blackening truck...

Orkney Islands Council is advising their Roads teams will be carrying out surface dressing in a number of car parks in Kirkwall from Tuesday 14 June, throughout the rest of the week and into Saturday.

The role of local government in helping to reach Scotland’s net zero targets was the focus for the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recent visit to Orkney.

An Orkney student has used her creative talents to “Show Racism the Red Card” winning her way through to the finals of a national anti-racism education charity competition.

S4 student at Kirkwall Grammar School, Marta Bogucka, created a piece of artwork which judges described as being of “outstanding calibre”.

Marta and up to three guests have been invited to attend the Show Racism the Red Card charity ceremony at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on Friday 10 June when the winners will be announced, alongside entertainment and a mini educational session.

There’s just one week to go until the close of nominations for the Community Council elections. Do you have aspirations to stand for the next council in 2027?  Well, standing as a community councillor this year might just give you the perfect springboard for doing that.