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Pupils and staff from Sanday School will be swimming to Ukraine – thanks to the island’s swimming pool – in a bid to raise money for the ongoing humanitarian effort.

Around 60 pupils from P1-S4 will be taking part, alongside members of staff, to raise as much as possible for the DEC Ukraine Appeal. Every penny donated in sponsorship will be donated to the effort.

Principal Teacher, Kristen Muir, said it’s around 2,200 miles to Ukraine so they will be scaling the sponsored swim accordingly and counting all swimming lengths during the school and public sessions.

The 'New Treasures' exhibition at the Orkney Museum opening soon features artefacts donated to the museum during the last year - including a handkerchief signed by some of the survivors from the HMS Royal Oak.

Surfer, sailor, swimmer, sea angler, kayaker, wildlife watcher, beachcomber - if you enjoy marine and coastal recreation adventures, then the Council wants to hear from you!

The Athlete Travel Award Scheme was launched in 2018 and has so far supported 30 Orkney athletes to progress their journey in sport. Applications will open for the 2022-23 cohort of athletes on Friday 25 March.

The grant is aimed at supporting sportspeople across the Highlands & Islands with the costs of attending competitive and training opportunities is open again for applications from Orkney athletes.

Orkney Islands Council is appealing for registered landlords who might be able to provide suitable properties for Ukrainian families to come forward.

Orkney Health and Care is highlighting a national campaign running til the end of March aimed at encouraging people who care for others to seek the support that will help them look after themselves too.

A former Council employee helped a mother and her two small children evacuate war-torn Ukraine.

After around 1,500 miles and a 12 hour wait at the Ukraine Border Control, Ian Ward, his wife Svetlana and the others have made it out of the country.

Ian and his wife are currently in Hamburg in Germany, but he hopes they will be able to make it to the UK soon.

Flagstone repairs in the centre of Stromness are continuing, with the road closures in place on Alfred Street moving towards Mayburn Court next week.

Orkney Islands Council’s Harbour Authority bid a fond farewell to the tug Einar at the weekend (13 March) after 33 years’ service.

She has been sold to a company in Tromsø, Norway and the transfer of ownership will take place in Aberdeen.

The Einar’s sister ship, Erlend, is also on the market and expressions of interest have been made.

The Council has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement this week that face masks will still be required to be worn on public transport and most indoor public settings until at least early April.

The legal requirement to wear facemasks had been expected to be dropped on March 21 – but the rising number of COVID cases across Scotland has led to the delay.