Free ActiveLife passes given to Ukrainians

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.”

James Linklater, Managing Director of The Pickaquoy Centre and Orkney Islands Councils Leisure and Culture Service Manager Garry Burton said: "We are pleased to be able to support Olena and her daughter Athina, as well as Natalia, in this small way given the trauma they've been through.

"We will continue to support refugees as they come to Orkney, and to try and show them how welcome they are within our community.

"An ActiveLife membership offers access to a huge range of activities across all leisure facilities in Orkney and we hope they are able to take advantage of the benefits on offer and we very much look forward to seeing them in the facilities."

To find out more about ActiveLife and to sign up click here: https://www.pickaquoy.co.uk/membership