Marking Young Carer’s Action Day, teenage carers in Orkney are being urged to check if they are eligible for a payment worth nearly £360 annually.

Young Carer Grant is a Scottish Government benefit available to young people aged between 16 and 18 who are caring for someone who receives a disability benefit for an average of 16 hours a week.

Shapinsay residents are reminded wheelie bin collections start next Wednesday, 22 March.

We have been asked to share that the Orkney Library & Archive has been selected as one of the first in Scotland to host a ‘Lend and Mend Hub’, as part of a trailblazing pilot project helping to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

Managed by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), Orkney Library & Archive will build on its current offering to introduce a ‘Lend and Mend Hub’, giving the community free access to repair, reuse, rent and upcycle everyday items, to help keep items in use for longer, rather than them being thrown away.

Orkney’s school catering team has achieved the Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) award for a fourth year in a row. 

Soil Association Scotland, who run the Food for Life Scotland programme, says that by choosing to serve more responsibly sourced and ethical ingredients, the team in the county are part of a growing movement of caterers committed to serving food that is good for the climate, nature and young people’s health.

We thought it may be helpful to provide some background information on school meals

What do you charge for school meals?

At present we charge £2.70 for a two-course meal in primary schools and £2.80 in secondary schools. This is to rise in 2023/24 to £2.80 and £3 respectively.