Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is embarking on an extended programme of community and stakeholder consultation to help it address the challenges that Orkney Island residents, and people coming to Orkney to work or study in the future, are facing in relation to access to housing.

A number of new Head Teacher appointments have been made across Orkney Mainland schools.

Papdale Primary School is welcoming Emma Billington as Head, while Katie Lucas this week took over at St Andrews (Monday 30 January) and Cathy Mackenzie is the new Head Teacher leading the Hope, Burray and North Ronaldsay.

Any pupils who were born between 01/10/2006 and 28/02/2007 may be eligible to apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £30 per week if their household income is below the threshold. Thresholds are £24,421 for households with one dependent and £26,884 for households with two or more dependents.

Residents in Orkney who are eligible for free ferry vouchers but who have moved in the last 12 months are urged to contact the Council’s transportation team as soon as possible to ensure their vouchers are delivered to the correct address.

What was the purpose of the report?

The OIC Unison branch commissioned an independent report in January 2022 to get feedback from staff on the Council’s Social Work service.