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Latest News

For press or media enquiries please contact the communications team by email.

  • Health and wellbeing survey hopes to identify the needs of Orkney’s children and young people

    Councillors have recommended setting up a short-life working group to consider a voluntary health and wellbeing survey for Orkney’s children and young people.

    During the academic year 2021/22, all local authorities in Scotland were asked by the Scottish Government to make a health and wellbeing census available to P5-S6 pupils.

    9 February 2023

  • Council Convener offers condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria

    The Council’s Convener Graham Bevan has written to the people of Turkey and Syria offering sincere condolences to those affected by the devastating earthquakes.

    “I am sure many of us have been watching the tragic scenes unfold before our eyes in disbelief and are deeply saddened by the rising death toll...

    9 February 2023

  • Orkney Library funding award to boost digital offering

    Walk on water, kick a virtual football, test your grey matter with a range of interactive quizzes and stimulate your memory – just a snapshot of the new digital experience that will be on offer at the Orkney Library and Archive soon.

    Thanks to funding of £8,500 from the Scottish Government’s Public Library Improvement Fund, the Kirkwall facility will be purchasing a mobile digital interactive floor projector – initially for use in the library – however, it could also be used in care facilities or schools in future.

    8 February 2023

  • Iconic naval gun from SMS Bremse returns renewed to Scapa Flow Museum

    A rare naval gun from German High Seas Fleet Ship SMS Bremse - one of only five First World War German naval guns surviving in the UK - has returned to the Scapa Flow Museum after heading south for conservation late last year.

    8 February 2023

  • Households urged to return details needed for £200 cost of living payments

    Households in Orkney who are automatically entitled to receive the Council’s £200 cost of living payment are being urged to respond to the letters sent out recently by OIC requesting bank account details.

    Thanks to all who have returned the information in the pre-paid envelopes already, but we are waiting on many more.

    7 February 2023

  • Prom Pop Up is back – and we need your help!

    Looking to declutter and spring clean? Want to make some room in your wardrobe? Well, look no further for we can help!

    Following the success of last year’s “Prom Pop Up” appeal, the Council’s Community Learning and Development team are keen to ask for a peedie sprinkle of Cinderella-style magic once more.

    7 February 2023

  • Shapinsay residents urged to look out for wheelie bin letter

    Shapinsay residents are being urged to keep an eye out in coming days for a letter from the Council explaining the roll out of wheelie bins to the island and what residents need to do.

    6 February 2023

  • New scam warning issued over “fraud team” calls

    The Council’s Trading Standards team has been made aware of a spate of convincing scam calls where the caller claims to be from the “fraud team” at the person’s bank.

    To date, the scammers are said to have strong Scottish accents and go on to claim that large transactions from some local businesses have been made to the person’s account.

    3 February 2023

  • Road works update for week starting 6 February 2023

    A round up of road works in the county for the week starting Monday 6 February 2023:

    3 February 2023

  • OHAC chief to meet with staff

    Orkney Health and Social Care Chief Officer, Stephen Brown, has appealed for time to ascertain with current staff how they view the health and heart of the service they work within.

    Mr Brown will spending the next few weeks meeting individually with every member of staff from the Children and Families Service fieldwork teams to hear their personal reflections and perspectives on their experiences over time and now.

    1 February 2023