Latest News

A Council cost of living crisis funding scheme for eligible households is open for applications from today (Wednesday 25 January).

It is anticipated that up to around 8,550 households across Orkney – out of a total of around 11,000 – could benefit from the award of £200 per home. The grant award is limited to one payment per household.

Papdale Primary School is playing host to a second Wellbeing and Learning Fair next month, building on from the success of the first event in 2022.

On Thursday 2 February, the school doors will be open from 2.30pm-6.30pm for parents, carers and relatives of pupils to come along – not only a chance to meet one another and staff, but also to hear from a number of agencies who will be present to offer up practical support and assistance.

A Third Sector cost-of-living crisis fund opens for applications from today (Tuesday 24 January) in a bid to help organisations meet rising operational costs being faced now.

The Third Sector Cost of Living Crisis Fund is administered by Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) and funded via the Council through their allocation from the Scottish Government’s Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund.

Third Sector organisations in Orkney have been reporting difficulties with covering their rising operational costs. While they are facing these increasing financial pressures, these organisations are also seeing more people coming to them for support.

Orkney Islands Council has appointed a new Head of Service for Neighbourhood Services.

The appointment of Lorna Richardson is part of a refresh of the Council’s corporate management structure, coming as the organisation strives to improve its performance, deliver on its ambitious priorities and improve confidence in the organisation across staff, partner organisations and the public. Lorna will be responsible for the delivery of critical frontline services such as waste and recycling, roads, burial grounds, engineering and flood management. 

Orkney Islands Council welcomed Oliver Reid as its new Chief Executive today, Monday 23 January.

Mr Reid has joined OIC from Renfrewshire Council where he was Head of Communities and Public Protection.

Planning a Burns night? Using the principles of the Scottish Government’s ‘Stay Well Signage Scheme’ can help reduce the risks for everyone of ‘catching the contagion’ at a Burns Night supper or any other event this winter. 

Orkney Islands Council has achieved the Investors in People (IIP) (Standard) Award for the first time – part of a drive to improve how the local authority supports and develops its employees.

IIP – which is recognised globally for pushing best practice in people management – carried out a review recently at OIC with IIP Practitioners meeting and surveying staff from across the whole organisation to determine what is working well and what could be done better.

An agreement to invest £100 million in the future economic prosperity of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides was signed today (20th January) in Orkney by UK and Scottish Government Ministers and the Council Leaders of the three island groups.

Views are being sought on how rates relief should be awarded for unoccupied non-domestic properties in Orkney.

Feedback from local ratepayers and other interested parties will be used to help shape the Council’s rate relief policy moving forward.

The work of the Council’s Customer Services Teams in Kirkwall and Stromness has been given a resounding seal of approval by the folk they are there to help, support and assist.

The Council launched a Customer Service survey in October 2022 and received 150 responses from people from throughout Orkney keen to feedback on their customer service experiences.