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Orkney Islands Council is reminding local drivers to take extra care on the roads as schools reopen after the October break.

Schools reopen to pupils on Monday October 24 and with the darker mornings and evenings - and the additional challenges that wintry weather can bring - it's more important than ever that drivers keep a close eye out for children and young people travelling to and from school.

Families are also being encouraged to make use of high vis vests, reflective strips and LED lights to ensure their youngsters are visible on Orkney's roads and pavements.

As the UK looks to mark Emergency Services Day on Wednesday, Council Convener Graham Bevan has paid tribute to the local people serving in the police, fire, ambulance and search and rescue services in Orkney. 

Emergency Services Day, also known as 999 Day, takes place on 9th September each year, however, as Her Majesty The Queen passed away on 8th September, the date for 2022 was rescheduled out of respect for the King and national mourning.

999 Day will now take place on Wednesday 19th October 2022.

Orkney Islands Council is advising that some changes are being put in place for the opening and closing times at Customer Services at the One Stop Shop in Kirkwall.

With effect from Monday 24 October 2022, the reception and contact centre (the staffed phone lines) will be open throughout the working day from 9am to 5pm - no longer closing between 12pm and 1pm.

A look ahead at road works coming up, including impacts on public bus services.

The engaging spirit between Council colleagues who joined together for a cancer fundraising challenge and the generosity of the Orkney public have been commended in the Scottish Parliament.

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur raised a motion during September praising the efforts of all involved in the challenge which raised over £16,000 for Cancer Research UK – more than trebling the original £5k target.

The Council has launched a survey to encourage feedback from users on their customer service experiences at the main receptions in Kirkwall and Stromness.

It is hoped that folk’s views will highlight areas which are working well but also identify areas that could be improved.

As part of the Council’s Our People - Our Plan journey, there is a determination to ensure that the first point of contact services at Customer Services in Kirkwall and the Warehouse Buildings in Stromness are as good as they can be from the customer perspective.

Are you worrying about money? Financial support and advice are available in Orkney.

The development of the Worrying About Money? leaflet for Orkney was led by NHS Orkney in collaboration with local organisations. The guide follows three simple steps to help you identify the cause of your money worry, what options are available and where to get help.

 Are you passionate about protecting the rights of young people and working to achieve the best possible outcomes for them and their families? Children's Hearings Scotland needs volunteer Panel members for Orkney.

An S5 student from Kirkwall Grammar school has become a second time winner in a series of national competitions aimed at raising the profile of Computing Science in schools.

Mansie Gee was selected as a winner for the Summer of Code competition with his recent entry of an AI bot that communicates using voice recognition.

Stromness Primary School pupils have written sympathy letters and messages of support to King Charles III after reflecting on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The P4/5 class were also given the opportunity to hear first-hand from Orkney’s Lord Lieutenant Elaine Grieve – a former Head Teacher at Stromness Primary School and now the King’s representative in the county – who attended at the funeral of our late monarch.

Ms Grieve has not only passed on the mail to the correct address but also shared her thoughts and memories of meeting with our King prior to his accession, when he was the Duke of Rothesay.