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Orkney Islands Council was advised on Friday afternoon (2 September) that strike action involving members of the Unison, Unite and GMB unions had been called off whilst their members consider the latest pay offer from COSLA. This means that the planned school closures and disruptions to waste services will not take place this week.

The application form and guidance for bids to the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) grant scheme are open and can be accessed via www.orkney.gov.uk/CLLD

Community groups are urged to come forward to secure funding to improve a community facility, or help address pandemic, child, food and fuel poverty challenges within their area.

Bids are being sought from groups within Orkney who want to make a difference through the Scottish Government funded CLLD grant scheme – the successor to the previous LEADER Programme which saw a wealth of small-scale community-led projects benefit between 2014-2020.

Almost 300 carers and professionals in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have been trained to communicate important messages to parents and children that will help prevent sexual abuse.

They have been trained as part of the Inter Islands Talk PANTS! campaign, which was launched almost a year ago by the NSPCC and the islands’ protection committees.

The NSPCC’s Talk PANTS! resources give parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children about sexual abuse. With the help of a colourful animated character, a friendly dinosaur called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them and to recognise when something is not okay, and how to tell someone if they are upset or worried.

An update on community events on Hoy on Saturday 17 September when Sir Chris Hoy will visit the island and formally open the newly redeveloped Scapa Flow Museum.

A Stronsay Junior High School pupil has had a “divine” experience as St Magnus Cathedral’s first ever work placement student.

Although having no previous knowledge of the cathedral or direct interest in history, S4 student Lilly says she came away with a new-found respect for the building and its story.

The Council’s waste team has been working hard to minimise disruption to domestic and trade waste customers as a result of the next planned industrial action on 7-10 September.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what has been put in place if there’s no agreement on the national pay deal -

The Council can confirm there will be significant school and nursery closures throughout Orkney if the planned national strike action over pay goes ahead on three days next week – 6, 7 and 8 September.

School catering staff, cleaners, caretakers, teaching assistants and early years practitioners are involved in the national industrial action.

The Education Service has reviewed in detail staff members expected to be on strike and the this would have impact on health, safety and support provisions for every nursery and school.

Wreaths will be laid at the Kirk Green War Memorial outside St Magnus Cathedral on Saturday 3 September during a remembrance event to mark Merchant Navy Day.

The Red Ensign will be flown at the Royal British Legion in Kirkwall, and, as always, the flag will be aloft at the Scapa OIC Harbour Authority Offices as Orkney joins UK-wide events in recognition of the nation's merchant seafarers.

The children at Rousay School have a message to any keen cooks out there – “We love our school lunches, they are yummy.  Please come and be our cook.”

You can live on the island or commute from the Mainland as the hours fit in with the ferry times.

There’s 22 bairns at the school and Head Teacher, Mrs Katie Lucas, says: “School lunches play a crucial role in ensuring that all children get to eat healthy and nutritious foods - which in turn supports their ability to learn at school.

In a bid to ease a build-up of domestic waste for those households affected by the national strike action, the waste and recycling teams will be rescheduling collections.

Areas 13 and 15 that did not receive a domestic collection on Friday 26 August will have a rescheduled domestic collection on Friday 2 September instead of their recycling collection.

Areas 1 and 6 that did not receive a domestic collection on Monday 29 will have a rescheduled domestic collection on Monday 5 September instead of their recycling collection.