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.

The online application form within the Council’s dedicated web page on the Scottish Government’s new short-term lets licensing regime is now live.

It is hoped that the web page - www.orkney.gov.uk/slt-licence - will assist folk through the application process.

The page contains links to a wealth of information on the Scottish Government legislation, the application process -  https://orkney-self.achieveservice.com/service/Short_Term_Lets_licence_application - and fees.

Stromness Academy is seeking a new Head Teacher to lead a “small school that delivers a lot!”

The exciting opportunity has arisen at the academy, which caters for around 350 students from S1-6 covering Orkney’s West Mainland – an area world renowned for archaeological treasures such as Skara Brae, the Ring of Bordgar, Maeshowe, the Ness of Brodgar – the list goes on.

Stromness – the main town in the West which is nestled under Brinkie’s Brae and sits by the sea – has a rich and long maritime history – a safe haven in Viking times, a whaling and herring fishing port, a base for divers and a ferry gateway to Scotland.

Stromnessians are fiercely proud of their town, history, community and school.

“West is best!” is a phrase often bandied about by those who hail from the West Mainland and Stromness Academy provides the secondary education for students from S1-6 from throughout the West of Orkney.

Parent Lianne Taylor has watched both her daughters mature with each passing year at the academy.

There can surely be no higher endorsement than when an educator returns to his secondary school to take up a teaching appointment.

Hamish Flett is a proud West Mainlander who was educated at Evie Primary before moving to Stromness Academy and it was during his time at the secondary school that he was inspired to follow a career in teaching.

“I had a really enjoyable school life and loved my time at the Academy – partly due to the nature of the school itself being smaller and allowing good relationships to be built up with fellow pupils and teachers, but also thanks the extra-curricular activities available and the community spirit which undoubtedly surrounds the school."

The OIC has thanked members of the local Coastguard and RNLI for joining Council staff in a planned flood defence exercise in Kirkwall on Friday (7 October).

Everyone pitched in, gaining experience in both erecting and dismantling the boards and swing gates along the harbourfront.

This was part of the Council’s routine winter preparations.

People in Orkney can now apply for Social Security Scotland’s new benefit, Adult Disability Payment.

It’s money to help disabled people or people who have a long-term health condition with the extra costs they have in everyday life.

Adult Disability Payment is open for new applications only. People who already get Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance don’t need to apply as their benefits will have started to be transferred to Social Security Scotland from 29 August 2022. Social Security Scotland will be in touch directly.