Latest News

Orkney Islands Council has issued revised guidance for householders on putting their bins out for collection.

A joint project between Orkney Housing Association Limited (OHAL), Orkney Islands Council and the Scottish Government has seen six new-build properties become available in Stromness for first time buyers or those on low incomes. 

Under the Scottish Government's New Supply Shared Equity Scheme, first time buyers can pay between 60% and 80% of the property cost, with the remaining percentage under Scottish Government ownership.

This year 11 local athletes are benefiting from the sportscotland Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS). The Scheme is an ongoing partnership between sportscotland and the participating local authorities in Highlands & Islands - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils.

Orkney Islands Council is extremely grateful to also have a partnership with Stagecoach which allows us to enhance and extend our programme in Orkney.

Orkney’s local emergency coordination group, OLECG, is urging residents to do an ‘hour of power’ for winter preparations when clocks go back.

This year 11 local athletes are benefiting from the sportscotland Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS). The Scheme is an ongoing partnership between sportscotland and the participating local authorities in Highlands & Islands - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils.

Orkney Islands Council are extremely grateful to also have a partnership with Stagecoach which allows us to enhance and extend our programme in Orkney.

Take a look here to find out more about what this means to Ross  -

Business and community representation on the sub-committee of the Orkney College Management Council has increased following an interim arrangement being agreed thanks to the “exceptional calibre of candidates”.

In August this year, the Council appealed for those with a keen interest in further and higher education and research from business, third sector and the community to come forward and contribute towards the development of Orkney College.

Ten notes of interest were received, and subsequently five candidates were shortlisted and invited for an informal interview.

More young people than ever in Orkney are now able to access the Togetherall online mental health community website for free.

The Council has commissioned an expansion of the 24/7 online peer to peer mental health community to enable young people, from the age of 16-31, to be able to access the digital platform for free.

For the past year it was available at no cost to 16-19-year-olds in the county. During that period around 40 young people from Orkney took self-assessments using Togetherall and raised issues including depression, social fear, anxiety, loss or trauma, obsessive or compulsive tendencies, concern about eating, phobias, concern about drinking or drugs, self-esteem and problems sleeping.

This year 11 local athletes are benefiting from the sportscotland Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS). The Scheme is an ongoing partnership between sportscotland and the participating local authorities in Highlands & Islands - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils.

Orkney Islands Council are extremely grateful to also have a partnership with Stagecoach which allows us to enhance and extend our programme in Orkney.

It’s official - the warm welcome at St Magnus Cathedral is the best in Scotland!

The Cathedral was shortlisted in the National Church Awards hosted by the National Churches Trust, and yesterday (24 October) won the “Open for Visitors” (Scotland) Award 2022 at a ceremony in Mercers’ Hall in London hosted by Hugh Dennis.

Bus passengers are being reminded of reduced timetable on Sundays in winter on the X1 (Stromness-Kirkwall-St Margarets Hope) route. Services 2 (Houton) and 6 (Tingwall) Sunday timetables have also changed to coincide with the winter ferry timetable now in operation.