A team of S3 students from Stromness Academy has secured a grant of £3,000 for Orkney Rape & Sexual Assault Service (ORSAS) through the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).

The group – made up of Alida, Erin, Eden, Sofia and Keryn – compiled a presentation that detailed information about how rape and sexual violence against women concerns them and how ORSAS is working to both prevent these offences and support those who have been affected in Orkney.

Kinship carers in Orkney are being invited to get together for a “cuppa and chat” at the Storehouse Restaurant, Kirkwall, on Tuesday 18 April from 1-3pm.

The “Real Talk” informal gathering is a chance for kinship carers - also known as family and friends’ carers – to connect in a safe, peer led environment, to offer support and friendship, and to share their experiences.

A roundup of works underway or soon to start around Orkney, for the week starting Monday 10 April:

Travelling Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in a bus, will arrive in Orkney this April, with the exhibition To avoid falling apart by Emmie McLuskey and Janice Parker. This two-person art exhibition explores and illuminates our human capacity for mutuality, connection and interdependence through movement, language, and film.

We have some information relating to our amenity sites and kerbside collections on Easter Monday.

There will be no disruptions to our kerbside collections on Monday for residential and commercial customers – they will run as normal.

A further 175 Council cost of living £200 payments are arriving in folk’s bank accounts this week.

We are continuing to receive applications and would urge anyone who has not done so yet to see if they are eligible – as the closing date of 30 April is fast approaching.

Eligible families in Orkney will receive a £301 UK Government cost of living payment from Tuesday 2-9 May.

Those entitled to the payment must be in receipt of tax credits and no other means-tested benefits.

The payment will be paid automatically by HM Revenue and Customs into most customers’ bank accounts between Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 9 May 2023 across the UK.

The search is on for Scotland's most inspiring young people for the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2023.

The Awards look for people across Scotland to nominate young people who do extraordinary work to improve their community and the lives of others.

A potentially life-saving defibrillator has been installed within the Bignold Park in Kirkwall thanks to the efforts of a number of local football clubs and Scottish Sea Farms.

Kirkwall Wanderers, Rovers and Thorfinn, approached local salmon farmer Scottish Sea Farms for help in buying a defibrillator for the Bignold, which is not only used for matches and training, by the Orkney Agricultural Society for the County Show, and now more than ever by members of the public given the recent introduction of the Council-funded roadway.

Albert Street in Kirkwall will be closed on Friday 7 April for repairs.