Latest News

A £400,000 fund has been made available by the Council to assist communities improve their playpark equipment.

The Playpark Renewal Fund, created thanks to Covid-19 recovery funding and managed by the OIC Sport and Leisure service, is now open for applications from eligible organisations.

The one-off recovery fund is geared towards improvement projects within play areas, not for routine maintenance, and those applying will be encouraged to seek external match funding.

The Council’s third new tug - Freyja of Scapa – will be officially named by two young Orkney namesakes at a ceremony at Scapa Pier on 15 May.

Five-year-old Freyja Hazel Seatter, from Orphir, and Freya Evans, 9, Tankerness, have been invited to perform the official duty.

Cheryl Seatter – Freyja’s mum – said the youngster was quite excited when she found out she was going to be naming a boat with the same name as herself!

The needs of community heroes providing vital and voluntary care for folk will be shared by speakers at the Orkney Carers’ Conference in May.

Between them, presenters lined up for the conference have a wealth of personal and professional experience of unpaid carers and the challenges the face each day.

Speakers at the conference include:

We have an update on the roadworks underway or due to start around Orkney from Monday 17 April.

Scottish Water are currently working on the A960 in Toab with traffic controlled by traffic lights for the duration of the work. 

Two free online gambling awareness events are to be held for professionals, support groups and criminal justice practitioners in Orkney looking to learn more about gambling related harm.

The Orkney Community Justice Partnership, in conjunction with the RCA Trust, which provides community-based alcohol and gambling related prevention and treatment services in Scotland, recently hosted two free one-hour online gambling awareness events to professionals across the north region.

Nel Govender is “delighted” to be moving to Orkney and starting work in a key role with Orkney Health and Care following an appeal for help to source suitable accommodation.

The public ask for private landlords to come forward with offers of accommodation proved to be very successful with six new members of staff now matched with providers.

A second tranche of the Third Sector Cost of Living Crisis Fund goes live today (Thursday 13^th April 2023)

The fund is administered by Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) and funded via the Council through their allocation from the Scottish Government’s Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund.

Third Sector organisations in Orkney have been reporting difficulties with covering their rising operational costs. While they are facing these increasing financial pressures, these organisations are also seeing more people coming to them for support.

Statement on behalf of the Orkney Partnership

The services inspected are provided by NHS Orkney, Orkney Islands Council, Police Scotland and third sector agencies.

Orkney Island Council and Crown Estate Scotland have today (11 April) unveiled further details of a ground-breaking project aimed at giving Orkney islanders greater say in decisions about the use of the seabed around them.

The arrangement involves both organisations working closely to evaluate new applications for agreements on the seabed surrounding Orkney, ensuring key decisions are informed by the priorities of those who live and work nearby.

A number of ex-Council vehicles and plant are offered for sale this month.

Vehicles include a Mercedes Econic RCV SV59 ZPK, Iveco Eurotrakker Gritter SV05FGE, Iveco Trakker Gritter – ST12 OTK, Bomag Roller – GN06 FBO, Iveco EuroTrakker SY53 EWY, Mercedes Axor Gritter AY06EJE and a Mercedes Axor Gritter WR11 NXU.