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Orkney’s school catering team has achieved the Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) award for a fourth year in a row. 

Soil Association Scotland, who run the Food for Life Scotland programme, says that by choosing to serve more responsibly sourced and ethical ingredients, the team in the county are part of a growing movement of caterers committed to serving food that is good for the climate, nature and young people’s health.

We thought it may be helpful to provide some background information on school meals

What do you charge for school meals?

At present we charge £2.70 for a two-course meal in primary schools and £2.80 in secondary schools. This is to rise in 2023/24 to £2.80 and £3 respectively.

Orkney Islands Council’s Marine Services and Transportation team have added two compact electric vehicles to their roads fleet. 

A Royal newcomer is to join the family of trees within the gardens of Tankerness House later this month.

The rowan sapling at just a few metres high will be surrounded and protected by the other well-established varieties within the Kirkwall community space because this is a very important tree.

Duncan Ross is looking for volunteers to help launch a local Andy’s Man Club

Orcadian social care worker Duncan Ross has been on his own mental health journey and knows first-hand the importance of starting a conversation thanks to the support he received from the charity Andy’s Man Club.

Members of the EIS, Scotland’s biggest teaching union, have voted overwhelmingly to accept the current pay offer proposed by local authority employers and the Scottish Government.

In an online ballot that closed today (Friday 10 March), 90% of those voting opted to accept the pay offer. Turnout in the ballot was 82%. The EIS represents over 80% of Scotland’s teachers at all grades and in all sectors of education.

Orkney Islands Council (OIC) and Orkney Housing Association Limited (OHAL) are looking for tenants and residents interested in becoming members of their Residents’ Panel.

The joint venture was set up in 2014 with its main objective to deliver improvements to the service through the views of tenants and residents (anyone who owns a share of their social property).

Trawling Orkney’s beaches looking for “treasure” is a passion for West Mainland beachcomber, Martin Gray.

Stashing away his finds – from polystyrene fishing floats to plastic octopus pots, driftwood to creel hooks – Martin is always hopeful that one day he will find a second use for these shoreline goodies.

Orkney’s communities are well known for rallying when there’s challenging spells – and this has never been more apparent than in Westray during the recent and ongoing whiteout.

While some other areas are returning to the more usual green, Westray remains largely under a blanket of snow and ice and it has been causing some issues.

A roundup of road works underway or soon to start in the county, for week beginning 13 March 2023: