With the bairns settled back into school after the summer, autumnal weather nipping at our heels, and a cost of living crisis affecting more people than ever before, it’s never been more important to ensure our school children have a hot, nutritious and tasty meal at lunchtime.

We need your help to continue making that happen – and it’s a chance for you to earn some money too.

There’s a number of jobs available across the county in our schools from cooks to kitchen assistants, permanent to relief posts.

The weed works at Happy Valley have been further delayed due to wet weather.

They will be carried out as soon as conditions allow and the area will be fully accessible after the treatment.

A herbicide approved for amenities will be used in a bid to control invasive species that would take over otherwise. This has been carried out for many years and helps maintain Happy Valley as a beautiful place to visit.

Orkney Islands Council was advised on Friday afternoon (2 September) that strike action involving members of the Unison, Unite and GMB unions had been called off whilst their members consider the latest pay offer from COSLA. This means that the planned school closures and disruptions to waste services will not take place this week.

The application form and guidance for bids to the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) grant scheme are open and can be accessed via www.orkney.gov.uk/CLLD

Community groups are urged to come forward to secure funding to improve a community facility, or help address pandemic, child, food and fuel poverty challenges within their area.

Bids are being sought from groups within Orkney who want to make a difference through the Scottish Government funded CLLD grant scheme – the successor to the previous LEADER Programme which saw a wealth of small-scale community-led projects benefit between 2014-2020.

Almost 300 carers and professionals in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have been trained to communicate important messages to parents and children that will help prevent sexual abuse.

They have been trained as part of the Inter Islands Talk PANTS! campaign, which was launched almost a year ago by the NSPCC and the islands’ protection committees.

The NSPCC’s Talk PANTS! resources give parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children about sexual abuse. With the help of a colourful animated character, a friendly dinosaur called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them and to recognise when something is not okay, and how to tell someone if they are upset or worried.