Following a meeting of the Orkney Local Emergency Coordination Group strong advice has been issued by the group that only the most essential travel should be undertaken locally over the next 24 hours.

Orkney Islands Council has achieved the Investors in People (IIP) (Standard) Award for the first time – part of a drive to improve how the local authority supports and develops its employees.

IIP – which is recognised globally for pushing best practice in people management – carried out a review recently at OIC with IIP Practitioners meeting and surveying staff from across the whole organisation to determine what is working well and what could be done better.

A year on and the Orkney College UHI course for people interested in exploring a career in social care has become a popular choice for those looking to make a difference to the lives of others in the county.

‘Introduction to a Career in Social Care’ is a 6-week online course, aimed at people aged 16 and over who are interested in working in social care including senior phase pupils, people who are unemployed, under threat of unemployment or considering a change in career.

Orkney Islands Council has awarded Voluntary Action Orkney funding to develop a new partnership project aimed at improving access to advice and cash-based support for anybody worrying about money in Orkney.

Orkney played host to a very special event at the weekend when Niall Allison was presented with an award to mark being named JudoScotland’s Volunteer of the Year 2022.

Paul McGuinness a 6^th Dan and coach from JudoScotland visited Orkney from 7-8 January to present Niall’s award at the Picky Centre, after which Paul spent an afternoon coaching both junior and senior classes in his red and white belt.