Orkney will play host to the International Island Games in 2025 – the largest event ever to be held in the county – and a major part of its success will be a huge team of volunteers working behind the scenes to help make it happen.

Games Director, Kirsty Talbot, believes that now is the time to build on the volunteer capacity within sports clubs in the county to create a really solid foundation for the Games.

Following the Full Council decision during December 2022 to launch a financial support scheme to help folk meet the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis, officers are finalising the detail of how the scheme will be administered.

Further details will be announced later this month, with payments made from February onwards.

An exciting opportunity has arisen thanks to the Orkney Local Employability Partnership (OLEP) delivery of a one-off grant scheme aimed at further tackling employability barriers. 

The Innovation Challenge Fund of up to £2,000 is open to Third Sector organisations delivering employability services to folk in the county – as part of Scottish Government funding in support of No One Left Behind.

Further industrial action by teaching unions is expected to impact Orkney schools next week (10/11 January)

Parents are being contacted directly by schools to inform them of individual school arrangements today (6 January)

The Westray Swimming Pool will reopen in January for the first time since the pandemic, with a special open day for the community on 7 January organised by the Westray Community Association