Also in the news / Single vessel, care home retender, media awards, arts organisation shortlisted

SHETLAND Islands Council ferry woes continue this morning (Friday) with services on Bluemull Sound down to a single vessel operation.

The Fivla was removed on Thursday afternoon to help out on the Whalsay service where the Linga had to be taken out of service the day before.

Bookings have been suspended on Bluemull Sound while the single vessel operates to a Saturday timetable.

COMMUNITY care services in Shetland are not set to be privatised as was suggested elsewhere after the local authority issued a contract tender, worth around £4 million, just before Christmas.

Currently residential and day care services at the Walter and Joan Care Home in Scalloway are provided by CrossReach, the social care provider of the Church of Scotland.

This contract comes to an end on 31 March 2023 and is now being retendered.

Director of community health and social care Brain Chittick said: “The tendering procedure for residential care provision is underway. A separate tendering procedure for day care and day/community activities is expected to commence in late January.”

The care home in Scalloway and its associated services is the only care provision in Shetland not run by Shetland Islands Council.

THERE are a few local nominees in this year’s Highlands and Islands Media Awards.

Malcolm Younger is up for the photography prize, while Chloe Irvine – originally from Shetland but now working for the Press and Journal – is nominated in the young reporter category.

Meanwhile The Shetland Times has been shortlisted in the newspaper of the year category alongside the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald and the West Highland Free Press.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Inverness next month.

A SHETLAND-based community arts organisation has been shortlisted for a national creativity award.

Last year Curious Pilgrims pulled together a 22-minute documentary of local people speaking about the social and emotional effects of the Covid pandemic.

The Bressay based organisation is one of 36 groups from across the UK and Ireland shortlisted.

Judging panels from each nation will choose a winner for England, Ireland/Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, while members of the public can vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice Awards.

Voting in the People’s Choice Award is open until 27 January via this link.

Winners will be announced at the Creative Lives Awards ceremony in Leeds on 7 March as part of the ‘LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture’ celebrations.

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