Also in the news / Also in the news: final day of strikes, cost of living, islands forum and more…
THE NATIONAL strike involving support staff which has closed schools across Scotland – including the majority in Shetland – is coming to an end.
The strike closed many schools in Shetland on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
On Wednesday around 100 people attended a Unison rally at Lerwick Town Hall, which is pictured above.
MORE than £200,000 of government funding will be used this financial year by Shetland Islands Council to help people with the cost of living.
Most of the money will be used on a scheme to help low income households by giving them a payment on their council tax account.
Funding will also go towards additional payments of the school clothing grant and school breakfasts.
Some of the money will also be used for the delivery of resources, activities and support through the Anchor for Families project and community development.
A total of £222,000 is coming to the council in 2023/24 from the Scottish Government’s islands cost crisis emergency fund.
At a meeting of the full council on Wednesday elected members approved proposals for ways the money should be used.
CONNECTIVITY will be theme of the next UK Islands Forum, which will take place in Lewis on 9 and 10 October.
The UK Government forum brings together representatives from islands across the country, including Shetland Islands Council.
The latest meeting will focus on connectivity, “recognising the importance of physical and digital connectivity to islands, particularly those with no fixed links to the mainland”.
It comes at a time when Shetland Islands Council is pushing the idea of tunnels replacing ferries on the busiest inter-island routes.
THE LOCAL rotary club is holing a quiz this weekend to raise money for charity.
The quiz will take place at the Whitedale Snooker Club on Saturday (30 September) from 7pm.
There will be teams of four, and entry costs £10 a table. Money raised will go to local charities including supported living.
Prizes include a NorthLink voucher for two to Kirkwall or Aberdeen. The quizmasters will be Neville Martin and George Smith.
THE SCOTTISH International Storytelling Festival (SISF) is inviting audiences from across Shetland to join storyteller Jan Bee Brown and musician Renzo Spiteri in Bigton for Wave Riders next month.
The event will take place on Sunday 22 October at Hymhus 3pm.
Wave Riders was commissioned by the festival as part of this year’s ‘Right To Be Human’ series, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Wave Riders is a series of saga-driven sonic stories involving three pioneering women, three ships and three voyages: Unn the Deep-minded, Gudrid the Far-traveller and Melkorka the Silent.
Setting sail in small boats, these heroines forge better ways to live in peace with rights, freedoms and respect, standing shoulder to shoulder.
For booking and more information contact Jan Bee Brown on 07799 852162.
THE CURRENT financial year is shaping up to be a good one for inward investment to the Highlands and Islands, according to Scotland’s development agency for the region.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) says four projects have already been confirmed this year, representing combined investment of over £1.1m which is expected to bring more than 65 jobs.
HIE also reports a strong pipeline of 50 or so enquiries from companies interested in the region as a location for new inward investment projects, nine of which are at an advance stage of engagement, and a further 60 early-stage enquiries.
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