Features / Campaign to bring Claire home, Palestine solidarity meeting, Freya shortlisted and more …

Claire Leveque. Photo supplied by Police Scotland.

Claire Leveque. Photo supplied by Police Scotland.

AN ONLINE campaign is seeking to raise funds the help bring the body of Claire Leveque back to Canada and to make arrangements for her funeral.

The 24-year-old was found dead in a house in Sandness after emergency services were called to reports of a disturbance in the west side village on 11 February.

Thirty nine year old Aren Pearson was arrested the same day and later charged with her murder. He has made no plea, remains in custody, and has been fully committed for trial.

Leveque’s father Clint has meanwhile extensively spoken to the Canadian press paying tribute to his late daughter.

THE SHETLAND Palestine Solidarity Group is hosting a public meeting later this week where Nick Napier of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be the main speaker.

The purpose of the meeting is to hear the history of the movement to support Palestinians in Scotland and discuss the potential for the local group.

The meeting, chaired by local spokesperson Leanne Goodlad, will be at the Islesburgh Community Centre on Wednesday 6 March, starting at 7.15pm.

JOURNALISM student Freya Deyell has been shortlisted for the outstanding commitment category at the Student Publication Association’s annual awards.

Deyell, from Skeld, is the deputy editor of Stirling University’s student publication Brig Newspaper.

Deyell also spent last summer working for Shetland News for a three month period contributing a vast amount of varied and well researched material.

Brig Newspaper and some of its editorial staff are also shortlisted in a number of other categories such as best website, best newspaper design, best photographer, best sport reporter and best science tech piece.

Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands Ariane Burgess.

Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands Ariane Burgess.

GREEN MSP for the Highlands & Islands Ariane Burgess has welcomed the impact of the Scottish Child Payment for families in Shetland, calling it one of the most important steps for tackling poverty since devolution.

Scottish Government figures show that, by 31 December 2023, the families of 675 children in Shetland had benefited from the weekly payments.

In November 2022 the payment was increased from £20 a week to £25 a week. It will be further increased to £26.70 a week from April this year as part of the Scottish Government’s efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis and reduce child poverty.

Burgess said: “The ground-breaking Scottish Child Payment is playing a crucial role in supporting families across Shetland.

“It is one of the single most important steps of the devolution era in terms of tackling poverty and is making a huge difference for families who are being stretched by the Tory cost of living crisis.”

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