Also in the news / Festive dinners, Hogmanay at Mareel, fisheries debate and more …
Photo: SIC
FESTIVE dinners will be available again to anyone in Shetland who needs them, thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers who will prepare and deliver meals on Christmas Day.
Last year, 115 people enjoyed turkey dinners and a dessert cooked in the kitchen at Sound Primary School.
School catering staff, led by head cook Alison Beattie and assistant cook Brenda Moar, volunteered to cook the meals with food supplies generously donated by local businesses.
Volunteer drivers delivered the hot meals to around 50 homes in Lerwick and Scalloway, and Christmas dinner was also provided for over 30 people through local church group Food for the Way.
A call is being made to pass on details of anyone who may benefit from a hot meal on Christmas Day. Names and details are being taken until 9 December on 01595 744000 to help with planning for the quantities and preparation needed.
Chair of the council’s education and families committee David Sandison said: “I’d like to thank everyone who volunteered their time and supported this last year in this welcome festive gesture, which meant that many people enjoyed a hot Christmas meal who may not otherwise have been able to.”
SHETLAND Arts has announced that its popular Hogmanay celebrations in Mareel will be going ahead again this year on Tuesday 31 December.
On offer for this year is an evening concert by Gemma Donald & Shetland Swing (7.30 to 10pm) followed by the popular Bells in the Bar event featuring DJ Lyall and DJ Yetti, which will run until 2am.
A spokesperson for the arts agency said: “With a mix of great tunes and a lively atmosphere, this Hogmanay party promises to keep the dance floor full all night. Whether you’re into house, disco, or just looking for a fun night out, this is the spot to welcome the new year as we count down to the bells!”
Tickets for Hogmanay package cost £25 and are available to purchase online from tickets.shetlandarts.org, in person at the Box Office in Mareel, or by calling on 01595 745 500 during opening hours of 10am-9pm, Tuesday-Sunday.
EARLIER this week the Gilbert Bain Hospital marked the first anniversary of the opening of the Northern Star bereavement suite.
The suite is designed for parents who have suffered an early pregnancy loss such as miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
Chief midwife Jacquie Whitaker said: “On the first anniversary of the Northern Star, while we are sad that the suite is needed, we are happy that we are able to provide care in a private and supportive environment.
“The feedback we have received confirms that we have got the environment right, and this is a testament to the co-design of the suite with Sands, who worked with us to ensure it met the needs of the families who would need to use it.”
NHS Shetland worked in partnership with baby loss charity Sands and a parent that had used the service in the past on the project.
THE COUNCIL has now put out to tender a contract for refurbishing the Brae Youth Centre as part of a project to turn it into a “rural energy hub”.
The work involves upgrading insulation fabric including floors, walls and ceilings, reconfiguring the building including installing new toilets and a kitchen and upgrading heating and lighting as well as installing solar panels and car charging facilities.
Read more about the UK Government-funded project below.
ISLES MP Alistair Carmichael has secured a three hour ‘backbench’ debate on the state of the UK fishing industry, which will take place next Thursday afternoon.
The debate will be held from 1.30pm-4.30pm in Westminster Hall, and over 20 members of parliament from seven different parties supported the debate application.
The MP said: “Backbench business debates on fisheries in recent years have been well-supported across Parliament, with Members from all parties making thoughtful and constructive contributions.
“The debate could not be more timely as there is a wide range of topical issues relating to fisheries and fishing communities which deserve proper scrutiny.
“We are also rapidly approaching the scheduled review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union, to be held through 2025-26 and in which fisheries are expected to play a central role. Fishing communities see the renegotiation as critical to their future and to delivering promises made to them in the past.”
SCOTLAND’s crofters have been told they have just six months left to embrace new payment conditions as part of a new campaign launched this month by SAC Consulting.
The Scottish Government wants members of the crofting community to initially meet two of five potential requirements to ensure the Basic Payment Scheme remains available to them.
The requirements, which all relevant crofters and small-scale farmers will need to meet in their entirety by 2028, include a carbon audit, biodiversity audit, soil analysis, an animal health and welfare plan for those who have livestock and an integrated pest management plan for those who use pesticides or herbicides.
SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College, says it can offer crofters the advice they need – not least because three quarters of its own members are facing the same situation.
The organisation’s senior consultant Graham Fraser said: “With the right support, crofters and small holders can be fully prepared for the changes ahead and ensure their businesses continue to be an essential part of the fabric of the vibrant rural communities they are an integral part of.”
Crofters are encouraged to contact SAC Consulting (www.sac.co.uk) for independent advice and solutions.
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