News / In brief for 26 August 2011
Young people empowered
YOUNG people in Shetland are being encouraged to become more involved in local politics and decision making.
The council’s education and families committee decided to change the current youth voice forum by introducing direct elections and aligning it with Shetland’s multi-member ward system.
The council’s youth development worker Martin Summers said: “At the moment, youth voice representatives come from schools and youth clubs.
“There’s a feeling that they don’t genuinely represent their peers and are, in some cases, selected rather than elected.
“The new system introduces direct elections for the first time. It will make young people more accountable and give the organisation transparency.
“With next year’s council elections not that far away, this is an ideal time to raise the profile of youth involvement in Shetland democracy”.
Police to target insurance dodgers
LOCAL police have said that they will be out in force during the weekend as part of a national campaign against people driving without insuarance.
The operation runs from Friday until Monday morning.
A spokesman said: “Northern Constabulary is committed to making its roads safer by reducing death, injury and crime.
“In order to achieve this we will provide a highly visible police response; encourage responsible driver behaviour and reduce vehicle crime.”
UHI celebrates attaining university status
A CEREMONY was held in Inverness earlier this week to mark the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) attaining university status.
The celebrations included the unveiling and presentation of the ceremonial robes and the university’s new mace together with formal speeches, poems and traditional music.
Shetland has two academic colleges within the UHI: the NAFC Marine Centre UHI and Shetland College UHI.
Director of both institutions, Professor David Gray, said: “This is a significant day for further and higher education in Shetland and the founding of the university is a momentous achievement – justly recognising the already excellent standards of teaching.”
Fiddler Gemma a semi-finalist
LOCAL fiddle player Gemma Donald has been chosen as one of BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician semi-finalists.
The twelve semi-finalists will get together for a concert in South Lanarkshire on 1 October, when the six finalists will be chosen.
The musicians are: Alison McNeill – fiddle, song (Glasgow), Alistair Ogilvy – song (Strathyre), Catriona Price – fiddle (Orkney), Gary Forrest – accordion (Hawick)
Gemma Donald – fiddle (Shetland), Gordon McCance – pipes (Glasgow), Grant McFarlane – accordion (Paisley), Katie Boyle – fiddle (Glasgow), Kirsty Watt – song (Lewis), Linzi Murphy – song (Glasgow), Roisin-Ann Hughes – fiddle (Glasgow), and Rona Wilkie – fiddle, song (Oban).
The final will take place on 5 February next year at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival.
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