Also in the news / Chittick appointed, young enterprise awards, algae reminder, creative practitioners sought, three grants given
SHETLAND Islands Council and NHS Shetland have announced that Brian Chittick has been appointed as director of community health and social care.
He will also take up the role of chief officer for the Shetland Integration Joint Board – the body established to oversee the integration and delivery of health and social care services.
Chittick, who has been interim director since July last year, will take up his new post on 1 August.
He has worked for NHS Shetland since joining the organisation in 2015 as senior dental officer.
Shetland Islands Council chief executive Maggie Sandison said Chittick has a “proven track record in delivering safe and effective health and care at both a strategic and operational level, and has over 25 years of experience of working in the public sector”.
TWENTY nine secondary six pupils at the Anderson and Brae high schools have received Young Enterprise Company Programme SCQF Level 6 awards.
The award is aimed at budding entrepreneurs and provides business and enterprise experience, with support and advice from local business mentors, Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) and staff from both schools and the Shetland Islands Council’s Youth and Employability Service.
The award is equivalent to a higher and is certified by YES in partnership with Glasgow Kelvin College. This is the first time that the award has been given to pupils in Shetland and it is hoped that this will support a new generation of business minded school-leavers.
Thirty young people also passed their University of Strathclyde Business School Young Enterprise exam with a range of passes, credits and distinctions.
Chairman of the council’s education and families committee George Smith said he was “really pleased to see so many pupils gain this qualification during what has been a difficult year for learning”.
PEOPLE have been reminded to exercise caution around lochs and other water bodies where blue-green algae blooms can be seen.
Dogs and livestock should be kept away from these lochs to prevent any potential health effects, the council said.
The public are advised not to bathe in any affected waters and fishermen should also exercise caution.
Anyone coming across any suspected algal blooms is encouraged to make any reports (photographs can also be uploaded) using the ‘Bloomin Algae’ app.
The public can also report any sightings directly to SEPA via their online form at www.sepa.org.uk/report or by calling their pollution hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Alternatively they can contact the council’s environmental health team by phoning 01595 745250, emailing ehadmin@shetland.gov.uk or via Facebook.
SHETLAND Arts is on the lookout for local freelance creative practitioners to develop and deliver wellbeing activity across Shetland until April 2022 as part of the Culture Collective, a national programme funded by Creative Scotland.
Practitioners are encouraged to apply for grants up to £8,000 in time and £2.500 in materials, equipment and other costs to design and deliver a series of free sessions to provide ongoing, meaningful engagement and help improve the quality of life and wellbeing of participants for one of the following groups in Shetland:
- older people, including those with dementia;
- those living in isolated circumstances;
- those living in the North or Outer Islands of Shetland;
- those who may be struggling with their mental health;
- or young people who may have missed out on social and educational activities over the past year.
More information can be found here.
LERWICK Community Council approved three grants at its latest meeting on Monday night.
Dogs Against Drugs was given £1,000 and the classic motor show received £400. Both grants were through the Shetland Community Benefit Fund.
Meanwhile Shetland Women’s Aid was given £650 from the community council for equipment to support individuals with sensory needs.
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