Also in the news / Jen shortlisted, tunnel action group for Whalsay, Loganair grants and more …

Jen Stout.

Jen Stout.

LOCAL journalist Jen Stout has been shortlisted for the prestigious Anne Brown Essay Prize for Scotland.

The prize will be awarded at a ceremony at the Wigtown Book Festival on Sunday, hosted by the chair of this years judging committee, author and broadcaster Gavin Esler.

Having been shortlisted for one of her essays from war torn Ukraine Hunting for Vakulenko, Stout is in illustrious company on the nine strong shortlist.

The other finalists for the £1,500 prize are: Roxani Krystalli, Monica Wolfe, Kirsty Logan, Victoria McNulty, Katie Goh, Stephen Rutt, Paul McQuade and Rodge Glass.

WORK is progressing on installing new accessible equipment in the playpark on Lerwick’s King Harald Street.

It comes after the Scottish Government pledged extra funding for upgrading play parks across the country.

Last year Shetland Islands Council said new accessible equipment was installed in Walls.

THE COMMUNITY in Whalsay is being asked to attend a public meeting in the Symbister Hall on 4 October to explore the possibility of establishing Whalsay Tunnel Action Group.

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This follows on from the successful forming of the Unst and Yell tunnel action groups set up to work in collaboration with businesses and the local authority to lobby for building of tunnels in the Yell and Bluemull sounds.

The action groups in the North Isles are also actively involved in raising funds to help with funding feasibility studies.

The meeting in Symbister, organised by the Whalsay Community Council, will start at 7pm.

Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles. Photo: Shetland News

Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles. Photo: Shetland News

LOGANAIR’S Green Sky Community Fund is now open for new applications from projects implementing sustainable travel methods.

The fund, worth £30,000, will support local and small scale renewable energy projects after the Unst based Glansin Glass Visitor Centre used a £4,000 grant to install an EV charging point, awarded in an earlier round of the scheme.

The airline’s chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “We continue to make great strides in our journey to net-zero and GreenSkies Community Fund is just one strand in a much wider strategy.

“Now in its third round, it’s fantastic to reflect on the difference the fund has made to date for local organisations on their own sustainability journeys.

“We look forward to reviewing applications from not-for-profit businesses, charities and local groups seeking to make their own steps towards net zero but who might not have the financial resources to do this alone.”

Applications should be submitted via this link, no later than 31 October.

THE SCOTTISH Parliament’s health, social care and sport committee is seeking views on how best to address the challenges facing healthcare services in remote and rural areas of Scotland.

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There are five questions in the committee’s call for views:

• Are there any immediate issues unique to remote and rural communities which the National Centre will need to focus on to improve primary and community care in these areas?
• Are there any issues which the National Centre will be unable to address, which may require further policy action from the Government?
• What would you like to see included in the Scottish Government’s forthcoming Remote and Rural Workforce Strategy?
• What specific workforce related issues should the strategy look to resolve?
• Are there any workforce-related issues which the creation of a Remote and Rural Workforce Strategy alone will not address. If so, what are these issues and what additional action may be required to address them?

Responses can be made via this link.

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