Also in the news / Also in the news: positive care inspection, trees planted and more …
THE SHETLAND Care Attendant Scheme (SCAS) has received a “very good” rating from inspectors during its latest inspection.
The inspection, which took place from 30 August to 1 September 2025, found that people using SCAS receive consistent, high-quality care tailored to their needs.
Staff were praised for being warm, professional and caring, and families described staff as “lifesavers” – saying they appreciated the peace of mind the service provides.
Care and support planning was also praised, with every service user getting a personalised care plan that includes their life history, routines, preferences, and any risks, ensuring care is tailored to them.
At the time of inspection SCAS was supporting 47 people across Shetland, including providing overnight care – the only service of its kind in the isles.
It comes a week after SCAS held its AGM, with the service delivering 13,650 hours of care to 87 carers and their families over the last year.
Families benefited from 875 hours of care made possible through grant funding, donations, and fundraising efforts.
SCAS said it also played a vital role in end-of-life care. With no hospice in Shetland, the service supported six people in the final stages of life, providing 727 hours of palliative care.
This enabled them to spend their final days at home with their loved ones, in line with their wishes.
SCAS manager Karen Fraser said they were “thrilled” that the Care Inspectorate had recognised the team’s hard work and dedication.
“This report shows the difference we make for the families we support and highlights the positive impact SCAS has across Shetland,” she said.
“Our goal has always been to help unpaid carers and their loved ones live well at home, and it’s wonderful to see that reflected in this inspection.”
A GROUP of P7 pupils from Sound Primary School have rolled up their sleeves to help Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) with its ongoing tree planting and rewilding efforts.
Thirty-eight pupils were joined by four members of school staff to plant trees at Holmsgarth Brae.
The LPA said they filled in the site with 205 trees in record time, with extra saplings having to be sourced.
The annual project is delivered in partnership with Shetland Amenity Trust. The LPA said the initiative helps offset its own paper usage, which equates to around 12 trees a year.
The port authority’s HSEQ manager Stuart Wadley said the rewilding is a great opportunity for bairns to learn about and connect with their surroundings.
“This latest tree planting builds on the authority’s commitment to sustainability andenvironmental stewardship, showing how collaboration with schools and community partners can help deliver meaningful action on climate and biodiversity across Shetland,” he added.
Pupils also reflected on the experience, with one saying they really enjoyed getting to dig holes to plant the trees and another saying they would be able to say in future when they passed Holmsgarth Brae that they helped plant those trees.
With Holmsgarth Brae now full, the LPA is looking ahead to identify other sites across the port area for future projects.
OVER THIRTY S4 pupils from Aith Junior High School recently enjoyed sailing trips on Swan, as funded by Cooke Scotland.
A total of 31 pupils were given the chance over three days to sail on Swan, as part of an ongoing partnership between Cooke and Swan Trust.
More than 200 pupils from the North Isles and Westside of Shetland have now benefitted through the collaboration,
Aith head teacher Michael Spence said some of the pupils had “never set foot on a vessel”, adding that the knowledge and experience they had gained was “invaluable”.
One of the pupils involved said they had learned a lot about the history of Swan, and that it had “opened new potential career options” for them.
“I liked the manual feel of the Swan and it wasn’t all machinery,” they said.
“It made me think how it would have felt in 1900 when it was first built and how people would have fished on it.”
Cooke Scotland’s Shetland manager David Brown said the sailing trips were a “fantastic opportunity for local youngsters to build skills and confidence on the water.”
ANOTHER delay has been announced to the linkspan replacement works at Papa Stour ferry terminal, which were due to start today (Monday).
Shetland Islands Council said that, due to an adverse weather forecast and sea state for the start of the week, it would not be possible to take the barge with the new linkspan around from Lerwick.
Ferry operations between West Burrafirth and Papa Stour therefore continue as normal next week, for passengers and vehicles, on pre-booked sailings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The council said it still hopes to carry out the linkspan replacement works this year, with rescheduled dates to be advised.
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