Also in the news / Also in the news: Junior Up Helly Aa, Mareel screening and more…
APPLICATIONS are being sought for young people in P7, S1 and S2 who attend school across Shetland to form squads for the 2026 Junior Up Helly Aa.
Parents/carers are encouraged to help get them organised into squads and completed forms before the deadline – 5pm on 7 November 2025.
A £10 guizing fee per person will also continue for the 2026 festival, though this can be discounted for those in receipt of free school meals and/or the clothing grant.
Application forms can be requested by emailing juhacommittee@gmail.com or by visiting here.
NHS SHETLAND and UHI Shetland are to screen a film focusing on the impact of suicide for free at Mareel next month.
The Low Road will also be followed by a question-and-answer session, with Shetland Arts, Mind Your Head, Police Scotland and Skills Development Scotland contributing to the screening.
The fictional film depicts a university students’ journey following the loss of her best friend to suicide, and highlights the struggles young people can face.
It explores deteriorating mental health, the impact and trauma of loss, misogyny and self-harm, and features scenes of alcohol and drug use.
Writer and director of the film Stephen Mulhearn will answer questions about the film along with local support services.
The screening of The Low Road is free of charge. To reserve a seat, book directly through Mareel.
LERWICK Sheriff Court will reconsider removing a non-harassment order after the conclusion of a high court case in Glasgow next month.
Scott Anderson, 35, was banned from contacting or attempting to contact his then-former partner for five years after a series of domestic offences in November 2023.
Anderson, whose address was given as Grampian Prison, was also jailed for a total of 25 months – backdated to 15 November 2022 – for the same offences.
He had applied to have the non-harassment order removed, saying via video-link that “all the problems we’ve had have been resolved”.
Anderson told the court that he and the woman were co-accused in a high court case in Glasgow next week, and that he believed he would be released from prison at the conclusion of that.
He added there was the potential for them to travel back to Shetland together.
But procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie raised concerns about the order being lifted before the high court case called.
He said he was “concerned about the motivation behind” the application, adding that lifting it would “allow them to discuss potential evidence”.
Anderson said he already had weekly contact with his co-accused, and said this was not the reason for wanting the order removed.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said that these were “unusual circumstances”, but that he was also “slightly hesitant” about the potential timing of the order being removed.
Rather than refuse the application, the sheriff instead to continue consideration of the application for three weeks. The case will call again on 19 November.
SHETLAND Inter Faith is hosting an event entitled Our Future on Thursday 6 November at the Islesburgh Community Centre in Lerwick.
This will offer folk an opportunity to share and explore hopes and priorities at the heart of our community, with perspectives from some of the rich variety of faiths and beliefs held by people in Shetland.
Organisers said: “All are welcome to attend, as we come together to learn more about one another’s ways of viewing the world we share and the things which are important to us.”
The event will start at 7.30pm and marks Scottish Interfaith Week.
LERWICK Brewery has announced that its range of award-winning craft beers is now available for trade customers across the UK to order.
The listing, on online marketplace EebriaTrade, provides a direct route for pubs, bars, and hotels the length of the UK to purchase Lerwick’s beers.
Head brewer Jonny Sandison said: “While we’re a well-known name here in Shetland, getting our beers to the mainland trade has always been a logistical challenge. Listing on EebriaTrade simplifies that process significantly.”
AHEAD of Bonfire Night on Wednesday (5 November), Shetland Islands Council is sharing messages from the national bonfire and firework safety campaign.
The campaign from the Scottish Government, in partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, aims to highlight the dangers of fireworks misuse and to raise awareness of the laws around using fireworks, to lessen the negative impact on people and animals.
More information can be found here.
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