Also in the news / Also in the news – 24 March 2026
- Viking Genes donation
- Eunson appointed to health board
- District heating study funding
- Heating oil support concern
- Rural support plan
THE VIKING Genes screening project has received £10,000 from Cooke Scotland’s community benefit fund.
The project will provide 5,000 Shetland residents with the opportunity to take part in a free genetic screening programme, designed specifically for Shetland.
Professor Jim Flett Wilson, who leads the Viking Genes programme at the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, said: “It is fantastic to see this donation from Cooke Scotland, which will help in getting the Viking Genes Fund to the level where we can start to appoint staff.”
Sandra Laurenson OBE, chair of Viking Genes Shetland, commented: “Cooke Scotland’s commitment to the local community is very welcome. This generous donation will help empower people from across the isles to learn if they are at risk of one of the genetic variants more common in Shetland, improving their healthcare and saving lives.”
Katrine Johnson, Unst office manager and member of Cooke Scotland’s Shetland community benefit fund committee, said: “We are proud to support the Viking Genes study and its important work in Shetland.
“As a family company rooted in rural and coastal communities, we’re pleased this funding will be directed towards research with lasting impact that has such clear relevance and benefit for the people living in the isles where we call home, and for future generations.”
KAREN Eunson has been appointed as a new member of the NHS Shetland board.
She worked for almost 20 years at Shetland College, and then for a decade at the local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Eunson now works part-time in Shetland Library and is vice-chair of Hjaltland Housing Association as well as a member of the board of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.
A Scottish Government release said: “Karen is a skilled communicator, experienced in governance, with a strong understanding of local healthcare challenges. She is committed to the provision of a high-quality health service for the people of Shetland.”
This appointment will run from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030, with the part-time role attracting remuneration of £16,224 for a time commitment of 52 days per year.
THE SCALLOWAY Community Development Company has secured £50,000 of funding from Crown Estate Scotland to put towards a feasibility study for a district heating scheme in the village.
Plans first emerged for the study last year, with UHI Shetland – which has a campus in the village – also involve in discussions.
However since then the closure of the Scalloway swimming pool has been announced.
District heating – or heat networks – uses a central heat source to distribute hot water to multiple properties in the local area.
The only district heating system in Shetland at the moment is in Lerwick, which uses waste heat from the town’s incinerator.
LIBERAL Democrat election candidate Emma Macdonald said it is vital that Shetland receives its fair share of support from heating oil support.
Amid rising prices following the Iran conflict, UK ministers confirmed a £53 million package of support across the United Kingdom, with £4.6 million to be administered by the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government then indicated this will be topped up to £10 million and delivered via Advice Direct Scotland from April.
Macdonald welcomed the funding but said the “question now is how this funding will actually reach the people who need it most, and whether it will be enough if high prices continue”.
“If this funding is targeted properly it could make a real difference to families across Shetland,” she said. “But if it isn’t, there’s a real risk that we are once again overlooked in favour of the central belt.”
The full list of other confirmed candidates standing for the Shetland seat at May’s election, in alphabetical order, are: Alex Armitage (Greens), Vic Currie (Reform Party), John Erskine (Labour), Hannah Mary Goodlad (SNP), Brian Nugent (Alliance to Liberate Scotland).
THE SCOTTISH Government says its rural support plan will deliver continued support for Scotland’s active farmers and crofters to 2030 and beyond.
It will deliver investment with a focus on sustainable food production, action for climate and nature, and supporting rural communities
The Rural Support Plan 2026 – 2031 launches the new four-tier framework which will replace the legacy EU Common Agricultural Support (CAP).
Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said: “The publication of the first Rural Support Plan marks a major milestone in the development of future agricultural support as we recognise the need to be more sustainable and work towards a balanced policy which delivers for climate, nature and sustainable food production.”
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
