Also in the news 26 June
- Construction training concern
- Theatre group’s summer production
- Islands festival fund
- Algae warning
CONCERN has been raised about the possible local impact from recent changes to the way construction training courses are funded.
During a breakfast networking event co-hosted by the Federation of Master Builders at the Trondra Hall last week, the FMB’s Scotland director Gordon Nelson said these changes have caused a lot of local frustration.
Changes in how national funding through the CITB is distributed to groups such as the Shetland Construction Training Group are said to have increased the cost of training for individual companies and thus undermine the work that is done locally.
Nelson said: “With unwelcome changes to how construction training is supported in Shetland, builders will now need to redouble their efforts in recruiting and developing skilled tradespeople, both to ensure new homes are built to a high standard, and so that the thousands of existing homes across the islands can be refurbished and upgraded.”
Zoe Black, of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), added: “The issues raised underlined the particular challenges that can arise in interpreting Scottish Building Regulations in a remote island setting, where the availability and cost of materials can create unique pressures.”
ALICE Theatre Project will take to the Mareel stage this weekend for their annual children and youth led theatre production.
Pop Goghs Da Easel is a culmination of creative work in ALICE Theatre and MusicALICE classes since January.
More than 90 young performers have created four brand new plays and two musical works to share with the public on Sunday (28 June) over two performances at 11.30am and 2.30pm.
From Van Gogh to Salvador Dali, and Mondrian to Picasso – all the pieces this year have been inspired by works of art and entirely written and performed by young people aged from four to 12.
The show is supported by a production team of young volunteers who this year accrued a total of 1,141 hours of volunteering for their Saltire Awards.
All proceeds from the show go toward ensuring classes can continue, so “every person who attends the show is not only supporting the performers on the day, but also contributing to their continued development in the future”,
Director Stephanie Georgia said: “Our end of year student show is important for so many reasons. This is where our young performers get to step into the light and tell their own stories, in their own unique way.”
Tickets are available in person from Mareel or online.
NEW Highlands and Islands MSP Kristopher Leask has urged the Scottish Government to pilot an islands festivals fund.
Speaking in parliament, Green MSP Leask made the point that whilst festivals in cities have access to more venues to grow capacity, more places for festival-goers to stay and better transport links, island festivals do not have the same opportunity to develop.
He proposed to work with the cabinet secretary for culture to pilot a new that would help to ensure these island cultural events remain sustainable long into the future.
“Having grown up on Orkney and still living there, I have first-hand understanding of how important these cultural spaces and events are to island communities, contributing to a thriving island life and inspiring islanders to express themselves fully through arts and culture,” he said.
“My life would have not been so joyful if the likes of the Orkney Folk Festival, St Magnus Festival were not around, and I want to do everything I can now that I have been elected to Parliament to make sure the opportunity to attend these events remains for generations of islanders to come.”
“I welcome the cabinet secretary’s commitment to explore my proposal for an Island Festival Fund with me.”
SHETLAND Islands Council’s environmental health team has received notification that potentially toxic blue-green algae is present in the Loch of Cliff in Unst.
Notices will be posted next to the loch warning that contact with algal scum should be avoided. Adjoining landowners and NHS Shetland have been advised. At this stage there is no adverse effect on water supplies.
Some blue-green algae may give rise to adverse medical effects, such as skin rashes, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever and pains in muscles and joints. Toxic algae have caused deaths of livestock and dogs.
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