Also in the news 29 October 2026

NHS Shetland and Clan Cancer Support are joining forces during November to increase understanding of mouth cancer and encourage good oral health.

A series of free information and awareness sessions will take place at Islesburgh Community Centre in Lerwick, giving people the opportunity to access advice and learn more about mouth cancer and oral health.

Oral health improvement team joint lead at NHS Shetland Angela Hopwood said: “Mouth cancer is one of the cancers where we can all play an active part in spotting the early signs.

“We’re encouraging everyone in Shetland over the age of 16 to become familiar with what is normal for them, and to seek advice if they notice any unusual changes in their mouth, throat or neck.”

Joanna Smith, Clan Shetland area service coordinator, said: “Early detection can make a real difference and, through this partnership, we’re not only helping to raise awareness of mouth cancer but also ensuring people know where they can turn to for support.”

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NHS Shetland’s oral health team and Clan Cancer Support Shetland will be holding a number of free events throughout November:

Advice and information drop-in sessions –

• Monday 2 November, 11am to 1pm – Room 13, Islesburgh Community Centre
• Monday 9 November, 2pm to 4pm – Room 13, Islesburgh Community Centre
• Monday 23 November, 2pm to 4pm – Room 13, Islesburgh Community Centre

Oral Care for Cancer Patients –

• Wednesday 18 November,11am – 1pm– Room 13, Islesburgh Community Centre

Mouth Cancer Talk –

• Wednesday 11 November, 5pm to 6.30pm – Room 9, Islesburgh Community Centre

More information, including a video showing how to carry out a self-check, is available from the Mouth Cancer Foundation.

THE GMB Union will represent thousands of coastguard workers after signing an historic deal with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The agreement was reached this week after months of negotiations.

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The union will now negotiate on behalf of around 3,000 coastguards for pay, terms and conditions.

Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) carry out rescues and search for missing people around the UK’s coast.

CROs are now classified as workers, rather than volunteers, after GMB won a landmark worker status case in 2024.

SHETLAND Arts will once again team up with Shetland Foodbank for two special charity film screenings next month, this time of the 1990s classic Mrs Doubtfire.

These screenings work by customers bringing their donations of non-perishable food items (or money donation) to the cinema and exchanging them for a ticket to the screening of your choice.

Mareel will screen Mrs Doubtfire in November.

Mareel will screen Mrs Doubtfire in November.

Donations will be accepted from Tuesday 10 November if customers want to pick up their ticket in advance, or they can simply turn up and donate on the night.

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Full of hilarious set-pieces and physical comedy from Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire is a warm, bizarre and heartfelt story for all the family – making it a perfect choice for November’s screenings.

It follows previous foodbank screenings at Mareel of Back to the Future and Jurassic Park.

Shetland Arts’ sales and marketing manager Tessa Huntley said about the collaboration: “This will be our third foodbank screening and the response from the community has been so encouraging, our last screening resulted in enough donations to feed 20 clients for a week.

“Come along, donate, get a ticket and re-live your childhood or share the film your own peerie ones, all while supporting such an amazing cause.”

APPLICATIONS have opened for non-executive director positions on the board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).

Criteria for the roles includes lived experience of the communities served by HIAL airports and of the services they provide, as well as the ability to demonstrate understanding of the key issues affecting island and rural communities.

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HIAL chair Chris Holliday said: “The board would welcome applications from people who know the communities our airports serve first-hand, including those who live in island and rural communities, and from people of all backgrounds, including those who have not served on a board before.”

SHETLAND-based musician Jenny Sturgeon has welcomed funding from Creative Scotland which will go towards a “musical journey” inspired by the Cairngorms.

Combining their previous award-winning works The Living Mountain and Underwater Cairngorms, Sturgeon and Mhairi Hall are creating a new performance that brings together music, literature, history and the natural world.

Featuring film by Hannah Bailey, the hour-long show will take audiences on a journey through the mountains and waterways of the Central Highlands.

The production will launch in May 2027 before touring Scotland in May and November.

The project has received funding worth nearly £48,000 from Creative Scotland’s open fund.

Sturgeon said the funding “allows us to bring together music, words and film in a way that invites audiences to connect deeply with the natural world”.