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Your Council Newsletter -  June 2025

Welcome to your new Shetland Islands Council newsletter. This is part of our commitment to keeping you informed about the work we’re doing on your behalf and making it easier for you to find the information you need. We hope this newsletter helps you feel more connected to your Council and the decisions and services that matter to you.   Maggie Sandison - Chief Executive

Contract to build new Fair Isle Ferry awarded

The contract to build the new Fair Isle Ferry has been awarded to Yorkshire firm Parkol Marine Engineering following a tendering exercise.

Work is currently ongoing to finalise the vessel design and specification, before fabrication of the new vessel gets underway at Parkol’s boatyard in Whitby, Yorkshire.  The expected handover date for the vessel is October 2026.

In addition to this vessel-build contract, harbour infrastructure works are also now underway at Grutness and in Fair Isle.The project is expected to cost £45.4M, with the Council providing £18.6M of funding and the UK Government providing a grant of £26.8M through the Levelling Up Fund.    

Surface Dressing Works to Start

Work will soon be underway on surface dressing on roads accross Shetland. These essential works help keep our road networks in good condition, and protect the roads from winter frost damage.  Drivers are reminded to keep their speeds down on any areas where stone chips have been laid, to prevent damage to vehicles

Climate Change & Archaeology - Coastal Erosion

How is climate change affecting Shetland’s archaelogy? Join the Climate Yarns team as they head to Nesting to speak to Shetland’s regional archaeologist Val Turner and a team from St Andrews University about coastal erosion.  Click on the image to watch the video in YouTube Find out more informatiom on our work to tackle climate change on our website

Housing estate inspections to take place in June and July

Estate Inspections are happening across the various Shetland Islands Council Housing Schemes over June and July 2025. 

Look out for adults at risk of financial harm

The Shetland Public Protection Committee is urging everyone to look out for vulnerable adults in the community who may be more susceptible to financial harm.  

Liberation Convoy - In Pictures

A flotilla of six restored historic vessels from World War Two crossed the North Sea to be in Lerwick for the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day on Thursday 8th May 2025.  Head over to our website to see more about how their visit went.

Shetland Islands Council Turns 50

The first meeting of Shetland Islands Council was held on 16th May 1975, following a reorganisation of local government in Scotland.  We celebrated our 50th Birthday with a big THANK YOU! to the people who make it possible - our staff. 

Click on the image below to watch the video on YouTube

The Council at 50 - A personal view from MYSP Bertie Summers

'Local government brings so much value to communities such as ours. In an island community as remote and isolated as ours, we need to have strong local representation to ensure that our voices are being thoroughly heard at a regional and national level.' As part of our 50th Birthday celebrations we asked MYSP Bertie Summers to reflect on the role of local government in Shetland, how it supports young people, and what it might look like in the future. Read Bertie's full article on our website

Celebrating Shetland’s Young Changemakers at the 2025 Saltire Awards

At this year’s Saltire Awards, Shetland’s young people once again demonstrated the power of passion, purpose, and community spirit. More than 185 youth volunteers, aged 12 to 25, were honoured for their incredible contributions, dedicating a record-breaking 22,500+ hours of their time to support causes, organisations, and people across the isles. Read more about the awards on our website

Shetland Youth Voice wins at National Youth Work Awards

Local youth advocacy group, Shetland Youth Voice, won an award at the National Youth Work Awards in Glasgow. The event, hosted by YouthLink Scotland, saw youth work teams from across Scotland attend the event, celebrating the impact of youth work.   Among the nominees twelve award categories, Shetland Youth Voice picked up the award in the  ‘Participation & Youth Voice’ category for their work making sure that young people across the isles have a role in local decision-making. Read more about their success on our website

Fostering Walk Celebrates Carers for Foster Care Fortnight

Shetland's annual foster care walk took place in May to mark Foster Care Fortnight, and to celebrate the amazing work of fostering and adoption families in Shetland.

Click on the image to watch the video or find out more about Foster Caring in Shetland on our website

'This is Me' - Eric Gray Film Squad celebrates Learning Disability Week

As part of Learning Disability Week 16-22 June 2025, members of the Eric Gray Centre have proudly produced a new short film entitled “This Is Me”, which will be screened throughout the week upstairs at Mareel.

Find out more about the film and planned events on our website

Our Performance Matters

Here's a quick roundup of some of the highlights of our performance in 2024.  12 Trainee Seafarers employed in 2024 89% of Freedom of Information requests responded to within 20 working days Shetland Library concluded a 2 year programme of health and wellbeing 36 cost of living pop-ins held at 18 different venues 366 families were provided with £120 in winter payments through the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund. You can find out more about these and other aspects of our performance on the performance pages on our website.

Library Performance Report Shetland library have published their latest performance report, highlighting some of the excellent work the service has undertaken in the last twelve months.  Read the report on our website

Dates for the Diary

A round up of upcoming dates, deadlines and other things you need to know. 

Funding and Opportunities

Grants and funding for individuals, families and community groups.

Clothing Grants and Free School Meals Applications for Clothing Grants and Free School Meals for the new school session are now open. New Clothing Grant Awards: Early Years - £100 Primary - £120 Secondary - £150 You may be eligible for a Clothing Grant and/or Free School Meals if you are in receipt of benefits.  For more information about eligability and how to apply, visit our website.

Coastal Communities Fund

Upcoming deadlines for the coastal communitise fund:

Stage 1 Applications - 14th July 5pm

Stage 2 Applications - 4th August 4pm

The grant scheme is designed to mobilise change and deliver positive outcomes for Shetland and its communities.  The scheme seeks to support the community and economic development of Shetland by investing in infrastructure, community capacity building, and developing community assets and encouraging inclusive growth.

Find out more about the Coastal Communities Fund  on our website

Bursary Applications Now Open 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 – 𝗙𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱/𝟮𝟲 Are you planning to study at college this year? Get help with Fees, Travel, Materials and Living Costs Financial support for eligible full-time FE students. For Shetland residents studying locally or on the mainland. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁! For more information and how to apply visit our website

Community Led Development Fund

Closing date for applications - 28th November, or when all funds are allocated

Shetland CLD supports projects that will contribute positively to local people and local priorities by helping communities thrive through community-led initiatives.

• Helping families and services through the cost of living crises, including helping to address the drivers of child poverty
• Increasing community capacity to address rural challenge
• Transforming the economy to deliver net zero and
• Creating sustainable public services

Find out more about the CLD Fund on our Website

Work with us

If you want to help make a difference, there's no better place to work than for Shetland Islands Council. Grow your skills, support your community, and be part of what makes these islands work.

We currently have vacancies for a range of roles, including Teachers, Deckhands, Social Care Workers, Play Support Workers and more. Take a look today and see where a career with the Council could take you.