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Help shape the Council’s priorities for the coming years
Join us for an informal community conversation about your ideas for supporting and improving local services. Over the coming months we’ll be holding drop-in sessions across Shetland, giving you the chance to meet councillors, the Council’s political leaders and Chief Executive, and share what matters most to you.
These sessions will help us plan for the future, refresh our Corporate Plan, and make sure our priorities reflect the needs of individuals, families and community groups across Shetland.
Upcoming sessions
All sessions run 4.30–7.30pm, unless noted.
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Monday 24 November – Brae High School
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Tuesday 25 November – Scalloway Primary School
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Monday 1 December – Aith Junior High School
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Wednesday 10 December – Lerwick Town Hall
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Thursday 11 December – Baltasound Hall (3–6pm)
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Tuesday 16 December – Bressay Hall
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Mid Yell – January (date TBC)
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Whalsay – January (date TBC)
We’ll also host an online session for Foula, Fair Isle, Skerries, Papa Stour and Fetlar, with details to follow on our Facebook page and via local media.
We’ll be focusing on three simple questions:
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What helps your community to thrive?
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What role should the Council take in making that a reality?
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If your community is a place of positive wellbeing – what does that look like for you?
If you can’t attend a session, you can still take part.Email your thoughts on the three key questions to:
📩 CommunityConversation@shetland.gov.uk
Keel laid for Fair Isle Ferry
The first steelwork has recently been laid down to form the keel of the new Fair Isle ferry, in a build expected to take around 12 months.
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 Standing in the first steelwork for the new Fair Isle ferry – (L to R) Project Manager Lee Coutts, and Fair Isle residents, ferry skipper Ian Best and Marie Bruhat.
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 Fair Isle Ferry Skipper Ian Best (left), resident Marie Bruhat (fifth from left) and Lee Coutts (right) with Parkol Marine Engineering staff in Whitby, where the new Fair Isle ferry is currently being built.
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 Skipper on the Good Shepherd IV, Ian Best (left) discusses his Fair Isle gansey with Tricia Willis, Procurement and Project Manager, Parkol; Marie Bruhat; and Sally Atkinson, Commercial Director, Parkol.
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Roads reinstatement, A970
Following recent inspections, Shetland Islands Council has issued notices of “defective reinstatements” on sections of the A970 road, following works by SSEN to install cabling beneath the road.
Notices of “defective reinstatements” were issued last week for four sections of road between Sand Water and Petta Water on the ‘Lang Kames’ section of the A970 which have been reinstated using concrete surfaces. On these sections of road, concrete was used for reinstatement works when the asphalt batching plant at the Scord Quarry was shut down earlier this year for essential planned maintenance
Works currently underway on the A968 Voe to Firth, and A970 Wadbister to Voe roads are part of Scottish & Southern Energy Network’s (SSEN’s) ‘North Mainland Shetland Reinforcement Project’. Road Inspectors are monitoring the works to ensure that they comply with relevant roads legislation and the national code of practice for roads reinstatement.
It is intended that other sections of the A970 also reinstated with concrete surfaces will also be replaced with bitmac surfaces before the end of November.
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Outstanding inspection reports for three teams in adult services.
We are delighted to share that three areas in Adult Services recently received very positive inspection reports from the Care Inspectorate following unannounced inspections in late August/early September.
Two of the services, Newcraigelea and Assertive Community Transitions, were assessed across four areas and achieved one ‘Good’ and three ‘Very Good’ grades, while Supported Living were assessed across two areas and achieved two ‘Very Good’ grades.
These grades are a testament to the hard work, dedication and high quality care delivered by the teams every day. Huge congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this well-deserved recognition of their commitment to providing exceptional support to people in our services
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Players get a sneak peek at the new North Loch 3G pitch
Players, coaches and volunteers from ocal football and rugby clubs recently popped along for a first look at the brand new 3G pitch in Lerwick.
Built over the summer, the pitch is marked out for both football and rugby, with permanent rugby posts and moveable football goals. It also uses an organic infill made from sweetcorn cob grains — believed to be the first full-size pitch in Scotland to use this material.
The project cost around £1.46M, funded by a mix of partners including the Council, the Scottish FA, sportscotland, Scottish Rugby, Shetland Football and Shetland Rugby.
The new Clickimin “North Loch” pitch will open soon for training bookings and will be available right through the winter, with a formal opening planned for December.
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Festive Meals Available Again This Christmas
A dedicated team of local volunteers will once again be preparing and delivering hot Christmas Day meals for anyone who needs them. Traditional turkey dinners with dessert will be cooked at Sound Primary School, funded through the Islands Cost of Living Crisis Fund and delivered across Lerwick, Tingwall, Gulberwick, Scalloway and Burra.
To help the team plan, they’re now looking for names of anyone who would benefit from a festive meal this year.
If you know someone who could use this support, please contact the Council’s Children’s Services team on 01595 743841 by Monday 8 December.
You can read the full story about this year’s festive meal programme on our website.
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Clothing Swap-Shop Returns
Last weekend (November 16th) saw the return of our Clothing Swap shop - run in collaboration with the RSPB and Kit for All.
The Climate Yarns team went along to find out more about how it works.
The swap shop provides free winter clothing and kit for anyone who needsincluding jackets, waterproofs, boots, hats, scarves and gloves. The free event was open to all and hopes to redistribute unwanted outdoor clothing, with the aim of removing barriers to nature this winter.
Families struggling with meeting the cost of living and keeping themselves warm this winter can also contact the Shetland Family Centre for further support.
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Climate Yarns - Grow Local
Are you ready for winter?
We're in the grip of our first spell of properly wintery weather for the season.
We know Shetland is no stranger to weather, and gales, snow and rain are all part of life as an islander. Still, our YouTube channel has some handy videos to help you make sure you're ready for whatever winter has to throw at us.
Whether it's powercuts, winter driving, or how to check the road conditions before you go, we've got you covered.
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Armistice Day events held across Shetland
Wreaths were laid at the War Memorial in Lerwick and the cairn outside the Anderson High School has been decorated with knitted poppies.
Knitted Remembrance poppies have also been placed beside two silhouettes of soldiers at the County War Memorial in Lerwick. The poppies have been knitted by Shetland Church of Scotland congregations from all across the isles.
The Lerwick Town Hall was also lit red as part of the Poppy Scotland appeal to support veterans.
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 Shetland Recovery Hub hosts clinics, drop ins and networking events for anyone struggling with substance use, or their families.
There are a range of events on throughout November and beyond. To find out more about what is on, head over to their page on Facebook.
 Join us for an informal chat about your ideas for supporting and improving local services.
Our first sessions are listed below — with more to follow.
All run from 4.30–7.30pm, except where noted.
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Monday 24 November – Brae High School
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Tuesday 25 November – Scalloway Primary School
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Monday 1 December – Aith Junior High School
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Wednesday 10 December – Lerwick Town Hall
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Thursday 11 December – Baltasound Hall (3–6pm)
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Tuesday 16 December – Bressay Hall
Dates for Mid Yell, Whalsay and online sessions for the outer isles will follow.
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 Book Week 2025 is in full swing, with events held across the week.
On Saturday 22 November from 2pm to 4pm, Shetland Library will hold a drop-in session “A Cuppa and a Good Book” sharing tips about starting and running a book group and showcasing the Library’s Book Group book sets, multiple copies of books for use by books groups, which is a great way to meet friends
 Winter pop-ins return!
We'll be holding winter pop-ins across Shetland, with support available from a range of services.
The pop-ins provide a space for you to get support, or just to come along and socialise in a warm space with a cuppa.
Pop ins are currently planned in the following locations:
- Brae
- Baltasound
- Muckle Roe
- Feltar
- North Ness
Keep an eye on the Shetland Community Hub Facebook page for dates and more information or contact communitydevelopment@shetland.gov.uk
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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 Trainee Seafarer - Fetlar, Mates (Various Vessels) Deckhands, Engineers, Adult Learning Officers, Community Involvement and Development Officers, Teachers (relief and permanent).Take a look today and see where a career with the Council could take you.
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