Fairer Shetland

Early in 2022, members of the Education and Families Committee discussed extending the council’s popular ‘Picnic and Play’ sessions from Lerwick into rural areas and so, that summer, the sessions went on their first ever roadshow.

Grow Shetland is a three-year project supporting the Shetland community to grow more of its own fruit and vegetables, increase access to affordable food and encourage healthy eating. Part of the wider Fair Food Project, Grow Shetland has carried out a range of activities in the past year, delivered by Transition Turriefield.

Last year, the Leader of Shetland Islands Council wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer laying out stark predictions for household energy costs for those living in Shetland due to increasing energy prices.  Fuel poverty levels were projected to increase significantly as a result and statistics show that, even under normal circumstances, the cost of living in Shetland is anything from 20-65% higher than the UK average.

Shetland Islands Council agreed to align the criteria for free school meals and clothing grant and to increase school clothing grant payments by 50% in the next financial year at its meeting in February 2023.  

The Anchor Project will conclude in March 2023 as planned and has evolved into an expanded service ‘Anchor for Families’, supported by Whole Family Wellbeing Funding from the Scottish Government. A team is now successfully embedded in all Shetland schools and providing a whole family support approach to support children, young people and families.   

Shetland Islands Council has a statutory responsibility to consult with families on funded early learning and childcare (ELC) provision every two years.  A Shetland-wide survey on childcare services was undertaken at the end of 2021 with results reported early in 2022.  The survey explored the views of parents/carers about the current delivery and future of early learning and childcare services, as well as school-aged childcare services. It was the council’s first Shetland-wide survey since the implementation of the early learning and childcare (ELC) expansion. 

The Scottish Government provided ring-fenced funding to Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland to provide mental health and wellbeing services to the community.