Gairloch High crowdfunder and energy costs spike

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🟡 The Friends of Gairloch High School have launched a Crowdfunder appeal in a bid to raise funds to support pupils at the school. They hope to raise £5000, as rising costs are making it more expensive for the school to fund things like events, out-of-school activities and transport. More: Crowdfunder

🟡 The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has meant rising costs have become a worry to many in Wester Ross, particularly with regard to energy and fuel costs. As we write, there are some big differences between prices at different local filling stations at the moment. You can see local prices on a map here: Fuelfinder UK

There are also big concerns about heating oil costs, with some reports suggesting that prices have more than doubled. Local MP Angus MacDonald is among many politicians that have called for the Westminster government to take action to help people with their heating oil costs. In response to pressure, the UK Energy Minister has said: "Families in the Highlands who depend on heating oil should have confidence that the markets are being watched closely and any suppliers that step out of line will face consequences." More: Inverness Courier

Have you been affected by these price increases? Do you think the government should do more? Share your views on the recent energy price rises with us.

🟡 Gairloch Community Council has announced that access improvement work at Opinan Beach has been completed. Here's a photo:

🟡 On the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area Facebook Page they are running a competition to formally name the Humpback Whale that visited Loch Broom for 39 days last winter. More: Facebook

🟡 If you show any National Lottery ticket, Scratchcard or Instant Win Game at the Corrieshalloch Gorge Visitor Centre you can park for free this week. More: Facebook

🟡 On Saturday March 21 at 19:30 the 30th Anniversary celebrations for the Loch Torridon Community Centre kick off, with a showing of the film Loch Ness. Entry is free. Details in the flyer below.

🟡 Blasta Bakes and Cakes are planning to launch a new honesty box over the Easter weekend at Mellon Udrigle beach. More: Facebook

🟡 It's the Inverewe Garden community open weekend on April 4 and 5. If you live in the IV21, IV22 or IV23 postcode areas you get free entry to Inverewe Garden and 10% off all food and retail purchases, but you must bring proof of address.

🟡 From April, the Applecross Roastery is opening a cafe. More: Facebook

🟡 UHI Gairloch are planning on running a First Aid at Work course on April 21. More: Facebook

🟡 At the Old Schoolhouse, Inverasdale, they're planning an "evening of music and song" on April 24. More: Facebook

Jobs

Job seeking? We have even more local job vacancies in the next issue of the Gairloch and District Times, out on Friday 13. Buy your copy in these places or be the first to know with a digital subscription.

🟡 Details of the 23 organisations attending the Gairloch Job Fair on Friday March 13 at the Myrtle Bank Hotel between 10:00 and 15:00 have been revealed. They are:

Tourism / activity related businesses: - Old Inn, Gairloch Hotel, Torridon Hotel, and Climb Ride Explore

Large employer, fisheries, engineering: Kishorn Port, MOWI (Wester Ross Fisheries), Scottish Water, The Army

Social Care: Isle View Care Home, NHS Highland, Toybox Daycare Centre, Mikeysline

Land use: Tanera Mor, ADL Peatland Restoration, Forestry and Land

Energy use and advice: Alienergy, Highland Council Climate Change and Energy

Advisory, support, training opportunities: DWP, Skills Development Scotland, Developing the Young Workforce, Highland Council Employability team, and UHI Gairloch.

🟡 Kishorn Port say they are looking for a cleaner, and security guards.

🟡 The Calmac Modern Apprenticeship Scheme is open for 2026. Apply here: Calmac.

🟡 Scottish Water also have a modern apprenticeship on offer locally. More: S1jobs.com

🟡 A new cafe called Seall Coffee House in Lochcarron is looking for a full time kitchen assistant. For more details email: [email protected]

🟡 The Shieldaig Hotel are recruiting a Hotel Manager / General Manager. For more details email: [email protected]

🟡 The Badachro Inn are looking for bar staff. To apply email: [email protected]

🟡 Highland Council have a vacancy for full-time Community Work Operative based in Gairloch. More: Hi-Jobs.com

More News

🟡 Gruesome footage from inside the Bakkafrost West Strome salmon farm near Loch Carron has prompted Highlands MSP Ariane Burgess to reiterate demands for tougher enforcement from regulators. More: Rob Edwards | The Ferret

🟡 Meanwhile, new polling suggests that 55% of Highlanders believe salmon farming is bad for the environment. More: Vicky Allen | The Herald

🟡 MSP Maree Todd says her x.com (formerly Twitter) social media account has been hacked. More: Facebook

🟡 Highland elderly support service Morning Call are looking for volunteers. More: Facebook

🟡 The North Highland Initiative (NHI) are looking for a new Non-Executive Director. More: NHI

🟡 The Old Inn in Gairloch wants your help to tell the story of Gairloch’s history as a herring port. More: Facebook

🟡 Police Scotland have warned dog owners to be careful after an increase in the number of incidents of livestock worrying in the Highlands. More: BBC

🟡 North Coast 500 Ltd has named Clare Winskill as its new executive chair. More: Lauren Cameron | Inverness Courier (£)

🟡 After a three year campaign, Sight Scotland is celebrating that they have persuaded the Scottish Government to adopt a new permanent policy of allowing people with visual impairments to travel with a companion for free on trains throughout Scotland. More: Sight Scotland

🟡 And lastly, here's a video from Kishorn Port showing the progress of works to develop the facility. More: Facebook

Thank you to Laura Reid for sharing this week's cover photo with us. If you have a photo you'd like us to share you can send it to us here, or share it on on our Facebook Page.