Heating grant scheme goes live and Easter Storm

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🟡 Energy and fuel prices keep rising thanks to the conflict in Iran. This week details of the Scottish scheme for supporting people who rely on oil or LPG to heat their home were revealed. Key things to know:

• The scheme has a £10m budget. It allows households that qualify to apply every three months for a grant of £300 towards home heating costs. The scheme will run until September 30, or until the cash runs out.
• If you receive a qualifying low-income benefit you will automatically qualify for a grant. But there are other "discretionary" criteria that mean you may still qualify for a grant. You might qualify for a grant if you have particular health conditions, live in a rural area, are older, in financial hardship, or are dealing with a major life event. You will need to supply evidence to support your claim.
• The cash will usually be paid directly to your oil or LPG supplier.
• You can't apply for a grant to cover fuel purchased before April 1, 2026.

To find out more and apply see: heatingadvice.scot

🟡 Batten down all the things. A yellow warning for wind has been issued for the Easter weekend covering most of Scotland. Parts of the west coast could see 90mph gusts. More: Met Office

🟡 David Carruthers travelled to Edinburgh recently to accept a prestigious award from the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society on behalf of all the Gairloch Sitooterie Community Garden Volunteers. More: Facebook

🟡 Two Wester Ross housing projects received a big funding boost recently. A Coigach affordable housing project and a project in Applecross that could see both homes and small industrial units built locally, received grants of more than £500,000. More: Hector MacKenzie | Ross-Shire Journal (£)

🟡 In fact, a detailed planning application (ref 26/01098/FUL) for the Applecross project has been submitted to officials this week too. The public consultation period ends on April 24. More: Highland Council Planning Portal

🟡 The people behind the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area Facebook Page have been running a competition to officially name the Humpback Whale that visited Loch Broom over last winter. They've now settled on a shortlist of five names, and they are looking for you to vote on your favourite one. Vote here.

🟡 From April 1, the minimum wage goes up by 50p to £12.71 for over 21s. More: BBC

🟡 Crofters must get their Annual Notice back to the Crofting Commission by April 6. More: Crofting Commission

Events

🟡 Ranger Katie Grant and Mycologist John Hedger are running a springtime fungi hunt at Applecross Community Woodland on April 5. More: Eventbrite

🟡 60 blood donors are needed from the Gairloch area on April 8. Can you help? More details in the flyer below. More: Scotblood

🟡 The Kinlochewe Drama Group are putting on a circus skills workshop on April 9 for kids aged 5+. Place are limited though. More: Facebook

🟡 On April 15 the Woodland Trust are holding a drop-in public consultation event on the third phase of their woodland expansion plans at the Gleann Shìldeag estate. More: Facebook

🟡 Running until April 24, there's an exhibition in the Lochcarron Community Centre showcasing the work done by volunteers at the Kirkton Community Woodland. More: Facebook

🟡 On April 25, The Torridon Ceilidh House and the Gairloch Ceilidh House are joining forces to host a joint event in Kinlochewe Village Hall. More details in the flyer below.

Jobs

🟡 Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action forum (GALE) are looking for a new CEO. More: GALE

🟡 GALE are also hiring for a Catering and Events Manager too. More: GALE

🟡 Gairloch Museum are looking for a part-time Health and Wellbeing Coordinator. More: Gairloch Museum

🟡 Lochbroom Hardware are hiring a part-time member of staff. For more details email: [email protected]

More News

🟡 A final list of candidates for the Highlands has been published by Highland Council for the Scottish Election. More: Highland Council

🟡 CalMac have put out a statement apologising for the extent of the disruption on the ferry network at present after an "unprecedented" number of ferries have ended up out of service at the same time. If you have a booking or are planning a journey the firm advises that you check ahead. More: CalMac Service Status and Hebrides News

🟡 The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) is looking for homes for hundreds of ex-battery farm hens. If you would like to provide a home for some hens then 44 will be available for collection in Inverness on Sunday April 12. More: BHWT

🟡 And finally, here's a short photo montage showing progress at the Ullapool Seafood Shack site where they are busy building a new and enhanced eatery. They say they hope to be ready to open by the end of April. More: Facebook.