The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning after new figures showed Salmonella infections in England reached their highest level in a decade during 2025. According to the latest data, there were 10,406 confirmed Salmonella cases in England last year, slightly higher than the 10,389 recorded in 2024 and far above levels seen earlier in the decade.
A challenging mix of a failure to fill the gaps in the nursing workforce and increasing patient need are leaving staff struggling to keep people safe, as a quarter say registered nurse numbers are so far below what is required that there is now a high risk of harm on shift. There’s now a ‘high risk’ of harm on shift, say nursing staff in Scotland.
Polling will take place on Thursday 25 June 2026 to elect one candidate standing in the Ward 4 East Sutherland and Edderton by-election. Voters in this Ward are being reminded to make sure they are ready to cast their vote.
Highland councillors have agreed to take forward a new planning policy aimed at reducing light pollution across the region. At a meeting of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee held (Thursday 28 May 2026), members supported the proposed Dark Skies Draft Planning Policy, which will guide lighting requirements in new developments.
Businesses urged to take simple steps for smoother trade with the EU. On 19 May 2025, the UK government and the European Union (EU) agreed to pursue a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.
New government guidance to help avoid fake fashion. This will support shoppers to make the most of the UK's thriving pre-loved market, after 1 in 4 bought a fake without knowing.
The argument from the Scottish Government is that Scotland produces very large amounts of electricity especially renewable power from wind and hydro. Yet Scottish households still pay some of the highest energy costs in Europe because pricing is largely set across the whole UK market.
The UK government has announced new measures designed to prevent councils in England from making what it describes as “risky investments” using public money. The move follows a series of high-profile financial crises involving local authorities that borrowed heavily to invest in commercial property, shopping centres, hotels and other speculative projects in the hope of generating income.
The Economy and Infrastructure Committee met today (Thursday 28 May, 2026) and reaffirmed The Highland Council’s strong progress in delivering its Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan (STIDP), with more than £7 million secured to date through the Scottish Government’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF). The investment is supporting a wide range of projects across the Highlands.
Households across the UK continue to embrace solar power as the government accelerates its clean power mission. 269,000 solar installations completed in 2025 – the highest total ever recorded in a calendar year and 37% larger than the year before.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express, will transfer into public ownership. On Sunday 31 May, Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express will transfer into public ownership to deliver more reliable, passenger-centred services across the network.
Escape Pain next block starting 23rd June ð Please phone to speak to our staff before booking. ESCAPE-pain is a group education and exercise programme for people with chronic joint pain or osteoarthritis which aims to increase physical function and improve quality of life whilst living with a painful condition.
A Closer Look at Scotland’s New Buyer Support Scheme. When the Scottish Government says the First Homes Fund will reopen by the end of June, and that 50,000 first‑time buyers will be supported during this parliament, the headline sounds positive.
Check it out if you are not sure..
The Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2025 was published 27 May 2026. This Official Statistics publication details statistics on the employment, production and value of shellfish from Scottish Shellfish Farms.
Across Scotland, 321,885 children are benefiting from Scottish Child Payment as of March 2026, according to newly published statistics. Launched in February 2021, the Scotland-only benefit is a weekly payment of £28.20, paid every four weeks to every eligible child under 16 within a household.
The Open Fund for Individuals supports the wide range of activity initiated by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. This fund is designed to support a range of creative activity, such as a specific project, production or a period of research and development.
When the wind howls across the Flow Country, it’s easy to believe Scotland has cracked the energy puzzle. Turbines spin, lights stay on, and politicians talk about “green prosperity.” But the latest research from the Centre for Local Economies (CLE) — funded by Uplift, Community Land Scotland, and Community Energy Scotland — tells a very different story.
Air Charter Scotland – operator of the lifeline public service obligation (PSO) air service connecting Wick and Aberdeen – has announced revised fares designed to make travelling even simpler and more accessible for passengers. In response to customer feedback, passengers will benefit from lower fares across all ticket types, the introduction of new return rates and discounted travel for children.
The bond market has spent this week behaving like a barometer caught in a storm, twitching at every shift in geopolitics, inflation data, and political uncertainty. What should have been a quiet late‑May stretch has instead turned into one of the most jittery periods of the year, with yields rising across the United States, the United Kingdom, and much of the global economy.
Oil prices are extremely volatile today because traders are reacting to rapidly changing events involving the United States, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz which is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. After falling sharply earlier this week on hopes of a possible US-Iran diplomatic breakthrough, prices have now rebounded again following fresh military strikes and Iranian retaliation.
Caithness households are facing a familiar dilemma this summer but with unfamiliar stakes. Heating‑oil prices remain stubbornly high, global markets are twitchy, and the usual rhythm of “fill up in June, forget about it till winter” has been knocked off course.
What would happen if energy consumers mostly switch off on one day say 1 July when the new energy cap increase comes in. It would be silent protest that would be very visible to politicians and energy provider profits sink for a day.
Wick has waited a long time for its town‑centre improvements — long enough for weeds to develop tenancy rights and for shopfronts to start leaning on each other for emotional support. But now, with the latest announcement of delays, the whole thing is beginning to look suspiciously like a miniature, Highland‑issue version of the Edinburgh Trams fiasco.
Young people in the UK today face a combination of economic, social and technological pressures that many older generations did not experience to the same degree. The biggest challenges are around jobs, housing, living costs, mental health and uncertainty about the future.
Sutherland is a place of extraordinary beauty and extraordinary resilience. But when the Richmond Project’s Spotlight on Financial Literacy 2026 is read through a Sutherland lens, the findings take on a sharper edge.
Caithness and Sutherland have always been counties where people make the most of what they have. Long distances to shops, higher food prices, and a climate that rewards resilience mean that regrowing vegetables from scraps isn’t just thrifty it’s tradition.
The UK economy may be struggling for momentum, but a quiet revolution is taking place within its industrial heartlands. As traditional markets face shifting headwinds, the transition to alternative energy has emerged as an aggressive driver of domestic employment.
Do most of us think about Potash unless you are a farmer but it is worrying Governments and the USA in particular and the affects are global including the UK affecting all of our food prices. The main reason behind the recent US request for EU countries especially Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine to allow Belarusian fertiliser exports is a mixture of food security concerns, geopolitical strategy and American economic interests.
The Richmond Project’s Spotlight on Financial Literacy 2026 lands differently when read from Caithness, Sutherland, or the wider Highlands. The UK‑wide findings are stark enough with low financial literacy, deep numeracy problems, and widening inequality but in the Highlands the implications are sharper, more structural, and more personal.
The latest proposed and recently adopted European Union sanctions against Russia are part of what Brussels calls its 20th sanctions package, introduced in April–May 2026. The measures are aimed less at symbolic punishment and more at squeezing Russia’s long-term ability to finance the war in Ukraine while also closing loopholes that allowed Moscow to keep exporting energy through third countries.
REDUCED £15,000 below Valuation. This beautiful large end-terraced five-bedroom family home is laid across four floors.
This beautiful three-bedroom, semi-detached bungalow, was built only ten years ago and is located in a sought-after residential area of the town. It benefits from having solar panels to the roof and has an oil-fired central heating system, the oil tank has just been filled.
A £20 million Scottish Government investment will give young people the chance to get involved in different sporting activities on their doorstep. Highland Council, working in partnership with sportscotland, has secured funding to provide free and low-cost opportunities for young people as part of the national agency’s 2026 Summer of Sport.
This latest development will offer flexible and affordable business premises that lend themselves to different commercial requirements. Businesses in Sutherland are being invited to register their interest in new flexible units currently being developed at Golspie Business Park.
Here at Riverside house care home in Wick we are looking to employ full or part time Care Assistants to join our team, in this role, you will provide essential support. Your primary focus will be enhancing the quality of life for our residents by assisting with daily activities , ensuring their comfort, and promoting their independence.
Encouraging children and young people to get active. A nationwide summer programme of free and low-cost sporting activities - including football, rugby, padel, swimming, cycling and athletics - has been launched by Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth.
Position: We are seeking a proactive and detail‑driven Quality Officer to play a central role in upholding UHI North, West and Hebrides’ commitment to excellence. This position is critical to maintaining and enhancing the high-quality learning experience we deliver across the college and will be based at our UHI North, West and Hebrides campuses in Fort William or Thurso.
Here at Riverside House Care Home in Wick we are seeking to employ a part time dedicated laundry assistant working 20 hours per week to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and organisation of laundry services within the home.
Grandparents have always been part of the quiet architecture of family life — the school‑run helpers, the emergency babysitters, the keepers of stories and common sense. But new research published in early 2026 shows something bigger happening: grandparents are now structural pillars in the UK’s childcare, social care, and emotional support systems.
Grandparents have always been part of the background architecture of family life — steady, familiar, and often underestimated. But when you look closely at what they pass on, you realise they are teaching the most important lessons a child will ever learn.
NEWLY REDUCED PRICE A unique chance to acquire this B Listed former Granary, steeped in history and dating back to the 18th century. Planning permission was previously granted for conversion into a family home, highlighting the property's exciting residential potential.
Highland Council approves new engagement strategy to put communities at the heart of decision-making A new Participation and Engagement Strategy developed to encourage community involvement in service design and priority planning is set to be implemented by Highland Council following extensive public consultation. The strategy incorporates feedback from residents and community groups, focused on the importance of improving transparency, accessibility and feedback.
At today’s meeting of Highland Council’s Communities and Place Committee, Members approved a long-term approach to weed control that will reduce reliance on chemical herbicides, while maintaining safe, accessible public spaces and protecting biodiversity. The new Integrated Weed Control Strategy and Action Plan builds on the Council’s partial ban on glyphosate-based products in playgrounds, schools and sports facilities, which was introduced in 2019.
Following today’s deadline for nominations the nnmbers are in. The Highland Council can confirm the details of the 5 candidates that are standing in the Ward 4 East Sutherland and Edderton By-election.
Relief Support Worker – Caithness Mikeysline Mikeysline is a Highland, Islands and Moray–based mental health awareness and suicide prevention charity, established in 2015. We provide support to both adults and young people through evening text-based services and one-to-one sessions (face to face, telephone or online) within our ‘Hive’ support spaces.
Blargoans Ltd have a fixed term contract opportunity for a Commercial Analyst to work within our client’s facility in Caithness. https://blargoans.com/jobs/commercial-analyst/ Closing date for CV applications will be on Wednesday 27 May 2026 at 12 Noon To apply: email your CV to recruitment@blargoans.com and specifying the reference BL34343.
Your free PressReader access through High Life Highland is far more powerful for magazines and newspapers than either Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited. If your main interest is magazines, PressReader is the heavyweight — Prime Reading is tiny by comparison, and Kindle Unlimited is somewhere in the middle.
Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC) AGM Monday 1st June 7pm in the Mowat Room at Wick Assembly Rooms. All Welcome..
Come and enjoy the stalls, the entertainment and support the local shops, too!.
See poster..
Stores Person – Wick Factory imenco.com Imenco Future Technologies is an innovation-driven company specialising in high quality vision systems, subsea sensors and acoustic solutions. We collaborate closely with our customer partners in the offshore energy, defence, and maritime sectors to solve their unique operational challenges by applying core technical knowledge in optics, sound propagation and AI enabled electronic systems.
A vacancy has arisen for the election of a Councillor to represent Ward 4 East Sutherland and Edderton following the resignation of Jim McGillivray. Ward 4 is a 3-member ward.
Even as the calendar insists it is May, the Highlands often disagree. A stiff northerly wind sweeps across Caithness, the haar rolls in from the sea, and the thermometer hovers stubbornly in the single digits.
👨🏻🍳 WE ARE LOOKING FOR A CAFE COOK 👩🏻🍳 We are looking for a cook for our busy bakery café. executing our light menu that showcases all of our homemade traditionally baked items with fresh products.
Immediate start for for a Kitchen Assistant/Porter. You’ll be the hero behind the scenes – keeping everything clean, organised, and helping the kitchen run like clockwork.
A college + university like no other. With 19 campuses and centres across the North and West Highlands, Skye, and Outer Hebrides, we cover a geographic area larger than Wales, comprising 40% of Scotland’s coastline.
The National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations is a funding programme for artistic, creative and cultural organisations based in Scotland. You can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £100,000 to support creative activity that runs for up to 18 months.
Full time counter assistant at north coast butchers. Hours negotiable.
A spacious 4 bedroom semi-detached house with garage and off road parking, situated in the popular Mount Vernon area of Thurso. Within walking distance of the town centre, the property benefits from easy access to the amenities, services, and transport links expected of a bustling Highland town.
About Us Norscot is a leading manufacturer of high-quality windows, doors, and conservatories in a variety of materials including uPVC, Timber and AluWood. Renowned for superior quality products and customer service, we are committed to delivering exceptional products that meet the needs of both residential and commercial customers.
CLFC summer sessions' We are delighted to be able to offer free taster sessions for girls between the age of 4 and 12 this summer (see poster attached). Please complete the form in the below link and email back to caithnessladiesfc@gmail.com .
A date for your diaries - Sunday 14th June. Yarrows Heritage has been renovating the Yarrows Trail - new signage, information boards, leaflets, waymarker posts, etc.
Care Planning Coordinator – Laurandy Centre Wick The Laurandy Centre is recruiting an experienced Care Planning Coordinator to join our team. The Laurandy Centre is a registered day support service for older people, delivered by a respected third sector organisation and funded as a commissioned service by the NHS.
A & D Sutherland Ltd have vacancies for General labourers. Please apply including your CV to: mark@caithnessflagstone.co.uk.
This immaculately presented four-bedroom semi-detached property is ideally situated in the heart of the town, offering generous living space and excellent convenience to local amenities and East Caithness Community Campus. A standout feature of the home is the stunning conservatory, providing a bright and relaxing space overlooking the beautifully maintained garden, perfect for both everyday living and entertaining.
The UK is entering a new phase in its energy story—one defined not by choice, but by necessity. Across the country, more wind farms, battery storage sites, substations and power lines are being proposed, approved and built.
See poster.
The aviation industry is entering a period of renewed uncertainty. The collapse of Spirit Airlines has raised serious questions about the stability of low-cost air travel, especially as fuel prices and operating costs continue to rise globally.
See poster for details Scan to book..
For the first time in modern history, Britain’s life expectancy curve has flattened. The Office for National Statistics confirms that the average Briton is living longer in years but shorter in health.
A Highland Council by-election is being held for Ward 4 – East Sutherland and Edderton following the resignation of Councillor Jim McGillivray. The Notice of Election and timetable for this election will be published on the Council’s website on Thursday 14 May 2026.
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