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A group of education professionals from a school in Norway made a second visit to Oban High School this week as part of an international exchange programme which looks at ways of sharing best practice and explores opportunities for young people aged 16 years and over. The Norwegian Head Teachers: Wenche Rudshaug Kavali and Olav Wennemo were welcomed to the school by Head Teacher Peter Bain; PվɫÇéƬ’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly; Depute Policy Lead, Councillor Kieron Green; and Executive Director of Community Services, Douglas Hendry.

Young people from across PվɫÇéƬ and Bute will be given the opportunity to have their say on how the area is run, when they meet with some of the area’s key decision makers next week.   ‘The Big Conversation’ is being organised by PվɫÇéƬ’s Youth Services Team, and will provide a platform for young people to talk to the Council Leader; members of the Scottish Youth Parliament; and community planning representatives, including Skills Development Scotland and the police.  

The winners have been named in our October holidays photo competition – although picking the best pictures was no easy task thanks to the quality of shots submitted. Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, judged the entries and after much thought was finally able to pick a top three. We asked school pupils in PվɫÇéƬ and Bute to send us photographs they took over the October break to be in with a chance of winning one of three prizes.

Dunoon Grammar School has launched an initiative to encourage young people to make their voice heard and get involved in making important decisions about their learning experiences. The ‘Wee How Good is Our School’ (Wee HGIOS) initiative has been launched as part of Education Scotland’s HGIOS 4 - a framework designed to support self-evaluation in schools.

Speaking ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget statement next week, the Resources Spokesperson for COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities), Councillor Gail Macgregor said: “Through delivery of essential services – children’s services, housing, transport, social care, environmental protection, and more - Local Government is the life blood of Scotland. These essential services create opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive.

  An Empty Homes Officer from PվɫÇéƬ has been short-listed for two prestigious awards for her work in trying to combat the problem of empty homes.    Kelly Ferns is a finalist in both the Outstanding Individual and Best Before and After Photography categories at the Howdens Scottish Empty Homes Champions of the Year Awards.    Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which takes place alongside the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership annual conference on Monday 26 November in Stirling.  

Two heritage projects from PվɫÇéƬ and Bute are toasting success as the winners of the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2018 were revealed. Scooping the awards for Best Rescue of a Historic Building or Place (under £2m and over £2m respectively) were the project to rescue Dunoon Burgh Halls, which reopened in June 2017 as a community arts hub following major refurbishment, and Campbeltown Community Business Ltd, who led the project to restore the category A listed Campbeltown Picture House.

A new plan to promote the use and raise awareness of British Sign Language (BSL) in PվɫÇéƬ and Bute has been approved by the council’s Policy and Resources Committee. The aim of the plan, which is shared by PվɫÇéƬ, Live PվɫÇéƬ and the Health and Social Care Partnership, is to improve access for deaf and deafblind BSL users to information and public services including healthcare and mental health support. The Joint Local BSL Plan for PվɫÇéƬ and Bute 2018 – 2024 sets out actions to develop use of BSL, for example.

  Festive lighting will be delivered in Oban and Tobermory by local organisations in 2018. Funding for BID4Oban and Tobermory Christmas Lights Committee (CLC) was agreed by Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee recently. BID4Oban has been allocated £9,000, to commission a suitable contractor to put up the lights, test and maintain them as well as remove them at the end of the season. It will also take on organisation of the highly anticipated ‘switch-on’ event.

  We're kicking off our fostering appeal this week to try and encourage more people in PվɫÇéƬ and Bute to come forward and be assessed to become foster carers. Moyra Paterson and her husband Peter both have full-time jobs and have been foster carers for six years now. We caught up with the couple to find out all about it.....