Information for Services and Agencies

This briefing provides information on what the Council is doing, with partners and communities, to support the Cost of Living Crisis.This focuses on the immediate support required, in recognition that medium and long term priorities are dealt with elsewhere, including through Shetland Partnership Plan and Our Ambition.

• In general, if you, or anyone you know has concerns about money and energy costs contact CAB: Shetland Islands Citizens Advice Bureau | Citizens Advice Scotland (cas.org.uk) or Anchor for Families: Anchor for Families – Shetland Islands Council.  For a referral form to CAB please email them on sicab@shetland.org / to request support from Anchor for Families use the online form on the Anchor for Families website
• In general, if you, or anyone you know needs food contact CAB: Shetland Islands Citizens Advice Bureau | Citizens Advice Scotland (cas.org.uk) or Anchor for Families: Anchor for Families – Shetland Islands Council and they will be able to refer you to the Shetland Food Bank
• These support services will also ensure that households who are eligible have support to access Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants and Fuel Vouchers through the Fuel Bank Foundation, and the Council’s emergency support to households operating through Duty Social Work
• For access to free second hand clothing for children, and free items to help people through the winter (such as blankets, duvets, hot water bottles and thermos flasks): St Ringans hub (What3words location: ///extension.sprayer.magazines): phone 0800 0308780 to access. You could also access these resources to do a pop up in your local community.
• A short training session is regularly available to help you find out more about how to raise the issue of Money Worries, and about the support available for people locally. Dates of Money Worries training sessions can be found on this page below. 
• Public Spaces are open, across Shetland, for anyone looking for a warm and welcoming place to sit and relax.  Community groups, for example, are running activities, during the day, evenings and weekends.  For more information visit the support in your area pages on this site.
• Any businesses under pressure to pay energy bills should be signposted to the Business Gateway: Shetland - Local Support | Business Gateway | Business Gateway (bgateway.com)
• Any person seeking support to move into work, or improve their employment opportunities: Support getting into employment – Shetland Islands Council
• If you don’t know where to go for support, for yourself, a friend, family member or neighbour, or simply need someone to talk to: phone 0800 0308780.  If no one answers, please leave a message and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you have any other queries, please email costofliving@shetland.gov.uk

Help people get the support they need

Lots of people are worried about money right now. Money worries training gives you the tools to raise the topic of money worries, and the information you need about support in Shetland. If you would like to know more about how you can help the people you support, your colleagues, your community, or your friends and family at this time, why not sign up?

These online sessions will:

• Give you the background knowledge and confidence to start discussions about money worries.
• Sessions are an hour long.
• Attend online via Teams.
• Free and open to anyone.

2023 Dates:

• Wednesday 15th November 2023 - 12:00-13:00
• Wednesday 29th November 2023 - 12:00-13:00
• Wednesday 13th November 2023 - 12:00-13:00

To book

For SIC staff - book via VOR 

Anyone outside of the council should email Workforce.DevelopmentTeam@shetland.gov.uk

These sessions are run by Shetland Citizen's Advice Bureau, NHS Health Improvement Team and the Anchor Team. 

#WeShineBrighterTogether is a communications campaign, linked to the cost of living crisis, aimed at:

1) ensuring that the community knows what support and help are available in Shetland, and how to access it.

2) normalising and reducing the stigma around asking for, receiving and offering help and support.

While it is most relevant to those who are currently in need, it aims at capturing a wider audience which includes: those who are not currently but may need support in the future; those who may know someone who might need help; those who might not need help, but could do something to help. This audience cuts across all age groups and households as well as geographically.

The campaign will use social media, print, digital and location-specific media (e.g. Cinema, GP surgeries, Schools etc) to reach as much of this audience as possible.

You can find a campaign guide, alongside various campaign assets in the downloads from the right hand side of this page.

The We Shine Brighter Together campaign film is available to share on YouTube, and the Shetland Islands Council's Facebook page

Alongside short videos, the film is available for download here. If you would like to create your own Facebook or Instagram post using the campaign video, please email us at costofliving@shetland.gov.uk to request crossposting rights to the video.