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With thousands of young people from across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute returning to school today after the summer holidays, ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, would like to wish them the very best of luck: “From those entering their final year of secondary school, to our primary ones who are just starting out on their educational journey, I would like to wish each and every one of them lots of happiness and success in the new school term.

Thathar a’ tabhann comhairle an-asgaidh do luchd-seilbh Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid air dè a’ bhuaidh a bhios aig an atharrachadh bho Shochairean Taigheadais gu Creideas Coitcheann orra.

  Tha aithisg adhartais air Seirbheis Foghlaim Comhairle Earra-Ghàidheal is Bhòid a’ toirt fa-near do mar a tha ceannas làidir ann, taic a tha air a dealbh a dh’aona-ghnothach do dhiofar sgoiltean, agus do mar a tha an luchd-obrach air cur romhpa piseach a thoirt air an t-seirbheis.   Dh’fhoillsich Luchd-sgrùdaidh na Banrigh airson Foghlaim toraidhean an sgrùdaidh aca an-diugh (Dimàirt 31 Iuchar) agus iad air tadhal gus faicinn dè na ceumannan a bha a’ Chomhairle air a ghabhail gus piseach a thoirt air seirbheis an fhoghlaim aca.  

An event will be held in Oban next week to enable graduates in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute to find out more about the opportunity to become fully qualified secondary school teachers without the need to move away from the area. ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ has been working in partnership with the Universities of Dundee and the Highlands and Islands to agree a programme, recently approved by the General Teaching Council of Scotland, which will see student teachers based in local schools over an 18 month period.

School pupils in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute are celebrating exam success today − with 100% of National 3 and 4 students passing and more Higher and Advanced Higher pupils achieving pass marks than last year.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s Trading Standards team is warning people to be aware of doorstep cold-callers, after receiving reports of traders turning up unplanned at peoples’ homes in the area to offer household maintenance, repairs and general improvement work. Before carrying out any work at your property, traders must provide you with written details that include the name and address of the trader, the price and details of the work involved.

People living in conservation areas or listed buildings in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute are being encouraged to check with the council before carrying out any changes to their property. ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute has a total of 32 designated conservation areas, from Campbeltown to Tobermory.

Applications are being invited for ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s Strategic Events and Festivals Fund for 2019-20. The Fund has a £113,000 budget for the 2019-20 period and is open for online applications now for a period of six weeks, closing at 12noon on Friday, September 14. Two grant pots will make up the Fund, one of which will allow applicants to apply for a grant of £5000 or less. The other is for grants of more than £5000. Applicants can only seek funding from one of the pots per event.

Campbeltown’s B-Listed Old Courthouse building is in the hands of a new owner who hopes to bring it back into use for the first time in more than 30 years.

Landlords in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute are being offered free advice on how the transition from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit will affect them.   With support from ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s benefit unit, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be hosting advice sessions at the end of August to give landlords information about how tenants will manage their Universal Credit accounts and payment of rent; how to avoid rent arrears; and what can be done when arrears do occur.