The British Red Cross in Orkney as been awarded £45,045.88 from the Scottish Government’s Island Communities Fund.

The funding is for the purchase and adaption of an electric vehicle.

The organisation in Shetland was awarded the same amount for their vehicle purchase.

The van will be free to use in order to support community resilience, personal wellbeing, COVID response & recovery and disaster relief. This represents BRC’s first EVs in the north of Scotland.

The vehicles will help to deliver services across the Orkney and Shetland – although in some instances local barriers need to be overcome e.g. direct travel onto some islands is not possible by vehicle.

This is the second tranche of funding for the Islands Communities Fund.

The Fund is managed by Inspiring Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and the 35 successful projects in Scotland span across 55 islands.