Some of the community organisations located in Anchor Buildings on Bridge Street will shortly be moving out while the arrangements for temporary accommodation are being finalised and plans for the new Community Hub move forward.
From Monday 22 June 2026, Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) and Victim Support Scotland will be working remotely. The email addresses for both organisations and the phone number for VAO will remain the same. Victim Support Scotland can be reached by phone on 01856 871965.
Orkney Citizens Advice Bureau will remain at Anchor Buildings for the time being and can be accessed through the main front door, currently the VAO main door.
Connect Orkney is part of the longer-term Community Hub plans and is expected to move into the new building once it is ready. On a temporary basis, Connect will be moving to The Life Centre to carry out their activities with the young people they support. Young people and their families will be contacted directly about these changes.
VAO hopes to be in the position to share more information very soon about the temporary accommodation, which is expected to be in place for around 12–18 months.
The proposed Community Hub will be a shared space for community groups, charities, social enterprises and support services. It will provide space for advice, support, meetings, training, activities and partnership working.
Although VAO is leading the development work, the aim is not to create a VAO-only building. The Hub is being developed to support a wider range of organisations and services from the outset.
Morven Brooks, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Orkney, said:
This is an important step forward. Remote working and the move to temporary accommodation are short-term changes, but they allow us to progress a much longer-term aim: creating a shared Community Hub that supports local organisations and makes it easier for people in Orkney to access help when they need it.
We recognise that any move brings uncertainty, particularly for organisations delivering important frontline services. Our focus is on keeping disruption as low as possible, supporting tenants and partners through the transition, and continuing to work towards a shared space that will benefit Orkney for the long term.
Alison Gunn, Manager of Orkney Citizens Advice Bureau, said:
Orkney CAB is delighted to be moving to the new Hub, a development that will enable us to provide an enhanced service for our clients and an improved working environment for our staff and volunteers.
While the move is underway, there may be some temporary disruption. However, we will continue to provide our usual services throughout this period.
From 1 July 2026, people visiting Orkney CAB should use the main entrance of Anchor Building on Bridge Street. You can contact us on 01856 875266 between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday, or by email at bureau@orkneycab.casonline.org.uk. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make this transition.
Further information on the temporary location, access arrangements and any short-term service changes during the move will be shared in the coming weeks.
The contact details for all the organisations are:
Voluntary Action Orkney:
- Tel: 01856 872897
- Email enquiries@vaorkney.org.uk
- Postal address: 6 Bridge Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HR (Mail will continue to be collected from this address).
Citizens Advice Bureau Orkney:
- Tel: 01856 875266
- Email: bureau@orkneycab.casonline.org.uk
- Postal address: 6 Bridge Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HR (Access will be through the front door at Anchor Buildings).
Victim Support Scotland – Kirkwall Office:
- Tel: 01856 871965
- Email: victimsupporthighlandsislands@victimsupportsco.org.uk
- Postal address: 6 Bridge Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HR (Mail will continue to be collected from this address).
Connect Orkney:
- Tel: 01856 872897 option 2
- Email: connect@vaorkney.org.uk
- Postal address: The Life Centre, East Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LX
