News In Brief - Monday 5 October 2026
Thank you for tuning in to another instalment of News in Brief, giving you news and events from across our services, happening over the next seven days. Have a great week everyone!
Monday 5 October: Voting opens for Participatory Budgeting
Coordinated by the Council’s Connected Communities team, we are delighted to announce that Participatory Budgeting voting opens today. Residents of North Ayrshire aged eight and up are able to cast their votes now for the groups they think deserve a share of our total funding pot of £82,185 funding up for grabs, so don’t miss out on having your say. Vote now via the Shaping North Ayrshire website.
Monday 5 October: New Intregra Sundry Request eForm is now live
The new Integra Sundry Request eForm is now live and should be used for sundry request from today. Please read the Sundry Process Latest News update to find out everything that you need to know. Managers are also asked to refer to the guidance in the news article to ensure their teams are prepared for the changes and ensure a swift and streamlined transition and that all guidance, bookmarks, templates and process documents in their teams are updated before Monday 12 October when the previous Integra Form will be deactivated.
Tuesday 6 October: Challenge Poverty Week staff event
Challenge Poverty Week continues and North Ayrshire Council is holding an in-person event for staff at The Volunteer Rooms, Irvine, on Tuesday 6 October from 9.30am to noon. This is a drop-in event, with no booking required, but please be aware that presentations will be held between 9.45am and 11.30am. The session will include presentations from partner organisations and there will also be an opportunity for employees to speak directly to the various organisations within the Financial Inclusion Partnership. Find out in the Challenge Poverty Week news article.
Friday 9 October: Deadline to buy additional annual leave
Don’t forget applications to buy additional annual leave for the calendar year 2027 must be submitted to your line manager before 5pm on Friday. This is your last week to apply. For more information on the scheme and guidance for managers, please see the HR Guide – Buying Additional Annual Leave. If you are interested in purchasing additional annual leave, you must talk to your manager before submitting your application at Buying Additional Annual Leave application.
Book now for line manager ‘How To’ training
HR are pleased to offer their final round of ‘How To’ sessions for managers. Read the Latest News article to find out more about the Microsoft Teams training sessions including, menopause awareness, managing stress and mental health, practical tools and support available to managers, and guidance on the application of Special Leave.
Get ready for Arran Outdoors Education Centre booking!
Arran Outdoors Education Centre (AOEC) have shared their get ready information on bookings going live for August 2027 to June 2028 residential bookings. Find out everything you need to know in the AOEC news update.
Head on over to the Café on 4
Another week, another delicious menu from the Café on 4 – head on up to the 4th floor this week to enjoy the choice of breakfast, lunch and treat items.
Get involved in Care Experienced Week
Care Experienced Week 2026 begins on Monday 26 October, with a theme this year of ‘Forward to the Future’, encouraging us to think about how we support care experienced people to achieve their ambitions and shape the futures they want. If your service has anything planned, or something you’d like the Corporate Parenting team to highlight across its social media that links to ‘Forward to the Future’, please email the Corporate Parenting team.
That’s all for now! If you have news to share in News In Brief next week, share your story with us by midday on Friday by using the contact us button below. Have a great week everyone!
