Two of NorthLink Ferries’ community favourites are set to make a welcome return.

The popular Family and Friends discounted travel promotion will re-open for business to cover the period from September 1 – December 18 and islanders, their families and friends are being invited to sign-on now via the company’s website.

Similarly, fresh applications are being invited for the ferry company’s sponsorship programme, to cover the period October 1 - March 31, with the deadline for entries being Friday, September 10.

The Family & Friends promotion, which was first run in 2003 but re-introduced as a web-based offer for two travel periods in 2008, has been operated annually since then. Since its re- introduction in 2008 the promotion has seen over 15,000 passengers enjoy discounted travel rates – generating an additional £500,000 revenue which reduces the Scottish Government taxpayer subsidy received by NorthLink.

As before, the offer is available only via the NorthLink website – www.northlinkferries.co.uk – and the scheme will see registered islanders invited to nominate up to six ‘Family & Friend’ households outwith Orkney and Shetland. All members of that household would then qualify for the 30 per cent discount currently enjoyed by islanders who are registered with NorthLink’s islander discount travel scheme.

The F&F promotion, which applies to passengers and their cars but not cabins, will cover all Hamnavoe sailings across the Pentland Firth and all Hjaltland and Hrossey sailings between Aberdeen and the Northern Isles, excluding the Friday southbound and Sunday northbound services which prove to be particularly popular with islanders themselves.

Meanwhile, the NorthLink Sponsorship programme, which is designed to help islanders and island communities and organisations with the provision of free or discounted travel, is set to re-open for business and applications are being sought now.

NorthLink’s Commercial Director, Cynthia Spencer said: “Since the sponsorship programme was introduced in 2003 we have been keen, by means of specially tailored travel packages, to recognise and support individual islanders, local clubs and organisations who are obliged to make regular sporting or cultural trips to the mainland and for events being showcased in the islands.

“The sponsored travel rationale was simple. It took account of the fact that over and above the regular Islander discount schemes, there would be occasions when Orcadians and Shetlanders – perhaps when they were either representing their island or Scotland  – would be required to make regular southbound journeys for training and  competing in UK and Scottish mainland competitions or, even, Scottish mainland sporting leagues.

“Throughout the life of our sponsorship programme, free or discounted travel worth over £900,000 has been provided for over 25,000 islanders and visitors and we ask those organisations or individuals who would now like a sponsorship application form to get in touch with us now, by contacting the marketing dept on 01856 88 5500 or by emailing marketing@northlinkferries.co.uk