Do you use the Suffolk County Council website? Want to make it more user-friendly?

The Council is thoroughly renewing its online presence to provide a comprehensive online gateway to its full range of services including social care, local democracy, information, education, etc. The aim is to provide a completely user-centred experience which people find natural and easy to use and which encourages them to use the site for everything from choosing a school for their children to arranging social care or researching volunteering opportunities in Suffolk.

As independent researchers, Cultural Intelligence has been asked to conduct a public consultation in two phases. The first is an exploratory phase to inform the development of the website and the second will be user testing of the site whilst it is still in development.

We are looking for around 40 Suffolk citizens who will participate in up to two 2 hour workshops – one in February and one in April/May or June. It should provide an interesting and rewarding experience for those involved. The workshops will be held in Ipswich and Lowestoft. The team will include relative beginners as well as advanced web users with people participating in small groups of a similar web experience to themselves. All participants will receive £30 per workshop as a thank you and to cover their expenses.

We are very keen to involve a broad range of people and are particularly keen to involve people from the following groups which are priority groups for Adult and Community Services:

· Parents

· Older people

· Family carers

· People with physical disabilities

· People with mild learning disabilities

· People with mental health issues

· People for whom English is not a first language

All participants will be aged 16yrs +. Whilst we plan to include relative beginners, participants will need some ability to use the web independently.

We are recruiting between now and 22nd January so there is a need for urgency. If you know of anybody who might be interested in joining the team please let them/us know. You can apply at www.audience.co.uk/speakup.html where there is a short online questionnaire to complete. Alternatively you can call 01394 388029 and we will complete the questionnaire for you by phone.