Information Bulletin
14 April 2004
Success of Your Voice
Due to the huge public response to the recruitment to the 'Your Voice' panel of Shetland residents, the panel has been increased to 600 members.
This initiative, enhancing current methods of finding out what the public think about important issues and services affecting life in Shetland, began earlier this year. The information provided by this representative group will be able to contribute to the process of making decisions about the way services are provided in Shetland.
These 600 people will shortly be receiving the first postal questionnaire to complete. The results from this will provide initial general information to organisations, assisting them in prioritising activity and funding. For example, what the public think about: the area in which they live; methods of receiving information; the importance and quality of various services provided within Shetland; the importance of issues facing Shetland and how they are being dealt with; and issues specific to the area in which they live.
Another 300 people, who also responded to the recruitment, shouldn't be disappointed. They will shortly receive a letter informing them that they will be contacted in the next year or so with an opportunity to take part.
Initiatives such as this are now commonplace across the UK: recognised as a good method of providing information on the views of a representative group of local residents on an ongoing basis - a form of market research for the public sector. In Shetland, as part of the commitment to working effectively across organisations, it has been decided to do this in collaboration with others.
Mr Drew Ratter, Cllr and Chair of Economic Development Forum said: "I'm delighted to see the public response to this initiative. I see the results provided by 'Your Voice' as being able to make a real contribution to the knowledge we have about what the public want from public services in Shetland."
Mrs Betty Fullerton, Chair of the Community Planning Board and NHS Shetland said: ''I'm very pleased so many people are interested in playing a part in 'Your Voice'. It provides people with a real opportunity to feed into the process of making decisions which affect them."
Jacqui Watt, Executive Director - Community Services, SIC said:
"The information which will be collected by 'Your Voice' will supplement what we think we already know about the public perceptions and may give us a few surprises. It will help us to plan make services more effective and to make sure we target our resources at areas of perceived greatest need"
Press Notes
The following are available for interview on 14&15 April:
Jacqui Watt: Tel. 01595 744001
Betty Fullerton: Tel. 01595 743061 or 07786 111732
Drew Ratter: Tel. 01806 544295/01595 744933/07786 551952
For further information and a copy of the questionnaire please phone John Smith: 01595 744513