Glasgow City Council has received international recognition for pioneering work in the way that new Information Technology is improving the delivery of its services.

The Council has taken second place in the category ‘e-Citizenship for All’ at the European Telecities Conference, being held this week in Porto. The award is in respect of the introduction in November 2002 of an on-line facility by which deaf, hearing impaired and deafblind people can request an interpreter from within the Sign Language Interpreting Service. This is combined with the I:XSEED project launched in October 2002 - the first public service website in the UK aimed specifically at people with learning disabilities.

The judges were impressed with the impact of both projects. The on-line facility for the Sign Language Interpreting Service has been of major benefit to clients who find telephone communication difficult, and I:XSEED has provided a one-stop source of information and advice, not just to clients with learning disabilities, but also their families and carers.

In receiving the award, Bailie Alan Stewart, the City Council’s Spokesperson on Information and Communications Technology, said:-

"I’m delighted, not just with the award itself, but with the fact that the ingenious use of new Information Technology has had made such a difference to the quality of life for so many people in Glasgow.

"The City Council has worked in partnership with a range of different organisations in bringing forward these new services, and my thanks go to all of them."

Related sites

(Glasgow City Council is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites)

 I:XSEED

e-City Network