Home Local News Young people receive an achievement award for outstanding contribution to a website

Young people receive an achievement award for outstanding contribution to a website

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A group of young people with special educational needs, Oi Listen, have been presented with an award by the council for their outstanding contributions to an important information website, Ask Ollie.

Oi Listen is a self-advocacy group run by Speak Up at the Gateway in Warrington.

They were recently presented with the Warrington Star of 2015 Certificate of Achievement by Steve Reddy, executive director families and wellbeing, for their outstanding contributions to ‘Ask Ollie’, a website full of information about services, resources, clubs and activities available locally to support children and young people with SEND.

Steve Reddy said: ““Congratulations to the Oi Listen group, I am delighted to present them with the certificate of achievement and I hope they continue to have a pivotal role in the development of Ask Ollie by regularly providing feedback on the website so that it can be continually improved.

“The fact that Ask Ollie has such an excellent profile, and a reputation for positive engagement and listening to key stakeholders has enabled them to produce something that genuinely meets the needs of parents of disabled children and other key service users.”

Oi Listen wanted to ensure that Ask Ollie is accessible, relevant and useful to its intended users. The group designed the Ask Ollie logo, suggested content and improvements to the functionality of the website and tested it prior to it going live.

They also produced a short film about Ask Ollie which is featured on the website to explain what Warrington’s Local offer website is all about.

Members of the group received training to become Ask Ollie Buddies which enables them to demonstrate the website to other young people with SEND.

Pip Horne from Speak Up said: “It has been a really rewarding piece of work for Oi Listen. They have experienced how powerful it is when you are not only asked for your opinion but actually listened to.  The Ask Ollie team have worked with Oi Listen throughout and responded to their ideas and challenges.  It was not all plain sailing but having to compromise to get it right for everyone has been a valuable learning experience. The Oi Listen team are proud to still be involved as Ask Ollie continues to improve and grow.”

The website is run by the council working closely with partners including representatives of young people with SEND, parents and carers of children with SEND and practitioners from health, social care and education who support these families in Warrington.

For more information on Ask Ollie visit: www.warrington.gov.uk/localoffer

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