Digital FEAT in action
The journey so far
31 August 2010
Digital FEAT is Fife Employment Access Trust’s very own digital switchover; featuring an interactive website with online content that focuses on mental health issues and how they relate to employability. In addition there’s a mobile phone application to reach people on the move and travelling touchscreens that will be touring community-access points in Fife, all designed to engage with the widest possible audience. The project was launched in March 2010 with the keynote speech coming from Fife MP Lindsay Roy. Mr. Roy commented: ‘Citizens will lead this site. They will tell FEAT what is important, what the issues are and offer solutions from their experiences. The knowledge that can be gained, and shared, from this site is potentially enormous.’
So, that’s where Digital FEAT came from, with support from funding from Fife Council. But where’s it heading? Well, at the beginning of May, two new staff members were added to Digital FEAT to help work on the project. With these two new members of staff, provided for by the Future Jobs Fund, Digital FEAT is looking to provide a new, modern and professional website for its users.
The first new staff member is Andrew McGregor – a website developer with a flare for design. His job is to help keep the website bang up to date with fresh ideas, new layouts and a modern easy to use interface. He also helps out with shooting videos for stories and editing media packages for the website, making sure everything is finished to a high quality.
The second new recruit is David Robinson, an award winning journalist with a background in the motorcycle industry. His role is to provide the website with fresh, exciting and professionally written articles for the new website – ones that relate to the readers and spark debate on the website. So far, one of David’s features has been nominated for the MIND media awards. This
feature article looks at a mental health condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and looks at how it impacts on sufferers.
With the addition of new staff, now Digital FEAT is looking to move to a new office, as well. With a fresh building just about to be completed, the big move is only weeks away. The move from FEAT’s office at Collydean Cottage in Glenrothes to the new office in Thornton was introduced so the new staff members could have a bright, modern and new place to work at – helping them to make Digital FEAT as good as it can be. With funding from the Scottish Government, new hardware and software is also being purchased to further ensure the quality of the service provided.
Other contributors to Digital FEAT include Duncan Mitchell, the FEAT manager, and Diane Florence, Trainer/Facilitator with FEAT. Duncan and Diane regularly add news and feature articles to the website; with both team members also tracking down the best stories from other website to share with readers. FEAT’s manager, Duncan Mitchell summed up Digital FEAT nicely, saying: ‘We have a new website which is a platform to share views and opinions, debate the issues and learn from each other. The project is focused on positive mental health and wellbeing – in our daily lives, workplaces and beyond.’
Digital FEAT also have plans to offer a variety of digital media services to other groups, with a view to making the project financially self-sufficient. Keep checking the website (digitalfeat.com) for details!