Yorkshire Dales web volunteers wanted

More volunteers are needed to help the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) to improve the online services it provides to the public.

So far, nearly 20 people have signed up to become members of a focus group that casts a critical eye over the Authority’s website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk.

Stuart Willis, the YDNPA’s Web Officer, said the website currently receives about 26,000 visits a month.

“The web pages are continually being modified and updated so it is very important that we take a step back and see them as a visitor would see them. That is what the focus group helps us to do,” he said.

“Ideally I would like to have more than 100 members because the more people you have, the more likely you are to get an opinion that is representative of the population as a whole.

“They will be asked to comment on specific things as they come up.

For example, we are in the process of planning a revamp of the entire website with a view to improving navigation, its content and its functionality.

Redesign

The focus group members will be asked for their opinions every step of the way during the redesign and their comments will be used to shape its new look.”

The focus group will also be asked to look at the Authority’s two satellite sites that cover cycling and mountain biking in the National Park – www.cyclethedales.org.uk and www.mtbthedales.org.uk.

Focus group members will range from internet novices to experts who are prepared to spend a small amount of time every year giving their views to help the Authority to develop its websites.

Anyone who would like to join is asked to contact Stuart by emailing him on stuart.willis@yorkshiredales.org.uk.

The Authority is currently carrying out an annual survey to find out how satisfied people are with the website and how much their understanding of the special qualities of the National Park has grown as a result of visiting it.

Prize draw

The survey can be found at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/web-survey-2009 and everyone taking part will be entered into a prize draw and could win a £25, £15 or £10 voucher to spend in the Authority’s online shop, which can be found at www.nationalparks.gov.uk/yd_shop/main.asp.