Whole lot of help at the touch of a button (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Whole lot of help at the touch of a button

Community information for the people of Wiltshire is now available at the touch of a button.

Merlin is the name of Wiltshire County Council's online database of community information, and it has been improved to include details of organisations providing services to disabled people in the county.

Merlin also holds information about services that help disabled people to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

Details of day centres, lunch clubs, social clubs, transport schemes, adult education, leisure activities and befriending schemes are all included on the website.

Information about sheltered housing, and care homes as well as voluntary groups and agencies providing advice, support and information, is also available.

Coun Judy Seager, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "It is important that people know where they can go to find information about specialist services such as these.

"Merlin puts all the information they might need in one place, and creates a useful resource that can be accessed at the touch of a button.

"The system means that the people who use these services and their carers can gain access to a wide range of information quickly and easily. It will also be of use to voluntary groups and other professionals."

Merlin is available through the county council's website at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/merlin.

For people who do not have computers at home, the system can be accessed via computers in all the county's libraries.

The Merlin system also holds a vast array of information about other public services, including education, health, tourism, voluntary groups, council services and councillors.

Details featured on the website include contact addresses and phone numbers, opening hours, and information about disabled access.

The Merlin system is managed and developed by the county council's library service.