A new online one-stop-shop for information on available services in Stirling has been launched by Stirling Council.
Working in partnership with Glasgow-based FROG Systems, the new Stirling.frog.net site brings together health, wellbeing, social care service providers as well as businesses, groups, activities and visitor attractions in one single easy to use local directory for the first time ever in the UK.
The design of the new digital information sharing platform was led by Stirling Council and aims to help citizens lead long, safe, healthy and happy lives by connecting residents and visitors with the local service providers and groups in the Stirling area.
Its launch signals the culmination of 18 months of work, pioneered by the Council’s Strategic Commissioning and Customer Development team, which could now have a ripple effect across every council area in the UK.
Frog’s aim is to increase ‘self-directed support’, and help Stirling Council sign post relevant and alternative services available to the community.
Stirling residents and visitors to the city got their first chance to speak to the developers behind the site at Sunday’s Christmas Lights Switch on, with Frog and their mascot on-hand to answer questions, explain the background and discuss the site with the local community at a dedicated sponsor’s stall.
Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Scott Farmer, said: “This is another step forward for Stirling’s digital transformation. Bringing all these services together in one place at the click of a button makes perfect sense and will enhance the community’s access to everything from support services to youth organisations in town.
“We have invested in this site because we believe in sharing information effectively and efficiently. We also aim to provide our residents and visitors alike with the information to help themselves.
“This could become a real community asset for Stirling so we are looking for all our local service providers, community groups and attractions to get a listing on Frog as soon as possible.”
Frog is the brainchild of founder Cal Dunan who has experienced his own recovery journey from drug and alcohol addiction and is now over a decade clean and sober.
Cal stated: “Once I had come through my darkest days, I was determined that every citizen should have easy access to the local support networks that my family and I needed but found difficult to find.
“I thought that the time was right to introduce an easy to use platform that grouped service providers, community groups, support groups and events/activities together by local authority area. Fortunately, it was a vision and an ambition which was shared by Stirling Council.”
Frog Chairman Nick Kuenssberg added: “This is just the start of Frog’s journey. We aim to make the platform the national go-to place for local information based on a commitment to health and social care and the provision of a solution to address some of the issues surrounding loneliness. Whether it’s details of a walking group, a local food festival or finding the care and support for a loved one, Frog signposts citizens to a local organisation or individual that can help quickly and easily.”
