new to the borders website launch

LEWIS is delighted to announce the recent launch of the New to the Borders website (www.newtotheborders.co.uk), designed and built on behalf of the Borders Housing Network, through our client, Waverley Housing. 

The New to the Borders site, which was funded by the BIG Lottery's Awards for All, was developed specifically to act as a guide helping people from overseas who want to live and work in the Scottish Borders.  It provides information across five main areas which are; employment, housing, health and welfare, education and emergency services. 

The information on the site enables migrants to understand their employment rights and responsibilities, to find suitable accommodation, to find a school for their children and to source a local health practitioner.  Handy links also feature throughout the site to housing associations, schools, libraries, TV Licensing and local pharmacists amongst others. 

The website is a natural extension of the ‘Welcome to Scottish Borders' information booklet that was published by Scottish Borders Council in 2007 and can now be downloaded from the site as a useful 25-page document in English, Polish, Portuguese and Russian. 

The site has been developed with a full Content Management System (CMS) therefore allowing Borders Housing Network to manage and update content as necessary.

Alun Evans of Borders Housing Network who co-ordinated the project said "The Housing Associations in the Scottish Borders that comprise the Borders Housing Network have, over many years, worked with LEWIS Creative Consultants. We are guaranteed a high quality product and a responsive approach from staff. The outcome of the web design for www.newtotheborders.co.uk met all our expectations and has contributed to an important step forward to help housing providers and a host of other partners to disseminate important information for people who wish to live and work in the Scottish Borders, including people from other European countries, who have increased the diversity of our local workforce in recent years. As part of our development work, we consulted people who have recently moved to the Borders and they have reinforced to us the enormous benefits the new web site will bring, which will enhance their capacity to become better integrated into the local community. Apart from targeting newcomers from European countries we recognise the significant benefits the web site will bring to local people and visitors from other countries throughout the world."