The Jersey Policy Forum is pleased to announce the launch of a new website, www.TheyWorkForYou.je. The website takes publicly available data about States Members released by the States Greffe on opendata.gov.je and presents it in a user-friendly format with links to other sources of publicly available information on vote.je and statesassembly.gov.je.
With just 6 weeks to go before Jersey’s election on 16th May, TheyWorkForYou.je will make information about States Members more easily accessible. The website currently includes information about how politicians have voted, their attendance and voting patterns along with links to propositions debated since the last general election. Each States Member’s contact details, 2014 manifesto and brief summary of their election history are also noted.
The website was inspired by the UK website www.TheyWorkForYou.com which was created by mySociety, a non-profit organization. The Jersey version of the website was developed by the second 2017 cohort of students enrolled in a part-time vocational six-month coding programme run by Digital Jersey.
Gailina Liew, Director of the Jersey Policy Forum, commented, “We congratulate the students who were able to learn how to code and successfully create this website in just six months and are delighted to have been invited to manage and support the ongoing development of the website in collaboration with Digital Jersey, The Infuse Group and the States Greffe. This collaboration reflects a common objective to encourage greater civic engagement by making information about Jersey’s elected representatives more easily accessible.”
Digital Jersey’s CEO, Tony Moretta, said, “The website is an excellent example of how our coding course students can create something of value to the island, while also learning new skills. The course has a high success rate for getting much needed developers into the industry and this website project shows the professional level of the teaching and their resulting work. The course is aimed at helping people to transition into our growing digital economy and takes people from diverse backgrounds and education. I’m delighted that the Jersey Policy Forum is taking this project forward.”
Mark Egan, Greffier of the States, added, “I commend the students for their initiative and hard work. This is a terrific example of how technology can be used with open data to provide easier access to information that is already in the public domain.
Comments, questions and recommendations regarding the new site can be directed to [email protected]
