Switching To Online Services Is Child’s Play

Doing things online is child’s play! That’s the message from a group of Neath Port Talbot youngsters from Awel y Môr and Gnoll Primary Schools. They have been helping the Council in its efforts to encourage people to ‘Switch’ and save time, do it online. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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The pupils from years one and two took part in a series of cute, but informative videos for social media where they discuss a range of online services that the Council currently offers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The videos, filmed in the summer, focus on reporting a full dog waste or litter bin, downloading or renewing library books, ordering recycling equipment and booking a bulky waste collection. The Council has been releasing them via its Facebook and Twitter as part of the ‘Switch – save time, do it online’ campaign. The campaign is designed to help people in Neath Port Talbot save valuable time by accessing a range of Council services online. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were some funny moments during filming and, amidst fits of giggles and nudging, some quite imaginative stories emerged. While talking about using a dog waste bag for his grandmother’s dog, Noah from Awel y Môr explained ‘a man came running, grabbed the bag and he looked in it and he thought it might be some jewellery’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Ali Thomas OBE said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These videos are really charming and I would like to thank Eve, Joe, Lexie-Mae, Liam, Morgan, Noah and Sophie for the excellent job they have done in helping us with this campaign. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These children have, of course, been born into a digital age when going online is second nature to them. They obviously had fun making the videos, but still manage to get the message across that using online services can be straightforward and convenient. I hope their videos will encourage people to go to our website and try these services for themselves.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are a variety of Council services available online at www.npt.gov.uk. People can register to vote, order recycling equipment, pay Council Tax, order parking permits, renew library books and lots more! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​