This website is here to prove to Government (and anyone else who uses language in an over complicated way, all the while claiming they want feedback from members of the public) that speaking plainly, even about tricky subjects, isn’t just possible, but absolutely necessary. I hope this website also helps prove that you don’t have […]
Read more "Thinking positive"If you want something to change in government, replying to consultations is one of the best ways to do it. But consultations aren’t the end of the line. When everything’s over and the dust has settled, the government has to come up with a response document. Usually this tells you what feedback they’ve had from you, […]
Read more "Your credit card is changing"This is the first in a new series. Consultations in 200 words or less! This is the options for improving information on the labels of alcoholic drinks to support consumers to make healthier choices in the UK from the Department of Health. Get your ideas, thoughts and evidence in for 9 May 2010, email UKalcohollabelling@dh.gsi.gov.uk. You’re not supposed to […]
Read more "Short shorts: Alcohol labelling"This has been by far the hardest paper I’ve ever tried to translate. I don’t think it’s quite plain English. More plainer English. I hope this is of some use to all the people out there who care quite deeply about maps, and the power geographical information and all the wonderful things we can do with mapping […]
Read more "Ordnance Survey: the options for change — or not?"Have a look at this little video I’ve made. It explains in a the most basic way what consultations are (when you want to change something) and how they work!
Read more "What is a consultation, and how do they work?"The NHS constitution has been around since January 2009. It’s a promise from the NHS to you that they will look after you properly, and that you have a right to be looked after well when you need to use NHS services like hospitals, doctors and dentists. It’s taken a while to get there, but from January 2010 all the […]
Read more "Waiting times and health checks on the NHS"The government’s looking at giving patients the ability to spend directly on the care they need, not just being put on a waiting list or going to an NHS therapy service that’s too far away. I got an email asking if I could translate the consultation on this before I put the last poll up. They also asked if […]
Read more "Direct payments for Health Care (a request)"Simply Understand started nearly a year ago with the not-so-simple idea of making a small corner of the UK’s democracy more, well, democratic! Everyone know how much of a struggle it can be to get your story heard by government institutions. Consultations are supposed to be one way for us to get through, but so often they’re so complicated […]
Read more "Credit cards and store cards: an official translation"