Hugh Baird College's Sandra Clelland honoured with MBE

LOCAL Collage staff member, Sandra Clelland, from Hugh Baird College, Bootle has been recognised for her service to the local community by being awarded an MBE.

Sandra began working as a contract cleaner at Hugh Baird College in 1997 and progressed to a supervisor role before being appointed as a permanent member of the estates security staff in 2002. As someone who has lived in Liverpool all her life, she is a fiercely proud Scouser and takes pride in working for an organisation focussed on improving the local community and the development of its students in order to enable them to embark on a successful career path.

In addition, to working full time at the College, Sandra is at the forefront of charitable activities in the local community and at the College, regularly giving up her time to promote and support fundraising for those most in need. Her charity work has benefited a local child and family connect contact centre, a number of Merseyside based homeless charities, local food banks and most notably Hugh Baird College's nominated charity, Kids In Need and Distress (KIND).

On Thursday, 13 December 2018, Sandra travelled to London to attend an Investiture held at Buckingham Palace where she received her MBE from the Prince of Wales.

Hugh Baird College Principal and Chief Executive Yana Williams said:- "Sandra personifies the College's mission to inspire, challenge and transform lives and all at Hugh Baird College are incredibly proud of her and the amazing work she does. I know that everyone associated with the College from students to Governors; join me in congratulating her on this thoroughly well deserved achievement."

Hugh Baird College Chair of Governors, Mr David Crosby added:- "Many congratulations to Sandra on her receiving the MBE award. This is indeed a great honour and recognition for her many years of dedication and hard work in helping and supporting the community of Bootle with her tireless charity work."

Sandra Clelland said:- "When I 1st received the letter from the Queen, I thought 1 of my friends or family were playing a joke on me. But once I realised they weren't I was delighted, honoured and humbled all at the same time. Travelling to Buckingham Palace and meeting Prince Charles was an amazing experience and something I will never forget."

Technology is unlocking opportunities in 2019

FROM the smartphone in your pocket, the alarm in your watch to the satnav in the car; assistive technology helps you work, socialise and connect with others. Assistive technology helps unlock human potential and is opening up opportunities for disabled people and other issues, such as people with recognised learning issues, within the workplace; and the UK Government's Access to Work Grant can help pay for it. There are now more disabled people in work than not in work; and top new assistive technology developments will help make the workplace even more accessible in 2019.

Minister for Disabled People Sarah Newton said:- "Disabled people have a valuable contribution to make in the workplace, but too often they are held back from achieving their full potential. Assistive technology is key to unlocking this untapped pool of talent and creating more inclusive workforces and we are committed to helping disabled people thrive by working with employers and through our schemes like Access to Work."

Using AI, Microsoft launched live captions and subtitles, on Skype, in December 2018, and will introducing those features to PowerPoint, in early 2019, making workplace meetings, conversations and presentations more accessible to deaf people and those who are hard of hearing.

Created by a student with dyslexia, Present Pal is a presentation software designed to help people with dyslexia give presentations. The app works on a smartphone or tablet like a set of interactive flash cards; and in December the company behind it was handed a grant to add more features to it.

Access to Work scheme can help pay for assistive technology in the workplace to ensure someone's disability or health condition doesn't hold them back; up to ₤57,200, per person per year.

What do you think should be the biggest technology development, that will help disabled people in 2019? Please email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.com with your views on this topic.