Articles
11 Jul 2008: The importance of the internet to the 'Third Sector'
Having spent a lot of time with groups that work within the voluntary and community sector (VCS), I have two main observations:-
Firstly, it’s clear to see that VCS groups are hugely significant to their local communities. The workers and volunteers who are involved with the groups work tirelessly in order to see their local area improved, developed and thriving.
My second observation however is that the majority of people, even within the communities where the groups are based, are largely unaware of the valuable work that these groups are doing. Due to lack of resources and expertise many groups simply aren’t able to effectively communicate their activity. Websites are either lacking or outdated and leaflets are often produced in-house. This gives a poor quality, un-professional result and so is damaging to the image of the organization.
Without the time to commit or the expertise to develop their marketing communications, many groups are failing to achieve the impact and exposure needed to realise their vision and meet their objectives.
For Voluntary and Community Organisations having your own URL (website address) and website is a basic and essential marketing tool that no group can afford to ignore.
Independent research shows that more than 80% of people in the UK now use the Internet, and the proportion of people visiting voluntary community sector websites had increased by a third in the nine months leading up to October 2007 alone.
Alex Blyth states in Third sector magazine, Feb 2008, that having a well designed and structured website is “a key part of most fundraising and communications strategies.”
At Creative Stream we have worked with several VCS organisations to deliver websites which help them promote their valuable work more effectively and to a wider audience. By first identifying the primary objectives of an organization we can then tailor a website solution specifically to support those objectives. Have a look at the Gleadless Valley Community Forum and North West Sheffield Regeneration Partnership websites to see just a few examples of our work with VCS groups.
Steve Rundell, manager of the Gleadless Valley Community Forum, said that he has “had dealings with several web design and construction companies in the past few years and was very impressed by the level of quality of service that Creative Stream have provided. Most importantly… [he] was grateful for the straight forward way in which… [Creative Stream] dealt with their needs with honesty regarding what could be achieved and regarding what was best for the organization.”
In developing websites for VCS groups we aim to communicate with the target audience with an accessible and easy to navigate design. We also recommend the Creative Stream Site Manager content management system which allows our clients to easily edit the content of their own website pages. (Find out more about the Creative Stream Site Manager system).
If you would like to find out more about our website solutions for VCS organisations contact David on 0114 2823413 or use our online form to submit an enquiry.
