Building the sector online

A year after its launch, WCVA’s website building facility has proved a big hit with a variety of third sector organisations and projects.

WebSpring is the name of WCVA’s online service that enables voluntary organisations to build their own website using ready-made modern templates.

It was developed in 2007 as a partnership between WCVA and Wales’ leading digital agency, Sequence, to provide cost-effective professional websites which could be developed simply and without the need for specific skills in web development.

Among its users have been Wildlife Trusts Wales and Cymdeithas Tai Cantref, who have recently developed new sites. It has also been used to provide an online presence for well-known projects in the third sector, such as Sustainable Funding Cymru and Wellbeing Wales.

Despite its simplicity, WebSpring is also versatile and comprehensive. It can incorporate existing branding and has ready-made templates in all the areas you’d expect in a voluntary organisation’s website, including: news, resources, training/events, job/volunteer opportunities, forum, photograph gallery, newsletter sign-up and archive, and a bilingual option.

Wildlife Trusts Wales was one of the first voluntary organisations to use WebSpring and has been delighted with the outcome. Development Officer Alison Davies commented: ‘We had quite specific requirements for our website and also needed to use a style and imagery that reflected our area of work.

‘The whole process of using WebSpring was clear, straightforward and the support we had from WCVA staff made a big difference. We now have a great looking website which is easy to navigate and contains all the different sections and features we need. I’d thoroughly recommend it.’

Those interested can receive step-by-step assistance from WCVA’s ICT unit during the process of building their site. A WebSpring manual has been put together and users can also receive guidance over the telephone and can visit WCVA for a full demonstration, development and consultancy session.

The site www.webspring.org.uk contains jargon-free information about the facility, the process of building a site and what can be achieved. It also has links to each site that has been developed using WebSpring and allows people to start building a new website immediately.

WCVA ICT Manager Mark Condron commented: ‘We looked at the websites of a range of different voluntary organisations in Wales and identified a gap in the market for modern and comprehensive sites that could be put together simply and cost-effectively.

‘In the short time that WebSpring has been available, some excellent and attractive websites have been created. The feedback has been very good and people can take a look at these sites by visiting the WebSpring site itself.

‘If anyone feels their organisation needs an online presence or a more modern website, they should visit the WebSpring site to see what can be achieved very simply and quickly. Those interested in developing a site will also receive all the support they need from WCVA’s ICT staff.’

To find out more about WebSpring, visit www.webspring.org.uk. If you would like to informally discuss what can be achieved, contact Mark Condron on 029 2043 1700 or email webspring@wcva.org.uk.