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Company: Make a Child Smile
Project: Website Relaunch

http://www.makeachildsmile.co.uk/

Dates: May 2007 to Dec 2009

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How did the project start?

Make a Child Smile is the official Charity of radio stations TFM radio and Magic 1170, supporting local sick and disadvantaged children. The Charity required a new website to support the charities increased activity across the Tees Valley, County Durham & North Yorkshire. In order to support the charity and its team, a new website was designed and developed by local suppliers Calm Asylum as a contribution to the charity.

What options did you consider?

A number of considerations were made to ensure that the website provided a more effective and valuable foundation on which the charity can communicate its activities and encourage interaction with both existing and potential supporters. The website required a full CMS system to allow the admin team to easily and quickly update the site. It was also critical that the site linked into the 'donate online' links set up for users to donate to the charity online.

What help and expertise did you receive?

Throughout the project we were supported by the team at Calm who understood clearly the requirements and advised us on how best to meet them. The whole consultation process was invaluable in order to gain the most out of the site. Post launching the site, the team at Calm is still always on hand to coach and support.

Did you face any challenges or learn any lessons?

During the project the MACS team was challenged to understand the potential of how the web can increase the communication of the charity for its users. The Calm team discussed opportunities and challenges, and through the training for the CMS system the MACS team are now continually updating the website to promote news, events donations etc.

What are the outcomes and how has it improved your business?

The new website has had a massive effect on how we now operate the charity. In general we are now able to promote our website and be proud to direct people to the website to access information. It has improved how we communicate to our users and also increased the opportunity for new supporters to find the charity online and become involved, donate online and seek details of upcoming events. More specifically, the site now offers the opportunity to support fundraising campaigns. The current campaign is to raise £50,000 for 9 yr old Tommy Leech. The campaign has reached £25,000 since February and we believe that the website has had a huge part to play in this. The site has enabled us to interact with the radio stations listeners on a different platform. The campaign has been brought to life and allowed the listeners to understand the needs of the child via video casts / pod casts, audio and pictures. The audience can then donate online via the website immediately. The day the video of Tommy was launched on the site; over 1000 hits were received in one day. We are now using the website to increase revenue in all of our upcoming campaigns and events.

What are your plans for the future?

Now the website has been completed we are looking at how the foundation can be developed. A number of tools have been discussed such as blogs and social networking tools such as Facebook applications to link back into the website. It is critical however before these tools are developed and integrated into the website resource has been identified within the MACS team to contribute and develop content. However, we will continue to enrich the website with emotive content concerning children we are supporting and fundraising campaigns, supported by videos, audio and pictures. I have forwarded an example of one of the campaign videos.