We are a social enterprise that helps organisations get the most out of digital media and do a little good using the web.
More about us >How we're making a difference...
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Do you know how much the average donation is? How many people research a charity online before giving? Watch our video to find out.
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We're working with The Fundraising Standards Board to increase their membership, and promote public confidence in charitable giving
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We help The BBC communicate & promote their community outreach work on the web without printing reports.
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See how computer games helped pedestrians' charity Living Streets increase engagement, improve health & save the environment.
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Tips & ideas from our blog...
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Lunchworks Profile: Ruth Daniel
Musical entrepreneur and founder of Un-Convention Ruth Daniel is coming to Lunchworks on May 31st to talk about how she grew her idea from its beginnings in Salford to become an international...
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Five of the best not for profit infographics
It can be frustrating for a charity when you have a lot of great information but no way of communicating it. Nobody wants to look through rows and rows of tables of numbers. So, if you’ve got a...
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Top tips for last minute fundraising
If you’ve got an upcoming sponsored event and aren’t sure how to maximise your online fundraising then we’re here to help. Whether it’s choosing your donations page or promoting your...
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How technology can help reduce poverty
With the proliferation of technology and gadgets it may seem that people on the whole are better off the level of poverty in the UK is getting worse. In Greater Manchester alone there are 1.6...
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Work for us
We're a growing, award-winning small agency and we're looking for talented people who want to use their digital skills to change the world. If you think that's you, read on and get in touch.
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Job opportunity: Technical Co-ordinator
We're looking for an organised, conscientious co-ordinator with technical aptitude to help us schedule, track and quality assure our projects; and to lead on projects that make us better at what we...
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ASP.NET developer wanted for social good
We're looking for an experienced ASP.NET Developer with experience of C# and MSSQL to build websites, web and mobile apps to help change the world.
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Tech's helping hand after the Boston marathon explosions
When the Boston bombings happened, the world was once again left in shock. People who were sadly caught up in the blasts were in need of help. With kind hearts and the use of modern technology,...
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Four ways technology can help disabled people
The technology we see used on a daily basis can be used differently to help the lives of disabled people. We explore four unexpected ways that digital technology can be used.
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10 Inspiring Women in Technology and Digital
This International Womens Day (March 8th) we take a look at 10 inspirational female movers and shakers in technology and digital.
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Five ways charities can make the most of Vine
There’s a new mobile application out which allows users to create six second videos and share them through Twitter and Facebook. It’s called Vine and we think there are five ways charities can...
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Seven components of the best charity videos
When creating a video for a charity campaign, it’s important to consider all the different aspects of the film which will capture the attention of the audience. We all have things we like and...
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Essential tools for creating mobile content
Journalism is changing. Nowadays, it is easier than ever for your volunteers and staff to produce news, right from their mobile phone.
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Five charity digital trends for 2013
Charities have come a long way with their digital presence over the past year, but what trends should they be watching out for in 2013? We round up the five trends we think are most likely to...
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When Music and Charity Collide
Music is everywhere, if it’s not on the radio at home then it’s playing in the shops and if it’s not in the shops, it’s on the television - even in the background of our favourite soap...
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Great Charity Website Tips 4 - Donations
Charities are highly dependent on donations in order to carry out their work so donating, is without a doubt, a big thing. There are a number of things a charity can do to make it more likely that...
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Charity digital highlights of 2012
So much has happened in the charity marketing sector in 2012 that it's easy to forget a viral video, a successful campaign or a creative use of social media that helped increase donations or raise...
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Job opportunity: Digital Designer for Social Good
We’re looking for a Digital Designer to use their creative skills to make the world a better place. You’ll work with the client, project co-ordinator and design team to design exceptional...
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Great Charity Website Tips 3 - Accessibility
For many people, reading websites is an overlooked part of daily life. You click on a browser, open your desired site and read away, but more and more charities are now designing their websites to...
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Can the Internet help feed those most in need?
This month saw the launch of the UK’s biggest ever food collection project with shoppers at Tesco being asked to donate food (from a selection of most needed items). This made us think about...
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Great Charity Website Tips 2 - Responsive Design
In the latest of our series of blogs on what makes a great charity website - we look at responsive technology.
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Lunchworks: Matthew Newbury Profile
Secret Millionaire Matthew Newbury will be joining Lunchworks on Friday 7th December to talk to charity representatives about his experience on the show, philanthropy and his changed perspective on...
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Great Charity Website Tips 1 - Content
This is the first in a series of blog posts that investigate the bits and pieces that contribute to a great charity website. We’ll be taking in accessibility, design, navigation, donations...
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More great charity Christmas campaigns
Now that the air is full of joy and christmas cheer, people are feeling generous and charitable giving is at its highest. With this is mind, we've rounded up some of our favourite Christmas...
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The power of personal stories on social media
Whilst charities are getting their campaigns talked about online, more and more people living with illnesses and facing challenges are taking to social media to start topical conversations and...
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10 Influencers of Interest
It's only human nature to try to spread your charities message far and wide. Sometimes that can mean targeting public figures and celebrities on twitter. But are they always the most influential...
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5 more social media campaigns that have boosted fundraising
Social media is connecting people across the globe and allowing us to do amazing things, to work together towards a common goal. More and more charities, pro social campaigns and individuals are...
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Why small charities need to get online
We talk to Localgiving.com CEO Marcelle Speller OBE and Emmerdale actor and charity ambassador Chris Bisson about how small charities can grow their support and raise their profile online.
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Reason Digital Roadshow: Upcoming Charity Events
For regulars on the charity circuit, Matt Haworth has become a familiar face at conferences around the country thanks to his inspiring and informative talks on getting your online presence right....
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A surprising new way to communicate welfare reform
Infographics offer the perfect way to communicate complex information. This make them a great way get across the complex changes that are happening as part of the Welfare Reform Bill. Changes that...
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5 things we learnt volunteering
Why would a digital agency spend the best part of a week volunteering for The Meningitis Trust and what would we learn?
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How charities are using comedy to enhance their campaigns
Everyone knows the old proverb “laughter is the best medicine”, but there’s a lot more power to humour than its medicinal qualities. Tickling people’s funny bones is also a great way to...
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Connor's Day
It's not often that the end product of the power of social good and the internet takes place in a parking complex in West Yorkshire, but recently it did thanks to a world wide campaign to help a...
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6 myths about online fundraising busted
Online giving can be tough to get your head around. You'll never speak to - or even see - most of your donors. With a whirlwind of information about the latest trends out there, it can all add up...
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Five useful tips on text giving
Text giving has been steadily growing over the past few years, but news that Barack Obama’s new presidential campaign will be encouraging text donations is a real sign it’s entered the...
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Ten UK charity fundraising websites compared
We first posted this blog in 2010 - ever since it has been one of our most popular posts and with online fundraising growing in popularity all the time we thought it was due a 2012 refresh! So,...
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PHP Developer wanted for social good
If you're a PHP developer, then this is a rare opportunity to help social causes by doing what you love ...and get paid for it too.
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How Twitter can help charity campaigns
With so many great causes in the world it can sometimes be difficult to get yours to stand out. A big event is often the most effective way to get your charity into the spotlight, but how can you...
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Summer Social Media Campaigns
It’s a busy summer for 2012 - we’ve had the Queen’s Jubilee and the UEFA Euro football tournament and now the Olympics are currently putting the UK in the spotlight. The summer and these...
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Five Fundraising campaigns that over-achieved thanks to social media
There are few things more powerful than when people join together; a group of people with one common goal can achieve great things.
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Charities on TV: How to get and make the most of your 15 minutes of fame
TV, as a tool for promoting social change, can highlight social issues responsibly by integrating them into dramatic storylines which directly affect the fictional characters we most care about as...
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Co-operate: a smartphone app to find and reward ethical buying
Co-operate is the first app to reward people for working together and for choosing local co-operatively run businesses.
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Four examples of apps changing lives
Mobile phones have become the essential gadget for the 21st century. Nowadays with smartphones increasing in popularity people seem to be becoming dependant on their mobiles for everything.
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Job opportunity - Junior/Mid-Level Front End Developer
If you love HTML and CSS then we've got a great opportunity for you to make what you do for a living, make a difference.
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Six tools to make your online presence more accessible
A lot of time and thought goes into building a website. Making it visually appealing whilst also intuitive and easy to use is a difficult process. There are a lot of great websites out there...
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How the internet can help you boost your volunteer programme
Finding volunteers can be one of the hardest parts of running a charity. For a lot of people, although volunteering offers great opportunities, it just takes too much time. Fortunately, the...
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4 heartwarming stories made possible by the Internet
The internet is a wonderful tool for bringing people together. You can easily talk with people from different countries, different cultures and all walks of life without even leaving your chair....
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5 steps to make sure you are compliant with the EU Cookie Directive
With new EU legislation being enforced on the 26th of May, companies are now being forced to obtain the permission of users before using cookies.
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How to improve your charity's online presence
The new financial year offers many charities and organisations the perfect time to think about how they can get their online presence right, especially when resources are tight. Here are a few...
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How to Track Your Impact on the Web
Using the Internet to expand your charity is a necessity in the modern world. Social media, email and search engines are all powerful tools for getting your organisation known. A lot of charities...
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How charities are campaigning using augmented reality
Websites, blogs, email newsletters and social media have long been standard tools in the campaigner’s toolkit, but there’s a new kid on the block - augmented reality.
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How your charity can use Pinterest
Pinterest is a photo-sharing website that is rocketing in popularity. It's still in its infancy but it is already proving to be a great social media tool. Here are a few tips on how your charity...
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Is your charity ready for Facebook timeline?
All Facebook pages will become timelines at the end of March. Here are some simple tips how you can use timeline to highlight how your charity is changing people’s lives.
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Charity challenges and video fundraising
So, with the double whammy of lots of charity challenges competing with each other in an economic downturn, how can charities make sure their supporters have all the tools they need to be brilliant...
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10 Things to Learn from Kony 2012
Kony 2012 has become an internet phenomenon, highlighting why charities and non profits need to be aware of the power of compelling campaign videos.
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Previous vacancies
We're often recruiting for new digital talent. Here are the kinds of vacncies we've offered and may offer again soon.
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Six ways to increase online donations
Donations are what drives many a charity. Here are a few sound techniques to get more people to donate and help further your cause.
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Five great Christmas campaigns
December is a busy time of year for charities, with donations 5% higher than other months. How are you convincing people to choose to donate to your charity?
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Five trends to look for in 2012
The new year is likely to bring new trends which will affect the voluntary sector. Here are five things charities should be doing in 2012.
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Come to the Manchester Work Away Day
Getting out the office and networking with like minded people is a great way to come up with some fresh ideas for the year ahead.
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Data journalism exercise
They say practice makes perfect. Here's a task to flex those data journalism muscles.
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Data journalism: communicating your findings
Here are six methods for commuicating the findings of your data journalism.
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Data journalism: Combining data
Cross-referencing can be the best way to discover a new truth or uncover previously-unknown information. But how can you combine data from various sources?
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Data journalism: contextualising data
You need to be able to trust your data - it will usually come with its own history, biases & objectives.
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Data journalism: data cleansing
Part of the process of good data journalism is cleaning and refining your data.
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Data journalism: how to find data
Step one of the data journalism inverted pyramid is to compile data, but where do you find it?
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Resources for data journalists
Data journalism is growing in popularity and the internet provides a wealth of resources for the budding data journalist.
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Why social housing should be 'Digital by Default'
Almost half of UK adults who have never been online live in social housing, yet housing providers overestimate the costs and are unaware of the benefits of being 'digital by default'.
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How charities are using games to engage online
Interaction is a necessity for charities. Getting an audience to listen to everything we want them to hear can be difficult; getting them to respond is even harder. There is one medium that not...
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Measuring your charity website's impact with Google Analytics
Increasingly websites are not only being used for marketing services or campaigns, but actually delivering them too. That means if we don't pay attention to our web analytics, we're missing a huge...
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How social media mobilised social good during the England riots and looting
Social media has been condemned for promoting rioting & looting, but has also helped bring the perpetrators to justice.
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Using data to improve your campaigning
Data is more important than ever. The Internet has put a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips, but finding reliable data can be tricky.
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Seven tools to make boring data beautiful
Data needn't just be boring rows of numbers. It can be artistic, eye catching and inventive to be memorable.
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Taking the effort out of blogging
Blogging is hard work. You’ve got to create a strategy, write the posts continuously, and spend hours promoting the posts across different channels to try and pull your audience in. It might...
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Five brilliant ways to report your impact
Charity work can be dramatic and life-changing, but when it's annual report time, achievements can get lost in numbers, tables and jargon.
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What Google+ means for your charity
What does Google's new social network Google+ mean for charities and for social change?
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The three biggest risks for charity bloggers
There are three worries that stop some would-be bloggers. That what they write won’t be read, that if it does get read it won’t benefit their organisation in any way, and that they open...
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What are blogs, and do they get results?
Twitter and Facebook may have overtaken blogs in the headlines, but blogs still remain one of the best ways to generate new audiences for your organisation.
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21 winning charity blog post ideas
The key to a successful charity blog is that the benefits work both ways. You publish interesting, inspiring and useful content about your cause which in turn attracts people with an interest in...
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How to use analytics to generate new insights about your charity
It's time to stop thinking of your webstats as, well, webstats. If you've put your organisation on the web, then webstats are just stats... stats about you, your supporters, your service...
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Save time and money using the web
There seems to be more things to do, and less time and budgets to do it with. So if having to update your organisation's twitter feed, as well as run the monthly newsletter, on top of the rest of...
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How to run an email social marketing campaign
What should you take into account when developing an email social marketing campaign and how can you tackle the barriers to its success?
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Using email to change minds and influence behaviour
Public sector organisations often employ the techniques of social marketing in their messages, but what additional barriers do they face?
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Help your volunteers help your digital campaigning
Charities get volunteers to fundraise or attend events, but often forget that they can get involved in digital campaigning.
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Creative ways charities are connecting with people using the web
The internet isn't all enewsletters and webpages. Charities are finding new, creative and often free ways to connect with service users and supporters.
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Ten email newsletter tools compared
Are you missing out on the benefits of enewsletters because you’re still trying fighting Outlook Express to try and send broadcasts to your supporters? Too many charities are, and it's affecting...
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Make your charity campaign stand out with an interactive YouTube video
Charities are realising the power of the campaign video, but with new videos uploaded to YouTube every day, how will yours stand out?
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Five ways to build a community using Facebook Pages
Is your organisation making the best use of Facebook's new Page features to grow your supporter base and nurture a community?
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Work with us
We're looking for talented web developers who want to get involved in social good.
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Five of the best charity Facebook pages
Welcome your new supporters and make the right first impression by creating a custom welcome screen for your Facebook Page.
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What your charity can learn from video games
Successful websites are applying game theory to excite & engage users. What can you learn from video games to improve your charity campaigns?
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5 ways to get results from your charity's digital comms
"More for less" is already the catchphrase for 2011, and we're all feeling the need to become more competitive and sustainable as a result.
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Ten steps to better email newsletters
Compete for attention in ever-busier email inboxes and improve the chances of getting your charity's email newsletter opened, read & acted on.
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Making an accessible campaign video
You may be aware of the importance of making your website accessible, so why not apply the same principles to videos you're producing?
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Your BBC: opportunities and challenges for the Third Sector
Aziz Rashid, Head of Regional and Local Programmes, BBC North West answers questions from an invited audience.
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Improving website usability with Information Architecture
Do people struggle to find their way around your website? Better Information Architecture can help.
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Mind the gap
In our 'Lunchworks' event, voice-over artist Emma Clarke came along to talk about her work and the art of diversification. Videos and transcriptions of the event are now available to view here.
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Diversifying the Board: Engaging and involving young people in charity governance
This free event for National Trustees' Week 2010 aims to encourage organisations to encourage young people to join their boards.
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How to spot a bad charity website
Have you looked at your own charity's website recently? Have you ever suspected it's a bit rubbish? Here are a few things to look out for.
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Getting the best out of your charity's email communications
In spite of the meteoric rise of social media, email remains one of the most powerful and cost effective items in your charity comms toolbox.
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Whose future is it anyway? Calling time on the big society.
Scotland's leading public intellectual Gerry Hassan invites us to go beyond the big society.
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Charity websites are more than marketing
Charity websites take online donations and deliver advice & guidance to hard-to-reach groups, but according to the Department for Education they're as much of a waste of money as mousemats or...
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5 ways charities should be using Foursquare
The next Twitter or a geeky fad? We look at five ways you can raise awareness of your nonprofit's cause with Foursquare.
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BBC Corporate Responsibility Report 2010
For the second year, we've helped the BBC report the impact of their community outreach work by producing an accessible Corporate Responsibility Report.
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Staying positive in a nonprofit workplace
Working in the non-profit sector can be a very demanding and challenging job and people often feel unappreciated.
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Seven great charity campaign videos
Most organisations know how a quick video upload to a site like YouTube can reap benefits: huge web traffic in a short time for next to nothing. But let’s face it, some charity videos do not...
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Is your message getting through?
We gave a brief talk about getting the best out of email newsletters at Charity Comms' quarterly seminar in London on 16th September.
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Social media training
Join us for a session providing tips & tools for nonprofits already using Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube to spread the word.
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A Learning Revolution
See how we inspired learning in Manchester as part of the Government's Learning Revolution Festival.
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Spotlight: BBC CSR Report
We take a look at the challenges of producing the BBCs 08/09 Corporate Social Responsibility Report.
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Spotlight: One Central Place
When we think of changing the world, we think of a man stood with his shopping in front of a tank, historic speeches and protests...
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Best practices: Web site design for nonprofits
We've been quoted in a new ebook by communications consultant and nonprofit expert Gayle Thornsen.
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Are you really online?
Find out what a pizza delivery service can tell your organisation about the future of your website.
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Digital Communications for Charities conference
We'll be giving a web workshop for charities on a tight budget at this year's Digital Communications for Charities conference in London.
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Calling budding web designers
If you're at the start of your career in digital, what should you know to make you more than just another web designer in an industry that just keeps growing and growing?
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Free software and ethics
In 1983 one guy had an idea: to be ethical in computing you must give people the rights to read and redistribute the source code of the programs they use.
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University careers speed-dating
We were asked to answer the question "what's it like out there" for 70 students at a speed-dating style careers event at The University of Manchester.
Portfolio spotlight...
Promoting ethical shopping with Co-operatives UK
2012 is the International Year of Cooperatives and we've teamed up with the membership bodies for co-ops in the UK and US to develop a smartphone app that rewards ethical consumers for co-operating rather than competing.