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What people say about VBN...
"This is groundbreaking stuff. Administrating grant applications is an extraordinarily complex process, particularly where the funds available run into millions of pounds. This unique system enables a simple online registration, eligibility checking and application process enabling us to stay on top of thousands of applications and track their progress through the system.
We are also accountable to the EU and the system will allow us to report to them effectively and to track where funds are at any point in time. We will also be able to demonstrate a huge return on investment by massively reducing our administration costs. "
Steve Cargill, Project Officer, Lincolnshire Broadband Team on the Grant Administration System developed by VBN |
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YMCA |
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PROVIDING A SUPPORT NETWORK FOR BRITAIN’S YOUTH
The communications challenge
YMCA England is a Christian charity committed to helping young people, particularly in times of need. Founded 160 years ago, there are now in the region of 150 YMCAs based in communities across England delivering high quality services in seven integrated areas, including Citizenship and personal development, Housing and Homelessness, as well as Crime and Safety. It is the role of YMCA England to facilitate effective communications between member organisations and to promote the charity’s work to external audiences.
YMCA England required a strong online presence to secure its success in meeting these objectives. The YMCA portal needed to mirror the work of the organisation by providing a support network for young people. A web site which facilitated interaction and the sharing of information to provide a community feel for its members was sought for this purpose.
Virtual Business Network (VBN) has been working with YMCA England to strengthen its online presence across its member organisations. VBN provided an integrated solution with the content management, membership management, participation and configuration tools needed to build a professional online network.
VBN has developed a unique partnership with YMCA England, which allows its member organisations to purchase the VBN solution at a competitive price. This partnership ensures compatibility and consistency across individual YMCA sites throughout England.
Making the Connection
VBN was able to offer YMCA England a tailored solution to fit its exact communication requirements. The platform developed by VBN enables users to register as a member and gain access to the site’s ‘community’ areas, where they can find information, news and events relating to their region.
"We were looking for a truly integrated content management system that we could offer to our member YMCAs. VBN's software and support package is everything we were looking for and more. Having in the region of 150 member YMCAs - each with their own particular needs to support - puts a huge strain on our resources and up until now we could only work on a case-by-case basis."
Stephen Buckley, Head of Movement Communications, YMCA England
To increase user’s interaction with the site, VBN incorporated e-commerce functionality to enable donations to be made online and for merchandise to be sold through the site. In a move to increase the site’s useability, VBN ensured that it was fully searchable to allow visitors to locate the information they required with ease.
The package offered by VBN incorporates hosting and after-sale support, allowing YMCA to feel confident that its members always have access to the information they require. To further cater to YMCA requirements, VBN trained YMCA staff on administrating the application to allow them to update content in the ‘back office’ of the site. The technical expertise and support services provided by VBN ensured YMCA was offered a cost-effective and comprehensive solution directly in line with its needs.
Turning hyperlinks into handshakes
In excess of £3,000 has been donated in support of YMCA through the site to date
The main YMCA portal is pulling in over 200,000 visitors a month
Over 1000 staff and volunteers have registered to receive YMCA’s weekly newsflash by email allowing the frequency of paper communication to be decreased by 50%
“By outsourcing the technological burden we can now offer an extremely competitively priced solution with a dramatically reduced development time. In addition, VBN will help us build the YMCA brand through locally adapted visual templates and help offer consistency to visitors to YMCA websites. We are delighted with it.”
www.ymca.org.uk
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Visit the site at http://www.ymca.org.uk
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