Social media stars
Social media stars
By Zimmie Sutcliffe, Community Development Project Manager, ELBA
How ELBA is supporting charities to showcase their work and reach a new audience
As Toy Appeal turns 35 this year, ELBA has been working with the community groups who receive toys to provide additional capacity-building support for their organisations.
One way in which ELBA has supported organisations beyond toy donations is through a social media review workshop with volunteers from UBS, one of Toy Appeal’s biggest supporters. The workshop formed part of UBS’s Social Impact programme, which works to overcome disadvantage by improving outcomes and opportunities in local communities.
The organisations supported consisted of AFK, Bridging Barriers, Centre 404, Nurture Academy, St.Johns Community Centre, The London School Alliance, Time and Talents, Weavers Adventure Playground and Your Place.
The need
Charities and community organisations are facing bigger challenges than ever – rising costs, larger demands for services, and less access to mainstream funding. In response to this, charities have identified potential in developing digital strategies, utilising virtual fundraising solutions, and using digital communications to drive engagement.
As part of this digital transformation, social media can help charities to expand their audience and networks and be a platform to showcase their impact to potential funders.
ELBA’s skills-based community programme on Data Innovation, including workshops like this, supports charities with data and technology challenges they are facing – helping them to improve sustainability, systems, and long-term frameworks for their work.
The impact
During the workshop over 20 volunteers from UBS’s graduate programme and technology function supported community organisations to review their website and social media channels and provided feedback on the content, design, accessibility and functionality of these platforms.
“It was interesting to see the volunteers take on the way that we present social media, especially around imagery. The conversation was wide and insightful.”
– Feedback from Centre 404
Volunteers then worked with community organisations to create a list of quick win changes that they can make to their social media or website, as well as advice on longer-term changes to consider and signposting to resources that can support organisations to implement these improvements.
“We received great advice on how we can improve our website with just a few amendments and layouts. It made a difficult task look manageable.”
– Feedback from St. Johns Community Centre
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