Modernising Community Heritage Online

Overview

The 1st Cheslyn Hay Boys’ Brigade had been operating with a severely outdated website that no longer served their community effectively. As someone who attended the organisation as a child, I recognised the importance of their work in the local community and decided to volunteer my services to help modernise their digital presence.

Their old website was hard to navigate, did not work on phones, and did not reflect the active organisation they are. The job was a modern, accessible site that helps them reach parents, recruit new members and show what they do, while respecting their history.

The Solution

I built them a new WordPress site with a custom theme. It does three jobs: information for parents, recruitment, and showing what the company gets up to.

Key Features Delivered

• Mobile-First Design: Fully responsive layout ensuring accessibility across all devices
• Content Management: Easy-to-use WordPress admin for staff to update activities and news
• Member Information: Clear sections for different age groups and programmes
• Event Calendar: Integration for showcasing upcoming activities and meetings
• Contact Integration: Simple forms and contact information for enquiries
• Heritage Section: Dedicated area celebrating the organisation’s history and achievements

Technical Implementation

Platform: WordPress with custom theme development Hosting: Reliable, secure hosting setup with regular backups Performance: Optimised for fast loading times and SEO Security: hardened setup and regular updates Accessibility: Built to WCAG guidelines for inclusive access

Community Impact

The modernised website has significantly improved the organisation’s ability to:

• Attract new members through improved online visibility
• Keep parents informed with regular updates and clear communication
• Showcase activities with photo galleries and event highlights
• Maintain community connections during challenging times
• Professional representation that matches their quality programmes

Personal Connection

I went to this company as a boy, so it mattered to me to give something back. It is the kind of local organisation that runs on volunteers and deserves a decent website.

Results

The new website has provided the 1st Cheslyn Hay Boys’ Brigade with:

• A modern, professional online presence
• Improved member engagement and communication
• Better visibility for recruitment
• Easy content management for ongoing updates
• A platform that will serve them well into the future

The work was done for free.