BNDfC is encouraging local people to surf the net with the launch of its new look website.
At the last public meeting held on Ellesmere Green at the end of May 2005, BNDfC gave local people the chance to have a look and try it out for themselves.
Here, we give you a bit of detail about how the website was put together, what it offers and why www.bndfc.co.uk should be your home page!
Eloise Clarke, BNDfC Communications Officer, said:
“The website is a source of information for the Burngreave community and not just a promotional item for BNDfC.The site is now up and running proving to be a vital resource for the local community but the website construction is only one year into its two year project life.
“We are now busy training all of the people who will add content to the site to ensure it is kept up-to-date and can continue to be maintained long after the life of New Deal. Each project that is funded by BNDfC will have a page within the website.”
Taking charge of designing the website was Jamie Marriot from the Messenger. As he explains it has been a really interesting project to work on. Says Jamie:
“The priority throughout was to encourage the Burngreave community to get involved. To do this we have developed an events section where local people can fill in a form with details of an event they are holding and submit it to be posted on the website. Similarly, we have a directory where businesses and organisations can put their details on the site.
“A message board also allows people to post their views on any topic they wish. For people who want to find out more about BNDfC, they can download all the minutes from board meeting and theme meetings so there are a whole host of ways to play an active role in your community!”
Ian Clifford, BNDfC’s Overarching theme manager, said:
“BNDfC have purchased a content management system which allows people who aren’t website experts to put stuff on. BNDfC staff, and now people from projects, are being trained to upload content onto the site – I’ve even had a go myself!
“The site is also in Somali, Urdu and Arabic, so users of those languages can put content in these languages onto the site. In addition, while many more flashy websites aren’t accessible by blind users, the BNDfC site is fully compliant with all the protocols for use by blind and disabled users but that’s not to say that we haven’t got some flashy interactive stuff on our website too – check it out!”
If you don’t have access to a computer don’t forget to call into the BNDfC Information Shop on Spital Hill where there are computers available for your use.