The North East’s first ever charity web-build event has transformed the websites of six local charities, helping them to reach out to the digital generation.
The Webdurance event, organised by brothers Paul and David King, saw talented individuals come together to rebuild the websites of six North East charities over just 24 hours.
Beginning at 12.00 am on Thursday July 15, the 40 volunteer web developers worked through the night until 12.00 am Friday July 16.
Charities to have benefited from the Webdurance event include The Children’s Foundation Whoops Child Safety Project, Tynemouth Blind Society, Azure Charitable Enterprises, Key Enterprises, Children North East and Meadow Well Connected.
Soon into the 24 hour web-build Webdurance volunteers were quickly getting on with their challenge. Colette Hume, a Sunderland University volunteer said: “The atmosphere is great, people are swapping ideas and know how. There is a real buzz about the event and it’s going really well. “
From their experience as online entrepreneurs Paul and David saw the opportunity to give aid to struggling charities by transferring their business know-how to charity organisations. A good website can make all the difference to an organisation’s fundraising potential but a recent study by the Institute of Fundraising showed many visits to charity websites simply end in frustration.
Paul King, Co-Director of internet Software Company 1DayLater.com said: “Charities are, for the most part, managed by very passionate and exceptional people who are usually non-technical. By providing each charity with advice and mentoring on how to maintain their new and improved websites after the event, we hope to extend the lifespan of these charities and their activities.
Sunderland Software City, Codeworks, Bond Solutions and VONNE were but a few to support and sponsor the planning of this new venture.
Bernie Callaghan, CEO of Sunderland Software City, said: “We were delighted to get involved with supporting the Webdurance event. Not only does it provide our talented software engineers with a novel showcase, but it also benefits some extremely worthy causes which otherwise might struggle to get a powerful web presence.
Our aim is to develop the software industry throughout the North East region. The fact that this initiative not only involved local developers and designers but was also conceived and managed by local software entrepreneurs demonstrates the talent, creativity and drive that abound in the North East.”
For more information please contact Esther Laverick, Webdurance Events Manager
0191 516 6085 / 078 414 73847 esther@webdurance.org
Webdurance was founded by Paul and David King Co-Directors of web-based software company 1DayLater.com. 1DayLater.com recently ranked among PC Magazine’s ‘best free software of 2010’. Paul and David design and provide online packages to businesses hoping to streamline their working habits and track time, money and mileage.
An up to date list of Webdurance charities, sponsors and contributors can be found on the Webdurance website www.webdurance.org
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