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BZZZZZZZZZZZ Sue Ryder Care a-buzz with new website

4 June 2008

Sue Ryder Care is ‘a-buzz’ with the development of its new website - which hosts a range of new interactive features to better engage with its numerous and diverse visitors.
 
The charity enlisted web-design company Fat Beehive to help it reach its two main aims: to encourage genuine two-way communication, and to ensure that all stakeholders have an easy pathway to information. 
 
With its clear and simple navigating system, concise language and contemporary appearance, users can locate the information they are looking for at a few clicks. Representing all of Sue Ryder Care’s directorates, users will be able to look up care services in their area, read about the latest Retail campaign and find their local shop, spot a volunteering opportunity or sign up for a fundraising event with ease.
 
The site will also boast a host of exciting new features to enhance the users’ experience even further - and communicate with the charity more easily. These fresh new elements include: discussion forums, ‘email a friend’ facilities, online application forms, the ability to donate online and a Media Centre with the facility to include audio and video clips.
 
Fat Beehive has designed a new ‘BeeKeeper’ content management system to enable Sue Ryder Care to maintain, update and evolve the site in line with the fast moving and changing nature of the charity. 
 
Director of Marketing and Communications at Sue Ryder Care, Steve Taylor, said: “The new website strikes the right balance between positioning ourselves as a national charity which is moving forward, while retaining information about our regional activities to make sure we adequately communicate with a range of stakeholders. Using the right online channels to reach our diverse group of stakeholders, which include supporters, family members of service users, external healthcare professionals, the media, potential employees, volunteers and Sue Ryder Care shoppers can only help us increase the functionality of the site, raise awareness and make it easier to use it as a fundraising tool.
 
“All of our 14 care centres, 15 fundraising teams and 370 shops are represented on the site with introductions to our UK-wide care services, retail and fundraising campaigns.  A geographical search on the homepage gives users a choice of how they access information and our services.  Users are encouraged to contact areas of interest direct for further information ensuring that we can tailor information to the individual.” 
 
Taylor added, “Our new website means we can communicate directly with people who need our care, their carers as well as supporters and donors of the charity.  It is a great example of Sue Ryder Care working together to produce something that satisfies the needs of the charity and its stakeholders - and this joint working will continue as we focus on other aspects of online delivery.”
 
Sue Ryder Care’s internal Online Working Party, set up in 2007, worked closely with web-design company, Fat Beehive, to develop the charity’s new website.  Paul Beaton, Project Manager at Fat Beehive said, "Working in partnership with Sue Ryder Care has been, and will continue to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.  We are really pleased and proud of the work we have created with the efficient and capable staff at Sue Ryder Care."
 
Sue Ryder Care continues to liaise closely with Fat Beehive to maintain up to date with current and future online communication developments.  The charity plans to unveil even more exciting features to its website in the near future.
 
Sue Ryder Care is a leading provider of specialist palliative and neurological care as well as community-based services across the UK.  The charity provides expert and compassionate care for people living with life limiting conditions, including multiple sclerosis, cancer, Huntington’s disease, stroke and acquired brain injury.  Sue Ryder Care needs to raise £13 million in voluntary income to continue to deliver care that liberates lives at 14 care centres nationwide.
 
For more information about Sue Ryder Care visit www.suerydercare.org
 
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518 words
 
Notes to Editor:
 
About Sue Ryder Care:
 
•         Sue Ryder Care is a leading provider of palliative care, neurological care and homecare.
 
•         Sue Ryder Care provides expert care where people need it, maximising and supporting their choices and independence.
 
•         Sue Ryder Care is dedicated to helping the people it cares for to get the best from life
 
•         Our care concept - We care for the whole of an individual’s needs be they social, psychological, physical or spiritual. We also offer support to their families.
 
•         Sue Ryder Care is committed to building partnerships that support the people in its care with local health and social care services, the communities in which it operates and with its commissioners.
 
 
About Fat Beehive:
 
• Fat Beehive provide web design services, generally - but not limited - to charity, NGO, fairtrade and sustainability organisations.  The company build accessible, standards compliant websites with easy to use bespoke website self administration tools and content management systems that allow their clients to build and run their own websites and maintain their own data.  Fat Beehive offer managed hosting along with its web design services to offer support and web services as and when needed by their clients. www.fatbeehive.com
 
 

 

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