Local community centres often rely on traditional methods of communication, like posters, leaflets, printed ads and, more recently, social media. However, in an age when everyone’s first port of call is the internet, they can benefit significantly from having a website. Today, websites are neither difficult to create nor expensive to run and in this post, we will discuss seven reasons why your local community centre needs one.
- Increased visibility
Not everyone reads posters on display boards or in shop windows, nor do they always see ads in papers or posts on social media feeds. Having a website allows your local community centre to expand its reach beyond its immediate vicinity so that visitors in other parts of your town can become aware of what you do and get involved. As a result, you can boost the number of people who attend your activities and attract new activity providers, offering a wider range of services to your community. - Round-the-clock accessibility
One of the primary benefits of having a website for a community centre is improved accessibility. A website serves as a 24/7 notice board, enabling people to access information about the centre’s services, facilities and upcoming events at any time, from anywhere. This is particularly valuable for community members with mobility limitations, busy schedules or those who live outside the immediate area. By providing information and resources online, you can ensure that your community centre’s services are accessible to a wider audience, making it more inclusive and encouraging greater participation. - Improved communication and engagement
A website can be a powerful platform to communicate with your local community. It enables you to share news, post updates and make announcements about upcoming events, workshops, clubs and drop-in sessions. It can contain news sections, blog posts, advertising pages and more. It’s not all one-way communication, either; features such as forums, comment sections, online surveys and contact forms enable visitors to respond or make enquiries. This enables community members to provide feedback, share ideas and connect with each other, helping create a sense of community and promoting active involvement. - Resource sharing
Community centres are often a valuable source of information and resources for their local community. By having a website, you can create an online library of useful materials, educational resources, guidelines and FAQs. By having this information all in one place, on your website, it makes it easier for people in your community to access resources. At the same time, your website could also share downloadable materials, helpful links and useful contacts, further enhancing the value that the centre plays in the community. - Online event registrations and booking
From Cubs and Brownies to Zumba classes and WI meetings, hosting events and workshops is a common practice for community centres – and one which they rely on to raise the funds to keep the centre going. Having a website can simplify the registration process for these types of activities. By adding an online registration system to your website, something you can do for free and in just a few clicks, you can make it easy for community members to sign up for events, workshops or classes.
This not only reduces the admin burden but also improves the experience for your users. What’s more, by enabling people to register online, you can attract more people, know who’s coming in advance, send reminders and, if people give permission, send them your newsletter or information about your other events. - Fundraising and donations
Many community centres rely on donations and fundraising efforts to support their operations and raise money for good causes. With a website, not only will your community centre have a platform to showcase its fundraising activities; you can also use it as a place to accept donations and payments for activities. This can be done by incorporating secure payment gateways, like PayPal, on your site. - Collaboration and networking
A community centre website can also act as a catalyst for collaboration and networking within the local community. You can use it to create an online directory of local businesses, service providers and organisations that can promote their services or events on your site. This benefits businesses in your area, some of which might pay you to advertise, while strengthening the ties within the community by creating a network of support and shared resources.
Conclusion
Having a website allows local community centres to connect with their community more effectively. It enhances your visibility, improves accessibility, facilitates effective communication, lets you share resources, simplifies event registrations, enables fundraising and promotes community collaboration. Hopefully, from reading the seven points mentioned in this post, you’ll see the benefits that having a website can bring to your local community centre.
Looking for an easy way to create a website and an affordable way to run it? Check out our simple-to-use, feature-filled Website Builder or create a WordPress website with our WordPress Hosting Plans.
