Project Title: Wrington Village website rescue

Executive Summary:

The proposed project aims to revamp an old but extremely valuable website resource within our community. By modernizing and enhancing the existing platform, we intend to provide better access to information, foster community engagement, and preserve historical content. The revamped website will serve as a hub for local events, resources, and stories, benefiting residents, organizations, and future generations.

Project Objectives:

1. This is estimated to be a 5 year project of which I have just completed 18 months:

o When I agreed to take over the website, I did so out of a sense of loyalty to my brother in Law, Richard Thorn, who created the original website in 1999 and has maintained and added to it every year since. Sadly, Richard has developed alzheimers disease and can no longer operate the website. some of the videos were shot prior to starting the website from the 1980s onwards.

o It must be one of the longest running and constantly maintained village/community websites in the country.

o Also, I recognised what a valuable resource it was for the village and includes much historical data going back centuries.

o The structure was so complicated that nobody wanted to take it on and so it would all have been lost. This was causing Richard a great deal of stress, which is what prompted me to take it on.

2. Website Revamp:

o The website needed a complete rewrite, using more up to date authoring technology, while preserving all the historical data.

o Ensure compatibility with modern browsers and devices, particularly for mobile phones , which is essential in the modern era.

o The vast amount of existing content must be migrated onto the new platform. In most cases this needs to be rewritten.

o I have discovered approximately 150,000 pages on the old website, including 200 videos and thousands of images. There are video interviews with shopkeepers dating back to the 1980s.

o Content Enhancement:

o Curate and expand relevant content, including historical archives, community news, and local initiatives. A huge amount of historical data.

o There are over 200 videos involving village events and many interviews with shopkeepers, past and present. In additions, thousands of photos.

o We need to encourage community members to contribute articles, photos, and memories. This is particularly true with the influx of new developments and increased population.

o Community Engagement:

o Promote the website as a central resource for residents, businesses, and visitors.

o The aim with the use of modern technology, is to allow the website management to be taken over by anyone with basic knowledge and with the necessary training.

o As the new website’s development continues, representatives from businesses, clubs, societies and other organisations to be able to edit their own pages within the website, thus maintaining and improving this valuable village resource.

o I will organize workshops and training sessions to empower community members to use and contribute to the platform.

o Sustainability:

o Develop a maintenance plan to keep the website up-to-date and secure.

o Explore funding options for ongoing support.

Project Plan:

• Month 1-6: - completed

o Conduct a thorough assessment of the existing website.

o Gather feedback from community members on desired features and improvements.

o Identify potential partners (local organizations, schools, historical societies).

• Month 7-12 Ongoing

o Ensure that ALL files are stored safely on a secure server. They were spread across three servers.

o Begin content curation and digitization. Bring existing pages up to date where necessary.

o Promote the revamped website through community events, social media, and local newsletters.

o Train community volunteers to manage and update the platform.

Budget:

• Website Development Costs:

o Web design and development: In terms of time, as this is mainly my own time, which I am not expecting any compensation for, initially this will be minimal.

o However, having done the initial development on my trusty laptop, this is not capable of the further development needed over the remaining time. I estimate that the cost of updating the pc will be about £8-900. This will future proof development.

o Content migration: I have had to purchase additional software for development and migration of content. Initially, I have spent £879 so far and over the remaining three years of the project I estimate a further £1800

o Hosting and domain fees: £430.64, so far and over the next three years a further £1300

• Community Engagement Costs: Talks and use of social media. Encourage subscribers to spread the word

o Workshops and training materials: £800 to enable contributors to access their own pages for editing

o Marketing and promotion: £500

• Sustainability Costs: Variable but mainly achieved by updating regularly, particularly use of upcoming events calendar and news pages

o Ongoing maintenance and updates: £300

Expected Impact:

• Increased community connectivity.

• Preservation of local history and culture. A key requirement

• Improved access to valuable resources.

• Enhanced community pride and engagement.

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The proposed project aims to revamp an old but extremely valuable website resource within our community. By modernizing and enhancing the existing platform, we intend to provide better access to information, foster community engagement, and preserve historical content. The revamped website will serve as a hub for local events, resources, and stories, benefiting residents, organizations, and future generations.