Plain answers for groups and sponsors.
Short guides on websites for village halls, clubs and community groups, what they cost, and how local sponsors and funders can help pay for them.
All posts
How parish and town councils can help local groups get online
Three practical ways a parish or town council can help community groups with their websites, what to ask a provider for, and how to keep it fair between groups.
Read the post For groupsAccessibility basics for a community group website
Simple, practical steps to make your group's website easier for everyone to use, including people with sight, hearing, motor or learning needs. No jargon.
Read the post For groupsHow to write a good "About us" page for your group
What to put on an About page for a club, hall or society, how long it should be, and a simple structure that helps new people feel welcome.
Read the post For groupsA year of a village hall website: what to update and when
A month-by-month rhythm for keeping a village hall or community group website fresh, from opening hours and events to policies and end-of-year reviews.
Read the post For groupsDoes a village hall need a website?
A Facebook page is a good start, but a village hall website does things a page cannot: it gets found on Google, answers the same questions, and never scrolls away.
Read the post For groupsHow much does a website for a community group cost?
A plain look at what a community group website can cost, from doing it yourself to hiring someone, and where a flat £20 a month fits in.
Read the post For groupsWhat to put on a club or society website: a checklist
A simple checklist of what a club, society or class website needs, from who you are and when you meet to prices, contact details, photos and policies.
Read the post For groupsFacebook page or website? What small groups should do
Small groups often ask whether a Facebook page is enough. A simple rule: keep the facts on a website and use Facebook for chat, photos and reminders.
Read the post For groupsPhotos of children on your group's website: a plain guide
General guidance on using photos of children on a group website: consent, names, safeguarding and where to find official advice. Not legal advice.
Read the post For groupsKeeping a group website up to date without a volunteer who "does the computers"
Community websites go stale when one volunteer moves on. Here is how a weekly batch of changes keeps a group site current without anyone learning a new system.
Read the post For sponsorsWhy sponsor a local group's website? What a business gets
What a local business gets from giving to the pot that funds community websites: local goodwill, a listing with a link, and a clear idea of where the money goes.
Read the post For sponsorsLocal sponsorship for small businesses under £25 a month
Where a small local budget can do the most good: comparing kit sponsorship, programme adverts and funding a community website, with honest pros and cons for each.
Read the post For sponsorsWhat £5 or £10 a month does for a local group
How small monthly amounts add up in the sponsor pot to fund whole community websites, with a worked example and how individuals can be listed or stay anonymous.
Read the post For everyoneSponsorship, not donation: what your £20 pays for
A plain explanation of where sponsor money goes, why JW Community Websites is not a charity, why Gift Aid does not apply, and what you can expect for your money.
Read the post For fundersGetting your group's website paid for by a grant or your council
How a community group can ask a parish council or grant maker to pay for a website: what to ask for, what to include, and what paperwork to get from your web provider.
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