About a year ago, I suggested an online giving page for the day centre. Three months passed before I was given the go-ahead to set it up. On the 1st of October, I emailed the log-in and set-up details for the BT MyDonate page to the Chairperson and Manager of the day centre. On 29th November, they still had not processed the documents. By mid-December, the lack-lustre management team and I had parted company.
I offered to maintain the Twitter account and other social media networking. My offer was declined. I expected them to request access to the online giving page and to change the password. They did not. This has still not been done.
As I believe that the day centre makes a valuable contribution to the community, I am still committed to supporting it, and in April, I was able to set up a fundraising event for a sponsored walk in aid of Farncombe Day Centre. Donations and Gift Aid were received by the day centre, in response to an appeal. To my knowledge, no report on these funds has been requested by the management team.
Today, I have removed my intellectual property, including photographs and text, from the page and I am publicly telling the Farncombe Day Centre management to prioritise this, as well as changing the contact details, and updating the charity profile. Updating the website would help too.
I believe that this shows yet again that the management team are not fit for purpose, lacking in critical IT skills, and ill-equipped to deal with the changing world of social media fundraising.
Pull your socks up, Farncombe Day Centre, or you will be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
My case study on the long term sustainability of the Farncombe Day Centre is available by email.
My previous posts on Farncombe Day Centre:
Godalming and Farncombe Neighbourhood Planning (GOFARNP)
Fundraising at Farncombe Day Centre
Standing up for Farncombe Day Centre
Saving Farncombe Day Centre
What's the buzz?High praise indeed
A jewel in the crown of the community
Standing up for Farncombe Day Centre
Saving Farncombe Day Centre
What's the buzz?High praise indeed
A jewel in the crown of the community
Disclaimer: The author was a member of the Farncombe Day Centre Executive Committee from February to December 2013, and was asked to step down following a disagreement with the Chairperson of the Committee, relating to the budget shortfalls and identifying such publicly.