The Challenge
When RDA engaged me on this project, they were going through a period of change and had limited capacity within their Fundraising and Communications team to lead a major digital project.
RDA relies on a large network of volunteers who support people living with disabilities, long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, and sensory impairments. Their Members’ website is an essential resource, but after many years without significant investment, it had become difficult to navigate and the quality of content was inconsistent.
With volunteers increasingly raising concerns about finding the information they needed, RDA wanted to move quickly towards a website redesign.
Getting Started
Building on some initial research already completed, I ran discovery sessions with stakeholders across the organisation, from website editors through to the CEO. I also launched a volunteer survey to better understand the challenges members were facing.
I brought this feedback together into a clear set of requirements, giving the team a shared understanding of what the new website needed to achieve and providing a solid foundation for agency selection.
Finding the Right Partner
As well as strong technical expertise, RDA needed a partner who understood the charity sector and could work as an extension of the internal team.
I led the agency selection process, setting up an evaluation panel and managing procurement requirements. Once a partner was appointed, I continued supporting the project through the design phase, helping to keep stakeholders aligned and maintain momentum.
The Outcome
By the time the project moved into development, RDA had:
- A trusted agency partner in place
- Modern, user-focused website designs
- An engaged member testing panel
- A clear content plan with consistent templates and structures
Most importantly, the project had the foundations needed to deliver a better experience for the volunteers who rely on it every day.
Client feedback (via LinkedIn)
