Empowering Tir Coed: Catalyst Cymru Community Grants Scheme
Written by Tir Coed / Tuesday 02 April 2024
Last year, thanks to the generous support of the Catalyst Cymru Community Grants Scheme, we secured a grant of £2916 which has enabled us to make strides in improving our digital infrastructure and accessibility, empowering us to better serve our community and connect even more people with land and woods. The grant allowed us to invest in IT equipment, skills, and services geared towards making our Charity more professional, accessible, and digitally enabled. This investment hasn’t just make our internal processes smoother; it has also helped us connect with a broader audience through upgraded digital platforms and communication channels, such as our website. These tech upgrades have transformed how we work and engage with our partners and beneficiaries.
At the heart of our efforts lies a commitment to inclusivity and diversity. With the support of the Catalyst Cymru Community Grants Scheme, we have been able to reach more diverse audiences and ensure that our projects and activities are accessible to all members of our community. Whether through tailored outreach efforts or the implementation of accessibility features, we are dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to building on this momentum, continuing to innovate, collaborate, and keep the needs of individuals and communities at the heart of what we do.
- Our virtual conference system has improved communications both internally and externally. This has had a significant impact on time and resources on staff travel, which in turn has helped us become a more professional, agile and sustainable organisation.
- Improvements to Tir Coed’s website have resulted in improved accessibility, user-friendliness, particularly for individuals with disabilities including those with visual impairments.
- Adding a site map on our website has improved accessibility further by providing users with an overview of the website's structure, making it easier for them to navigate and find the information they are looking for. This is particularly helpful for users with disabilities who may rely on alternative navigation methods, such as screen readers.
- Training and support for the communications team to maintain digital accessibility standards beyond this funding has served as a lasting impact for the project.
- The team report an “increased awareness, understanding and confidence” in considering accessibility in all elements of web content design and function.
