Subject: Helping charities online
Hi,
I'm dropping in here for 2 reasons. Firstly to introduce my company which I've recently launched, Four to the 4. It's my aim to provide affordable small charity website design and other online services to help small businesses, and small charities, succeed online on a smaller budget than the big-guns. I offer 10% of my standard prices to registered charities to give them a helping hand.
Mini-sales pitch over 
) I'm also hoping that there may be people here that can advise me of any organisations or official networks for helping support charities in their communication/marketing online? I'd very much like to get involved directly with helping support charities (and non-profits in general), putting my skills and knowledge to use for the benefit of others.
Thanks!
Geoff
Hi Geoff,
Most regions have a Voluntary Action Council. Though I may
be a bit out of date on this one - Cardiff's appears to have transformed into
something called C3SC (try remembering that before your first cup of coffee).
If you key in a local area and 'voluntary action council' or 'volunteering'
you'll probably find what you need.
They're local resource centres for charitable and community organisations.
Maybe go and have a chat to them and explain what you do and what you can
offer.
Just as an aside tip - if you can train people in Social Networking and basic
visual layout dos and don'ts, you might find yourself an extra market. A lot of
small organisations want to improve their SN potential but aren't too confident
about it.
Fantastic, thanks Marion that's just the kind of information I've been looking for.
I'm far from the Cardiff area so hopefully the one near me will have maintained the name VAC which indeed trips off the tongue a darn site easier than C3SC! 
Social networking and general design tips are certainly areas I think I could help such smaller organisations with also so will see about what I can do for my local VAC regarding those, thanks again!
Hi Geoff,
the Media Trust run speedmatching events where volunteers can connect with charities needing mentoring or support with their communications / marketing. There is one in Bristol in March.
Charity Comms run a mentoring scheme which you might also like to connect with.
Hope this helps.
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