250 u3a websites migrated onto SiteWorks
The volunteer team leading SiteWorks, the website software for u3as, have reached a significant milestone.
Two years ago, work began on SiteWorks, a website provider for u3as to replace the existing SiteBuilder software which was being used by over 700 u3as. The entire project has been driven by u3a volunteers, meaning that the system is specifically catered towards the needs of u3as.
In February 2024, work began to migrate the existing 700 websites over to SiteWorks. Volunteers tested new product features and functions, and supported u3a Web Managers in using the new platform.
In August, Bicester u3a became the 250th u3a to be migrated onto SiteWorks.
Two members of Bicester u3a were involved in the process. Tomy joined u3a in 2018 and, alongside his u3a activities of leading Exploring Classical Music and German groups, is the webmaster for Bicester u3a. Earlier this year, he was joined by Krys, who enjoys the Exploring Classical Music and Wider Horizons groups, and leads a French Conversation group.
Tomy says, "The SiteBuilder to SiteWorks migration was a lengthy but well-organised process. First of all, we studied the secrets of editing a WordPress-based website. When I saw our rough migrated SiteWorks website, I realised that the SiteWorks team had done an excellent job: almost everything that was in the SiteBuilder website had migrated perfectly. We did not need to do any retyping, only reformatting. We decided to split the effort: Krys worked on the 42 group pages, and I did the rest. Krys contacted the group leaders, reviewed the group descriptions and added copyright-free images. These pages look much, much better! My main tasks were to align text with images, set up the Notices and Events according to Siteworks rules, and get rid of cobwebs. When we were in the middle of editing, I invited the Bicester u3a committee members to log on to the unpublished website as Authors and review it. Thus we got some invaluable help."
Tomy continues, "Krys and I have the advantage of being computer literate, and we could build on the enormous preparatory effort of the SiteWorks team. Being the 250th migrated website is heartwarming, but it is a collective effort, not only us two!"
Earlier this year, Pam, one of the volunteers involved in the SiteWorks project, talked about her involvement. She described the work as 'challenging at times, but the feedback from Web Managers makes the work that we have all put into this project worthwhile. There has been the added bonus of working with a great bunch of people within the project team and interacting with the wider u3a community. "
See Bicester u3a's new website.
Find out more about SiteWorks on their website.