The new and improved Connect RCT website went down really well at a recent Volunteering Fayre, where people were invited to try it out and share their thoughts. Overall, feedback was very positive, especially around how much easier it is to use, how it looks and how well the search works.
People who took part included volunteers, community members and organisations. Many said the new design feels modern and much simpler to get around. One long-time user who had stopped using the old site was shown the new version and reacted immediately with, “I love it!”
Helping people find opportunities quicker
One of the biggest wins was the improved search feature. Visitors were able to quickly find things like volunteering roles in Aberdare, Neighbourhood Watch groups and local coffee mornings just by typing in a few keywords.
For many people, especially those new to the platform, having volunteering opportunities, community events and support services all in one place was a real plus. One visitor from Caerphilly, looking for volunteering in Rhondda Cynon Taf, said they planned to keep using the site after the event. Another person even found a volunteering role they were interested in during the demo itself.
Features people liked most
A few of the newer features stood out in particular:
- The Neighbourhood Pages were popular for making it easier to see what’s happening locally
- The Mental Health Champions page got positive comments, especially when people recognised familiar faces
- The option to save and download images from events was seen as useful for sharing on social media, newsletters, and community updates
- The colour-coded categories made browsing much simpler and helped people quickly spot different types of activities
Getting the word out
The sessions also showed that not everyone knew about Connect RCT yet, or what it can do. Some people were completely new to it, while others had only heard about volunteering opportunities, not the wider range of events and services available.
There’s clearly still work to do in raising awareness so more organisations and residents can make use of the platform.
A few things to tweak
Alongside all the positive feedback, a few small improvements were picked up. These include things like checking how activity locations are tagged, updating some partner branding, and improving the member directory experience.
A strong step forward
Overall, the feedback suggests the redesign has made a real difference. People found the site easier to use, easier to search, and more inviting to explore. Features like the Neighbourhood Pages and Mental Health Champions section were especially well received.
Most importantly, the new Connect RCT website seems to be doing what it was designed to do: helping more people find and get involved in opportunities in their local communities across Rhondda Cynon Taf.