Our collaboration with Accenture
At the beginning of last year, we partnered with Accenture’s Tech4Good team through the Community Foundation’s Corporate Volunteering initiative. Over the course of the year, the Accenture Tech4Good team has brought a huge change to our website and we would like to acknowledge and thank them for their work!
Unlike a typical corporate partnership, this collaboration was interactive and user-centred. Accenture worked closely with our team members and our Advisory Panel (comprised of individuals with lived experience of seeking sanctuary in the North East) to ensure the project was shaped by those who would benefit most from it.
One of the key challenges we faced were: navigation difficulties, inconsistent design and a lack of multilingual accessibility which has made it harder for us to effectively communicate our services, engage supporters and provide key information to people seeking asylum.
Recognising this, Accenture facilitated interactive workshops using tools like the Mural app, allowing our Advisory Panel to map out challenges and co-design solutions tailored to their needs.
The result was a redesigned website that prioritises usability and accessibility. Key improvements include multilingual support, enhanced colour contrast for readability and a streamlined navigation system that makes it easier for people seeking asylum to access essential services.
Our website is now more intuitive, mobile-friendly and inclusive, allowing those who need support to find it without unnecessary barriers. In the long run, these improvements will strengthen our ability to connect with our existing and potential clients.
We would like to thank Accenture for taking part in this project, which is more than just a website redesign – it’s a step towards greater digital inclusion, ensuring that people seeking asylum can access the support they need as they rebuild their lives in the North East.
Thank you to Andy Durma and the wider WERS team for proactively supporting the project so closely throughout the process of updating their website, and regularly sharing valuable insights and feedback.
Collaborating closely with the charity we were able to introduce features and functionality which improved the usability for the international community visiting the website, and importantly gave time back to the charity staff to focus on the areas where they can have the greatest impact.
Proud to see Accenture’s Tech4Good team supporting local UK charities to bridge the technology skills gap and minimise the barriers for them to scale and have a real impact helping people who really need it.
Accenture Team
Thank you to the Community Foundation for connecting us with Accenture, and to the Accenture Tech4Good team for their incredible work transforming our website to better serve our community!