Unite and empower Leeds third sector organisations, workers and volunteers by creating an independent voice and central access point to specialist sector information, support
and services that will celebrate and champion the organisations, workers and volunteers, delivering 3rd sector services in Leeds.
It's quite an ambitious site. The plan is that it incorporates many of the elements of the current Voluntary Action Leeds site (and in fact replaces the current site) whilst bringing in lots of new content and signposting from other support and development providers so that it becomes the one stop shop for support for your group.
We thought it important that the new site has its own identity which can be owned and shared by a number of organisations. We felt it needed to be welcoming, trusted, inspiring, celebratory and inclusive. So, the idea which has been developed is:
Why Doing Good In Leeds? Well it sums up what the third sector is about. Call it social enterprise, community work, third sector - it all boils down to the same thing: we want to be Doing Good in the city of Leeds. And its not just third sector - this is for anyone in Leeds - from a citizen wanting to volunteer, to a local Councillor, to a business wanting to put something back into the community.
What we also liked about the logo is that it is adaptable and can be used as a 'stamp':
OK so there's the logo and the title. But what does the site actually do? Well, there are three key things that you'll be able to use it for:
1. Use Doing Good In Leeds to find support for your organisation
It will provide organisations with guidance on a range of themes from fundraising to marketing to HR. You will be able to browse a variety of providers who can help them in these areas and find out what they need to be doing to make sure their group is as effective as it can be.2. Use Doing Good in Leeds to find out issues that affect your group and join the conversationThe site will be a focal point for the sector's voice and influence work. It will inform you about what is happening and what leaders think about key decisions that affect the sector. Representatives will use the site to post feedback and it will act a hub of conversation and debate. It will also tell you how to get involved in the strategic work of the sector and be a place where you can comment and join in discussions.
3. Use Doing Good In Leeds to find out about all the great things that are happening in the third sector in LeedsAs well as an online directory of the 2000+ third sector organisations operating in Leeds there will be news, events, jobs and volunteering opportunities from across the sector.
What do you think? Love it or loathe it? Do you like the logo? Title? Will the site be helpful for you?
Please let us know! Fill in the very quick poll then either leave a comment below, tweet @transformleeds or drop me an email richard.whitmill@val.org.uk
I Look forward to hearing your views
Richard
Development Worker
Being a 'Do Gooder' carries all sorts of negative connotations which are at the opposite end of the 'transforming Leeds' spectrum. This appears to be a return to the values and imagery of the 1960's WI and not a leap forward.
ReplyDeleteYes we did think about those connotations - but thought hey what about reclaiming it? Plus it has the advantage of being a bit 'Ronseal' 0 i.e. does what it says on the tin.
DeleteGood kick off for discussion though - what do others think?
i think the "in" Leeds bit gets lost in the branding. I am afraid i also dont like the "doing good" title. It is very old fashioned and quite patronising.
ReplyDeleteIf it means we can open a conversation about what it means to do good, what being a good citizen entails then I might be persuaded. At the moment it smacks a little of superiority. We who 'do good'...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting point - the idea was to do the opposite of this i.e. getting away from seeing the third sector in terms of jargon (like third sector!) or structure (this only for you if you are a reg charity, etc). We want it to be for anyone in Leeds who is, well, doing good: small community group, someone interested in volunteering, business wanting to put something back. If we don't convey that then it fails so we certainly need to get away from the superiority connotations.
DeleteAnyone have any thoughts on this?
I feel the flower shape is a bit of a throwback to 'hippy 60s /70s'
ReplyDeletewhich makes it seem like looking back. I think the name could work but in a different outfit, a bit more dynamic...
Confident, progressive and accesible - Great work.
ReplyDeleteWorry a bit that the 'In Leeds' bit may be confusing and might be trying to put too much into a logo.
I share many of the concerns already raised and have emailed comments to Richard directly as I hadn't seen this opportunity. My comment was that 'Doing Good' sounds very bland, and does help people understand our purpose.
ReplyDeleteI gave the example of the EDL's recent press release about their thoughts about a Moortown community centre - and their view of 'doing good', which is offensive, racist and needs to be challenged.
Our slogan needs to be inclusive but give the viewer a sense of what we're aiming for, however aspirational. At least 'Transforming Leeds' is!
I hadn't thought about the design - clever but I agree it's too 'soft'.
Hi
ReplyDeleteThanks for involving people in the development of this - a good idea to get feedback at this stage and unusual for this type of project!! Trouble is you might get 20 different views and make it hard to move forward ....
It's hard without having being involved in dicussions about the ideas behind the brand and of course individual reactions to branding are very subjective.
All that said - I agree with a lot of the points here. The 'In' gets lost, 'doing good' on its own can have patronising connotations - 'doing the good stuff' or 'doing great things' changes the emphasis.
Sorry not to be more help.