NEWS
VooDoo UK weaves Magic for the New Children’s Hospital Appeal
Creative Marketing agency VooDoo UK has demonstrated its support for the New Children’s Hospital Appeal by designing and developing the appeal’s website free of charge.
The Preston-based agency, which specialises in designing, creating and delivering highly effective marketing solutions, had worked with hospitals (Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust) on a previous project. Having developed a good working relationship, the new charity appeal was keen to work with an agency that could deliver their requirements and VooDoo UK welcomed the opportunity to support the campaign immediately. Initial discussions indicated that a website would act as a pivotal awareness tool for the appeal and VooDoo UK felt that its creativity and technical expertise in the production of websites would greatly benefit the £20 million campaign.
The New Children's Hospital Appeal aims to raise funds to support projects within the new hospital and will provide the latest equipment for diagnosis and treatment and a place for parents to stay when their child is in hospital. The hospital will serve young patients from throughout the North West, and will open in 2009.
Kay Kelly, Head of Appeal, commented: “The appeal is spearheaded by Bob the Builder and this brand was to play a central role on the proposed website and supporting material. VooDoo UK’s creative team innovatively integrated Bob the Builder into their design and developed a fantastic, easy to use website, developed specifically to our needs. The web developers produced an interim system whilst the main website was being developed and this operated with a countdown system to the launch of the appeal which generated significant interest and excitement. We are extremely grateful for all the help in kind VooDoo UK has given us, their continuing development support and free website maintenance.”
To help launch the site, VooDoo UK also designed and produced a viral marketing campaign featuring Bob the Builder’s Balloon Race. The viral game encouraged users to click on the fast, flying balloons in order to be entered into prize draw. Users were then offered a repeat chance dependent on them emailing the game to another three potential users.
VooDoo UK’s Technical Director, Michael Cottam, commented: “This was a great opportunity to be involved the development of the biggest children’s hospital in the country which would provide specialist services and have the best equipment and facilities for the region’s poorliest children. To raise awareness of and encourage people to support the appeal, the website had to be bright and exciting, but also had to be functional and simple to use. The viral game helped raise awareness of the site, directing thousands of people to it. The current website also encourages potential supporters to subscribe to regular updates and they can get involved in the appeal. We continue to support the appeal and are currently working with the fundraising and communications team to develop the website into an e-commerce site.”
To find out more about how you can get involved and help support the appeal visit their website at www.newchildrenshospitalappeal.org.uk
more