VAL Database

The Voluntary Action Leicestershire database records information on voluntary and community groups throughout Leicestershire. It is used by 60 plus staff both on a local network and by remote users who use VPN and either ADSL or 3G connections. It includes contacts and financial data for groups and records staff's day to day interactions with each group.

Voluntary Action Leicestershire can produce reports using any fields in the database and any criteria chosen. In the sector VAL works in, the data needed to analysed changes rapidly, and this flexibility has proven invaluable.

If you work in the voluntary sector, VAL Database can work for you, too. And it works on both Macs and PCs.

We commissioned MacTasks to write a multi-user database of groups for us in 2007. Before this we used two bespoke databases but they were limited in their adaptability and they were not easy to use, consequently they were unpopular with our staff.

We chose to have an entirely new database written to avoid the cost of upgrading the software that our previous databases were built in (Filemaker Pro). As a charity it was difficult to continuously budget maintenance of this software. We were pleased to find that the first version of the database actually cost the same as updating the core database software for our previous version. The fact that the MacTasks solution used our MySQL database also meant we could use this budget to enhance the database and not just update the core database software with little tangible return.

The database has reduced mailing costs, as the database can send mailings via email and will print out letters for those groups who do not have email addresses or wish to receive printed materials only.

Our users are all very positive regarding this database and we have found very little support has been required. We have demonstrated our database to many groups who work in similar areas to us and they are all very impressed.

Dave Woolman, Voluntary Action Leicestershire, Leicester.

Voluntary Action Leicestershire

If you would like more information about VAL Database, or a personal demonstration, contact Eric.