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We help groups Express themselves online

Gavin Hird
3/ 9/2003

COMMUNITY groups in Macclesfield and Bollington have been finding a voice on the internet thanks to a website set up by the Express's sister newspaper, The Manchester Evening News.

ManchesterOnline launched the scheme to help non-profit making organisations set up their own website free of charge and, since last August, more than 500 groups in the North West have registered.

Among the organisations to have built their own sites are arts and culture groups, charities, societies, fan clubs, bands, religious and residents' groups, schools and sports clubs.

The Macclesfield Bowling Association have the town's most successful site so far with almost 900 'hits', putting it within reach of the top ten most visited.

Managed by league secretary Peter Mannion, the site features regular updates of crown green bowling leagues and results in Macclesfield, Alderley and Wilmslow, as well as pictures from recent events.

Mr Mannion said: "I read an article in the Macclesfield Express saying the site was about to be launched and within a fortnight I had set up this website, so we were one of the first groups to go on it.

"The only bad thing about updating websites is that you need lots of time, but it's building up quite regularly, we think it's super and it doesn't cost us a penny.

"The vibes that have come back are wonderful, but what I've not managed to do yet is persuade more people to give me their information. There are over 1,000 bowlers registered in Macclesfield and this is their site, not mine."

Another local success story is the site dedicated to the Bollington Festival Players, which has attracted more than 200 visitors so far, keen to keep up to date with all their latest news, events, pictures and contact details.

Pat Penney was the chairman of the arts and culture group, based in Bollington Arts Centre on Wellington Road, when the site was set up a year ago. She said that it was put together simply to advertise forthcoming shows, but that computers are so "foreign" to her that she has never actually seen the site and was surprised that it had been visited so many times.

"We are a very small group in a very small place so to get 200 visitors is very good," Pat said.

"I think this internet site is a jolly good thing, I just wish I was a bit more technically minded."

Other organisations hoping to register a free website can find out how by visiting www.mymanchesteronline.co.uk