Get on GoodHQ to harness feedback from your supporters

Charities in Scotland and the UK are increasingly in the spotlight. Critics and journalists watch the sector with eagle-eyes, ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness. But charities need not be afraid. That’s because the vast majority in Scotland are well run, efficient and providing the public benefit they were set up to deliver. We know how important the support of millions of loyal volunteers, fundraisers and advocates across Scotland’s towns and cities is.  But, let’s be honest, most organisations are not great at capturing and recording all the goodwill of their supporters. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is committed to changing this situation. That’s why it has created Good HQ as a digital platform for the public to share their experiences and discover new ways to get involved. The site gives people the opportunity to review their experience with a charity, whether they’re a service user, a campaigner, a donor or a volunteer. I appreciate that some organisations find the idea of opening up to public feedback scary. But it doesn’t need to be. My experience is that the majority of people have positive things to say about Scottish charities, and when they don’t, it is much better to know about it than not. There are already over 200 good causes in Scotland engaging with their supporters on Good HQ. Take a look at RNIB, which is using the platform to demonstrate the impact of its work, or see how Grassmarket Community Project, is encouraging customers to review their experience after they’ve used its facilities. The great thing about Good HQ is that it’s a free and easy to use platform. It won’t take up lots of staff time to manage, and it gives your fans and service users a really easy way to provide feedback. Good HQ gives you the chance to embrace conversations with your supporters, service users, volunteers and donors. It makes your organisation and the whole sector stronger. We’ve set up a page for all registered charities in Scotland, so all you need to do to boost public trust in your organisation is claim your page now. If you’d like to talk about Good HQ in more detail, I'll be at the Gathering at the SCVO Digital Stand in the exhibition hall and will be running drop-in sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. You can also email me at hello@goodhq.org.