Page 9 - PAM - PROOF

V 1.1 February 2024

Introduction

The overall objective of the SiteWorks Training & Migration is to convert u3a Site
Builder to u3a SiteWorks websites and to provide the knowledge and tools to
Web Managers so that they have an equivalent site to their current Site Builder
site, have the ability to modify and improve it using the new features available,
and also have the knowledge and tools to manage and edit their new website
following migration.
u3a at Trust level will provide the necessary technical support that includes
server-hosting of the sites with site management including updates and back-
ups, plus ongoing u3a SiteWorks development and support.

The migration will be achieved via a combination of u3a SiteWorks training both
face-to-face and self-managed, self-paced using written materials. It will
include videos, an offline generic website simulation to learn and practice the
editing and management processes, site conversion software, support and
additional training at the time of the migration itself, plus ongoing support from a
Help Desk, various forums plus support for product improvements in the future.

The SiteWorks Project
u3a SiteWorks is a volunteer-led project which will provide WordPress websites
to u3as, replacing their existing Site Builder platform.
Over 700 u3as use Site Builder as the website tool to publish and publicise their
activities. It was built and has been maintained by a very small number of
dedicated u3a volunteers for over 10 years.

In consultation with the Site Builder volunteers, a decision was taken in 2022 to
seek an alternative. We wanted all the qualities of the old system plus the
potential to add more features and functionality as well as something future-
proof that could grow with us in the future. The WordPress system software was
selected as the basis for the Site Builder replacement. It is an open-source set
of programs that is straightforward, flexible and scalable, with the potential to
provide additional ‘plugins’ for added functionality going forward.

WordPress software is a very popular choice for website creators. There are
currently about 1.13 billion websites in the world and WordPress has been used to
design at least 40% of them. This rises to an estimated 60% for information-
based websites such as our u3a websites.

The new u3a system has been named u3a SiteWorks.

Why WordPress?
When the Steering Group was set up 2022 a major early decision was to choose
the product that will carry us forward into the future. The Group looked at
buying in a company to manage the entire website offerings across the UK,
something like WIX that offers a ready-made solution, and other market offerings
but all u3as are different and all u3a websites are different. This is how it should

Workbook for Web Managers Migrating to u3a SiteWorks Page 9