In 2013 behind the scenes EVOC was working on building a new database for our staff. Built around the salesforce system, we created a customised database that would meet the needs of our staff whilst allowing us to resurrect something from the past.
Many years ago, before the age of the internet, EVOC would create and publish annually “The EVOC Redbook”; a directory of Voluntary Organisations in Edinburgh. This much sought after resource was the first of its kind in Edinburgh, and provided people with a complete directory of all the charities and projects running in Edinburgh.
As times changed and EVOC moved on, the redbook was no longer published and become a part of EVOC’s history – gone but not forgotten.
In 2012, during a meeting with Ella Simpson, EVOC’s Director, she remarked “wouldn’t it be great if we could resurrect the redbook but in a modern internet age fashion?”.
Fast forward to 2013 and work had begun on building an online version of the redbook, bringing the directory back to life and making it more open and accessible to everyone.
A community mapping project which was part of the “A stitch in time?” project started to gather information from across Edinburgh about services that were available to older people as the foundation of the database.
Working with a developer, we were able to build a first phase of the project – a very simple user interface that allowed people to search for services by postcode, or by service category. This was then “soft-launched” to allow us to begin to test the system and how easy it was to search for information. The database stores organisations and information about them, and the services they provide.
After months of testing, we officially launched the project publicly at our November 2013 AGM. We received great feedback from people excited to see this old project rejuvenated for the internet and reminding us how useful and how needed the Redbook was back in its day.
Since then we have been continuing to refine and re-work the system running the Redbook and we are currently undertaking phase 2 of our data collection, working on mapping the services available to children and young people in Edinburgh.
You can access the Redbook at https://www.evocredbook.org.uk, and check out if your organisation and its services are listed in the directory.
If you find you are not listed then you can submit your details free to our director at: https://www.evoc.org.uk/evoc-redbook-form/
If you are listed but would like to update your directory listing them please get in touch with us at [email protected] and we will contact you to update your listing.
We continue to work on this project to ensure that it stays a useful and up-to-date resource. We value any feedback or comments you may have for us about the Redbook, please email us at the above address with your thoughts.
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