When it comes to digital transformation, it’s easy to get caught up in the technical bits - the platforms, the tools, the endless possibilities. But at its heart, it’s about people. Just ask Rosie Trevill from Elect Her, who's been at the centre of their digital evolution over the past few years.

Starting small, thinking big

Elect Her isn’t your typical organisation. As a non-partisan group working to get more women into political office across Britain, they've always had to be creative with their resources. When Rosie joined in January 2022, she was only the second permanent staff member after their CEO.

"Really early stages, I guess, compared to where we are now," she reflects. And she’s not wrong – from helping 1,000 women join their community in 2021, they’ve grown to welcome 3,750 new community members in 2024 alone, with over 8,600 women now part of their wider network.

The organisation had already been through some significant changes. "Originally, it was the two co-founders who set up the organisation who were going directly into communities and delivering these workshops," Rosie explains. "In 2019 there was a pivot to delivering online. And then, of course, during COVID, a lot more people were both at home online and getting a lot more politically engaged."

The digital dilemma

Like many small organisations, Elect Her faced a common challenge: how to reach more people without losing that personal touch that made their work so effective. And they certainly were reaching people - in 2024 alone, they facilitated nearly 5 weekly live sessions every week, with 420 women participating throughout the year. Most impressively, 142 women they supported stood for election, with an incredible 50% success rate at local level. They had a wealth of resources - from blended learning courses to PDF guides - but needed a better way to make them accessible.

"We really wanted to work with Few and Far to make one place on the website that could host all of these different things in a cohesive way," Rosie shares. But finding the right partner for this journey wasn't just about technical expertise.

The connection with Few and Far came through a Media Trust session, and it was about more than just website development. As Rosie puts it, "It really struck me, all the care and attention to detail to go into that level of work and really consider everyone's websites and give them tailored pointers for things they could improve on."

“They’re (Col and Tom) both such wonderful souls, and really get it, and I can really feel their care and motivation to support people in really highlighting the work that they're doing.”

What stood out was the human connection. "From the get-go, Tom and Col understood what we were doing and how to really effectively connect into that through the website, which is such an incredible skill," Rosie shares. "They're both such wonderful souls, and really get it, and I can really feel their care and motivation to support people in really highlighting the work that they're doing."

Making digital work for everyone

One of the most significant developments was creating a resource hub that brought together all of Elect Her's digital offerings. "We host a mixture of blended learning courses through a learning platform but a lot of our self-led resources are also PDF guides," Rosie explains. The goal was to make everything accessible in one coherent space.

The impact has been remarkable. In 2024, over 2,100 women accessed their Digital Self-Defence and Self-Care course alone. The organisation now offers 10 comprehensive online courses and has created 30 new resources explaining how to navigate politics. Their website saw a dramatic increase in engagement, jumping from 12,000 users in 2022 to 19,000 in 2024, with the resource hub becoming their second most visited page.

But they didn't stop at just organising resources. The team worked on "really embedding the quotes and impact stats and things we'd never really thought of in a much more meaningful way online than before." They also implemented new ways to sustain their work, including embedding donation calls throughout the site - a move that helped them build a base of 54 regular donors where previously they had no monthly giving programme.

Looking ahead

For Elect Her, this is just the beginning. They're about to start another chapter with Few and Far, focusing on sustainability and future-proofing. As Rosie puts it, they're thinking about "how we can make sure the things that are embedded in the website can really last" and the team are excited to collaborate with Few and Far once again.

The impact of their work extends far beyond the digital sphere. In addition to their online presence, they've built a network of 56 coaches offering pro bono services, provided 21 Fund Her Grants to support women's election campaigns, and even given evidence to Parliament five times.

If there's one thing that stands out from Elect Her's experience, it's that digital transformation isn't just about the technology - it's about finding partners who understand your mission and values. As Rosie notes about working with Few and Far, "It felt like that came together really nicely from the get go... such a good fit."

Here’s what we’ve learned

Find partners who 'get it': Technical skills matter, but understanding your mission matters more
Keep it human: Digital tools should enhance, not replace, personal connections
Think long-term: Build systems that can grow and adapt with your organisation
Stay true to your values: Let your mission guide your digital decisions
Build for sustainability: Create processes that can outlast any single team member

Moving forward

Whether you're a small charity just starting out or an established organisation looking to grow your impact, remember that digital transformation is about amplifying what makes you special, not changing it. As Elect Her shows us, with the right approach, it's possible to reach more people while keeping that all-important personal touch.

Want to start your own digital transformation journey? Why not begin with a free Impact Optimiser review? Sometimes the best first step is simply understanding where you are.

Finding the human touch in digital transformation: Elect Her’s journey