Customer story: Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)

A digital platform at the heart of the organisation

As a membership organisation working with over 150 charities and sector partners, AMRC’s website plays a critical role. It must inform, engage and support a professional audience – while remaining responsive to policy developments, sector news and member needs.

For Communications Manager Ellen Hinkley, Access Raise was already part of the organisation when she joined three years ago.

“It was already up and running when I arrived, and I found it super easy to use. It is very user-friendly.”

Having been in place for over five years, Access Raise isn’t a short-term solution for AMRC. It’s a platform that has grown with the organisation and become embedded in day-to-day communications and engagement.

More than a redesign: aligning digital with strategy

After several years on the platform, AMRC identified the opportunity to refresh its website – not just visually, but strategically. The timing aligned with the launch of a new organisational strategy built around three pillars: Champion, Support and Connect.

Working closely with the Access Raise team, AMRC took part in structured discovery workshops that challenged assumptions and opened up new possibilities.

“That first workshop opened our minds to opportunities we hadn’t thought of. It helped us step back and look at the website with fresh eyes.”

The redesign focused on ensuring the website clearly reflected AMRC’s purpose:

• Championing member charities and tell their collective story.
• Supporting members to fund research as effectively as possible and provide a kitemark of quality through guidance, resources and insight.
• Connecting charities so they can share learning and collaborate, through networks and shared learning.

“Our homepage wasn’t showing off what we do or what our members do. Now it really helps to reflect our strategy.”

Accessibility was also a priority.

“Improving accessibility was a very important consideration for us, so getting expert guidance on that during the redesign was particularly helpful.”

The result is a modern, more accessible website built on a platform designed to support long-term digital growth – not just a one-off refresh.

Supporting a small team to do more

With a small communications team, simplicity and speed are essential. Access Raise enables AMRC to manage content confidently without technical support or reliance on external agencies.

“One thing I appreciate about the platform is how quick it is to add content. Being able to get pages live immediately is crucial for us.”

This speed and flexibility allows AMRC to:

• React quickly to government announcements and sector developments
• Maintain a comprehensive member directory
• Publish spotlight reports showcasing member charities
• Organise and surface key resources for members

New templates and layout options have also given the team greater creative freedom.

“It’s made it easier to think about how content is displayed and how people navigate the page. We probably spend more time on the website now – but that’s a good thing.”

Rather than limiting what the team can do, Access Raise actively enables better digital storytelling and engagement.

A platform that listens and evolves

What truly sets Access Raise apart for AMRC is the level of support and partnership behind the platform.

After leaving feedback via a customer survey, Ellen was quickly contacted by the Access customer success team – and saw improvements implemented shortly afterwards.

“It never feels like a battle. It feels like a partnership. People genuinely want to help and improve things.”

This ongoing dialogue ensures the platform continues to evolve in line with real charity needs – from usability enhancements to new features such as AI-powered tools.

“We’ve been using the AI functionality to generate first drafts of meta titles and summaries. It’s much quicker than starting from scratch and gives us a really useful starting point.”

For AMRC, this commitment to continuous improvement builds confidence that Access Raise will continue to support the organisation well into the future.

Delivering impact through a complete digital journey

Access Raise supports AMRC’s mission at every level:

• Helping the organisation champion medical research charities
• Making it easier to support members with guidance and resources
• Enabling meaningful connections across the sector

Why AMRC recommends Access Raise

AMRC has already recommended Access Raise to other charities – and for Ellen, the reasons are clear.

“You could have the best platform in the world, but without support it’s pointless. With Access Raise, it genuinely feels like a partnership.”

By investing in Access Raise, AMRC hasn’t just invested in a website. It has invested in a complete digital platform that supports its mission, adapts to change and empowers a small team to deliver more impact.

Looking for more than just a website? Discover how Access Raise can support your charity’s full digital fundraising and engagement journey.