Soil Association case study

The Soil Association is the UK's leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming. The membership-based charity is at the heart of the UK organic movement. Since 1946 it has been working to raise awareness about the positive health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming and supporting farmers in producing natural food consumers can trust.

The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists who observed a direct connection between farming practice and plant, animal, human and environmental health. Today the Soil Association is the UK's leading organic organisation with over 180 staff based in its Bristol headquarters, in regional centres, and working as certification inspectors across the country. It has 20,000 members, and a further 3000 supporters. There are over 130,000 contacts on its database.

You might expect something so vital to be organised and supported by the government. But in fact the Soil Association is a charity, reliant on donations and on the support of its members and the public to carry out its work.

Almost all its income is contributed by individual members and supporters, and institutions such as charitable trusts, statutory bodies, and the Lottery. These sources have helped establish and develop major programmes such as its local food activities and educational outreach; and have made critically important contributions to its work in the areas of education, conservation, animal welfare, research, policy, publications and management.

Companies are also increasingly welcoming of its work, and providing generous support. The Soil Association's 2003 national conference was a triumph of corporate social responsibility, with more than 20 companies led by Sainsbury's sponsoring assisted places for small-scale farmers and growers. But the Association also pays tribute to the extraordinary generosity of an ever-growing number of individuals who have made donations. Without their support the organic movement would not be where it is today.

Nicky Trussler, the Association's Database Development Manager described the problems and their search for a solution. "We had so many different departments using lots of different databases," she explained. "We were using DOS-based Alms but it was no longer being supported. So we needed a new database to manage all our Contact management system; and many other areas like events, finance, and membership."

A small team got together to look at what was available. Together with Nicky Trussler, the Association's Information Services manager, the Head of Membership, Fundraising Director, and Finance Director comprised the database working group which shortlisted Progress from Fisk Brett. "Progress covered most of our requirements, and seemed very cost-effective" recalls Nicky. "The working group then made the final decision based on Progress' functionality that enabled quicker inputting- much easier than a dos product to use - helped by AFD for address verification".

So what can the Soil Association do now that they couldn't do before? "Now we can email from the database, get better blocking options, see the detailed contact history, and lots more" explains Nicky Trussler, "the list goes on and on!"

"To get the most out of a database, play around with it first, and go on an SQL Administrator course!" advises Nicky. "Get to really know your data, and understand all of its bizarre and unusual intricacies. The better you know your data and your processes, the better to improve it using Progress" she concludes.

For more information on the Soil Association, visit www.soilassociation.org