ThoughtWorks helps NSPCC and ChildLine unify volunteer databases

Global IT consultancy ThoughtWorks has helped the NSPCC and ChildLine to rebuild their volunteer databases into a single store of information. The new unified information system is expected to be live in June 2008.

The merging of ChildLine and the NSPCC in February 2006 brought together databases that were different in age and structure. ThoughtWorks worked with volunteer coordinators from the NSPCC and administrators from ChildLine to develop requirements in a week-long exercise.

As a result of this project, the NSPCC is adopting the company's Agile development processes throughout the rest of the project as well as assessing how Agile practices can be implemented elsewhere within the charity.

Andy Robinson, head of development at the NSPCC, said: "ThoughtWorks took very little time to understand our legacy systems, challenges and the unique environment we have, and then held on to that information and worked in a way that suited us."

www.nspcc.org.uk