Project24 Design | Web Design & Content Management System for The Mothers' Union

Web Design and Custom Built Content Management System (CMS) for The Mothers' Union

The Mothers' Union (MU) is a global Christian organisation with more than 3.6 million members worldwide running local projects, supporting international campaigns, and fundraising in areas such as parental rights, international debt relief and child poverty.

They required a complete redesign of their existing outdated site and contacted Project24 after receiving a recommendation from one of our existing clients. After an intital meeting we submitted our proposal and beat off competition to win the contract to design and build a new web site and content management system.

The Requirement...
The MU required a new user-friendly web site to act as an information resource for both members and the public, and to help raise the charity's international profile. The site must be able to be easily updated and maintained by MU staff of all levels within the organisation. Site visitors should also be able to make online donations via Credit/Debit card.

What we did...
We developed a custom-built content management system (CMS) from scratch, to allow the MU to easily create new pages, edit existing pages and edit every aspect of their web site. A web-based visual editing system (similar to using a DTP application) allows the MU to design an infinite number of page layouts, positioning images and elements on screen simply using a mouse. Furthermore, a user-friendly interface lets them manage the entire structure of the web site and every page within it. The MU were actively involved in the development process and were able to request features which we then created and built directly into the CMS.

Secure Online Donations
We also set-up a secure web-based donations facility to allow the MU to easily receive credit/debit card donations online. The MU donation pages plug directly into the Secure Trading online payment systems. Gift Aid can also be claimed back from the UK Government, allowing the MU to claim an additional 28p for each £1 donated.

On Site Training & User Guides
Upon completion of the site and its CMS we designed a fully illustrated user guide showing how to use every aspect of the CMS. We followed this up with on-site training to nominated 'site editors' who would be responsible for the day to day maintenance of the site within the MU.

Logo Re-Design
We also redesigned the MU logo, simplifying it and making it easier to read, whilst retaining the traditional MU emblem known to millions of people throughout the world.

In Summary
The CMS exceeded the expectations of the MU and is so easy to use that the site is solely edited by non-IT staff within the MU. Staff can add, edit and delete pages, manage the user forum, add order/enquiry forms, and manage registered user accounts - all throughout the entire structure of the site and via a user-friendly graphic interface. And all with no specialist knowledge...

"Our website has recently been designed by Project24, and we are really pleased with the look and feel of the site, and the content management system. We've received lots of compliments about our web site and are now proud to tell people about it. Even the Duke of Edinburgh has congratulated us on having such a good-looking, relevant site!"

"Project24 have been good to work with, and have always been helpful support-wise and had great design and technical ideas to build upon and improve the site."

Marketing Manager
The Mothers' Union