# Body Shop funds Refuge's new Web site

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/07/23/body-shop-funds-refuge039s-new-web-site/
- Published: 2004-07-23T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Body Shop is funding domestic violence charity Refuge’s new Web site.

The new site, which will go live on 28 September 2004, will include details on how
to support the charity. A facility to handle online credit and debit card donations
will be available, and there will be details of how to get involved in fundraising
events. There will also be advice for people wishing to give anonymously to the 
charity. Furthermore, the new site will include information in community languages“
and comply with the Disability Discrimination Act,” says the charity.

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The Body Shop is donating money raised via its mobile phone recycling and pin badge
sale initiatives.

Many charities still find it difficult to secure funding for Web sites so it is 
encouraging to see a funder willing to support such developments. If such a supporter
can not be found, however, then usually it is better to include Web site developments
within other projects for funding applications, as often Web sites are quite rightly
seen by funders as means to an end.

While Refuge announces the donation on its front page, it is regrettably unable,
due to financial constraints, to make sufficient use of the site’s opportunities
in the meantime. A headline of “This website is under development” is never going
to engage and excite many visitors, but the charity says it can’t afford to change
it. It is therefore focusing on the new site’s arrival in a couple of months’ time.

Nor can they change the announcement that “we aim to launch the new site early next
year and will be posting frequent updates on our progress.” Apart from overstating
the time until the new site will go live, this has the unfortunate effect of suggesting
that visitors won’t find much new information on the site for several months.

Refuge is well aware of the shortcomings of their site but say that it is all down
to lack of funds and the planned introduction of the new site. Sadly, this means
that valuable fundraising opportunities are being missed: for example, the e-mail
address to contact the fundraising department is not clickable.

Refuge’s experience shows that charities can still find funders willing to fund 
a new or redeveloped Web site. On the other hand, their difficult position at present
shows that you should never find yourself in a position where you can’t afford to
amend your Web site.