- Dev
Forest Green Rovers
Supporting the World’s Greenest Football Club
Barnstondale
Supporting Barnstondale’s growth through a new website
Children's charity based in the Wirral, serving diverse communities of Merseyside and beyond
- Design
- Dev
The work
What did we do?
Barnstondale - An inclusive outdoor education and activity centre dedicated to helping young people grow in confidence through meaningful outdoor experiences. Through skills focused learning, team building and residential stays, the centre creates opportunities for children and young people to challenge themselves, build resilience and develop independence in a supportive environment.
For many visitors, Barnstondale represents their first experience of the outdoors and, in some cases, their only holiday or respite of the year. The centre’s facilities accommodate up to 150 people and include accessible accommodation, activity areas, sports facilities and unique log cabins that make every visit memorable.
Client
Barnstondale
Website
Platforms
DatoCMS
Target Audience
Barnstondale primarily works with schools and youth groups seeking safe, enriching residential experiences for young people. Teachers and youth leaders look for a trusted partner that understands safeguarding, accessibility and the importance of structured outdoor learning.
As part of its wider strategic plan, the centre also wanted to expand its reach to adult groups, corporate teams and other charities. The website therefore needed to speak clearly to multiple audiences, each with different priorities, while keeping the journey simple and accessible
Client Challenge
Barnstondale’s existing website did not clearly communicate who they are or the breadth of services they provide. The online journey was difficult to navigate, often leading potential visitors to contact the centre directly for information or look elsewhere.
As the organisation plans to grow and serve a broader audience, the website needed to better reflect its values, facilities and long term ambitions. It had to clearly articulate the experience on offer, simplify enquiries and support expansion into new group types, all within a limited charity budget.
Solution
We believed Barnstondale deserved a website that matched the impact of its work. Although the centre did not have a large budget, as a local charity we supported 50 percent of the build to ensure the project could be delivered to a high standard.
We built a fast and scalable headless website using Gatsby, with a fully bespoke design aligned to Barnstondale’s brand guidelines. The new structure simplifies navigation, clarifies the services on offer and creates clear pathways for schools, youth groups and new audiences such as corporate and adult groups. The result is a modern, accessible platform that better reflects the centre’s mission and ambitions.
Results
The new website gives Barnstondale a digital presence that truly reflects the quality and importance of its work, while supporting future growth.
1. A Clearer Journey for Visitors
Schools, youth leaders and new audiences can now quickly understand what Barnstondale offers, who it is for and how to enquire. The simplified navigation and improved structure reduce friction and help potential clients move from interest to enquiry with confidence.
2. A Stronger Representation of the Centre
The bespoke design brings the centre’s facilities, accommodation and ethos to life online. The website now communicates Barnstondale’s inclusive values and the transformational impact of its outdoor programmes more clearly and confidently.
3. A Platform That Supports Growth
Built on a scalable headless architecture, the site is ready to support expansion into new markets such as corporate and adult groups. Despite budget constraints, Barnstondale now has a high performance platform that can evolve alongside its strategic objectives.
