Gateway Family Services

2024

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Family Support Organisation

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Custom Web Design, Website Strategy, SEO Optimisation

Gateway Family Services is a community-focused organisation dedicated to supporting families in the Penrith and Blue Mountains areas of New South Wales, Australia. We worked closely with their team to understand their mission, values, and diverse audience. Our goal was to create a modern, accessible online h that reflects their warm, inclusive brand tone and supports their future growth. The result is a welcoming, user-friendly website that not only showcases their comprehensive services but also expands their reach to families in need, attracts donations, and fosters professional referrals.

Our Work

Visit Website

“We are a small not-for-profit that was in desperate need of a new website. The team is absolutely thrilled with the design Ché created, which perfectly captures the warm and inclusive energy our service represents. Our organisation has a wide range of program areas and service offerings, which our previous website failed to adequately showcase. The new design makes navigation of our range of services simple, with the ability to make online referrals and registrations. It also incorporates clear call-to-actions to attract new volunteers and donations - which are the lifeblood of our organisation. The new website has elevated our brand, and within days we have already received queries from multiple areas of the site. It finally feels like we have a website that is worthy of the great work we do here at Gateway!

Melissa Sorini

Communications & Partnership Manager

The

Gateway Family Services

Story

The Challenge

Creating an accessible, engaging online presence for families with diverse needs

Gateway Family Services operates in a region where many families face complex challenges, including domestic violence, mental health issues, housing insecurity, and financial hardship. Their primary audience often has compromised literacy and communication skills due to a range of factors. Additionally, many clients rely solely on mobile devices with limited data access.

The challenge was to design a website that is warm and supportive yet highly accessible, mobile-responsive, and easy to navigate for users with varying abilities and needs.

The Solution

A modern, accessible website that embodies Gateway’s mission and supports growth

We crafted a website that reflects Gateway’s warm, inclusive brand tone, using soft pastel colors and playful bubble motifs to create a child-friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

The site features bold, clean typography for readability and adheres to current accessibility standards, accommodating users with cognitive or sensory impairments. Recognising the reliance on mobile devices among their clients, we prioritised mobile responsiveness and optimised the site for low data consumption.

Key Strategies Employed:

‍Flexible Content Structure for easy editing and future growth.‍
Prominent “Donate Now” Button and information on how donations support their work.‍
SEO-Optimised Content and Site Structure to increase online visibility in their catchment area.‍
Embedded Intake Form for seamless professional referrals.

Next Level Service

A collaborative and adaptive approach, working directly with Gateway’s leadership team

Understanding the critical role that Gateway Family Services plays in their community, we took a hands-on approach, working closely with their team to ensure the website met their specific needs and goals. Our collaboration included:

‍Refining Brand Tone and Visual Style to align with their mission of empowerment and community-building.‍
Integrating Event Listings to highlight upcoming community activities, workshops, and parenting seminars.‍
Ensuring Compliance with Accessibility Standards for users with various impairments.‍
Guidance on SEO-Oriented Content Copywriting to help the Gateway team create content that will reach more families in need.

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Standout Design Elements

Creating a Warm, Accessible, and Engaging Online Experience

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Playful bubble motifs and soft pastel colors

We incorporated bubble motifs and a palette of soft pastels like light beige, green, and lavender to create a playful, child-friendly atmosphere. This design choice reinforces the welcoming and supportive nature of Gateway’s services, making the site approachable for families and children.

Accessibility at the forefront

Accessibility was a paramount consideration. We designed simple and clear web pages with high contrast, clean, and bold typography to enhance readability. The site complies with current accessibility standards, ensuring it is usable by people with cognitive or sensory impairments, learning disabilities, or those experiencing high levels of stress.

Mobile responsiveness for on-the-go access

Recognising that many clients access the internet primarily through mobile devices, we ensured the website is fully responsive, providing a seamless user experience on smartphones and tablets. The site is optimised for low data consumption, accommodating users with limited data speeds.

Clear calls to action and easy navigation

We included prominent call-to-action buttons such as “Donate Now,” “Join Us,” and “Learn More,” making it easy for users to engage with the site. The navigation is intuitive, with a clean layout that helps users find information about services, events, and contact options quickly.

Vibrant photography and community focus

The website features vibrant photography of families and children participating in activities, reinforcing the community-focused nature of Gateway’s work. An events section highlights upcoming workshops and parenting seminars, encouraging community engagement and adding an interactive element to the site.

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Conversion-Focused Design to Support Gateway’s Goals

Designing with purpose to empower families and strengthen communities

We designed the website with Gateway’s specific goals in mind:

Attracting Charitable Donations:
We placed a prominent “Donate Now” button on the homepage and provided clear information on how donations impact their services.
‍Increasing Online Visibility:
Structured the site for SEO optimisation, enhancing their search engine footprint in the Penrith and Blue Mountains regions to reach more families in need.
‍Collecting Professional Referrals:
Embedded the intake form and ensured the site presents a professional web presence that inspires confidence among professionals looking to refer clients.
‍Establishing a Platform for Growth:
‍Created a flexible content structure and easy content editing capabilities to support Gateway’s future expansion and evolving needs.

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Conclusion

Empowering Gateway Family Services to continue their vital woork

Our collaboration with Gateway Family Services resulted in a website that not only meets their immediate needs but also positions them for future growth. The site effectively communicates their mission, engages their diverse audience, and serves as a valuable resource for families in need.

By focusing on accessibility, mobile responsiveness, and community engagement, we’ve helped Gateway strengthen their online presence and continue their vital work in empowering families and strengthening communities.