New website launches!

As part of Cyfannol Women’s Aid’s Digital Transformation project, we have been working away behind the scenes to redesign our website. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery, we have been able to invest in a site that will better meet the needs of people seeking and engaging with support, as well as our partners, supporters, friends and staff.

Why the change?

Cyfannol has developed and grown in so many ways in recent years and we were keen for our website to reflect this; for our public face to more closely represent our organisational values and person-centred approach. Following a period of research and consultation, we set out to create a website that is more user-focused, going beyond simply what we want to communicate, to meet a wider range of needs. As the leading provider of Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) support services in Gwent, we hope this website will provide a starting point for discovering the support that’s available across our region, encouraging more people to reach out for help.

What has changed?

Our new site is designed to provide a starting point for anyone in Gwent who is in need of information or support in relation to any form of Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse or Sexual Violence.

• Directory of Support Services:
  Although Cyfannol Women’s Aid delivers support services across Gwent, due to the way services are commissioned, we do not provide all services in all areas. We also recognise that some people may prefer to contact a helpline, or a specialist ‘by and for’ organisation. To help people access the right support for them, we have developed a Directory of support services, which we hope will help individuals to navigate the options available.
• More ways to reach us:
  As well as providing our contact details as before, our new site also offers the option to Request a Callback – to ensure you can get in touch with the right person to help you.
• Resources
  There are so many useful resources and websites out there, it can be hard to know where to start. We have compiled a list of trusted sites and links to safety resources, information about options, sources of specialist support, and more. Whether you are looking for information for yourself or links to share, our Self-help Resources section is a good place to start.
• Survivor Stories
  One thing we hear a lot throughout our support services is the sense of relief that comes from knowing you’re not alone in what you’ve been through or how you feel. Our Survivors Stories section aims to reinforce this by sharing the experiences of survivors who have received our support. Anyone is welcome to submit their story to help grow this section, and inspire more people to reach out for support.
  
• Animation
  As part of our website re-development, we worked with the amazing animators at Woven Ink to bring to life the impact of accessing support for the first time. Based on the words of people who have come to our crisis and drop-in services over the years, the video tells the story of women who took that first step and found reassurance, relief and hope. You can view the video on our homepage and under What you can expect
• Donations
  Anyone who wishes to donate to us can now do so directly through our website via our Donate page, making this process much more straighforward.
• Fundraising Resources
  We now have a whole section of our website dedicated to ways in which our supporters can help us make a difference. With lots of ideas and materials to help individuals and organisations raise awareness of – and funds for – our cause, anyone who wants to support us can access everything they need to get started.
• Bilingual
  Our website is now bilingual – if you would prefer to access the site in Welsh, you can do so via the Cymraeg link.

Acknowledgements

Our new and improved website would not have been possible without the support of the technical and creative teams we’ve had the pleasure of working with throughout this project. A huge thank you to the web design and development team at Blue Stag, to our amazing animation agency Woven Ink, to Jo Haycock for enhanching the site with her beautiful photography, to DOT project for helping us to understand our user journeys, to Paloma Systems for providing database solutions, and to the National Lottery for funding this development, as part of Cyfannol Women’s Aid’s Digital Transformation project.

We’d also like to share our immense gratitude to all the survivors, staff and stakeholders whose engagement through our research and development phase helped to shape the site and kept it focused on the needs of those who’ll be using it.

What’s next?

We need your help to spread the word about our website – to help us to reach as many people as possible across Gwent who may need our support at some point.

The nature of domestic abuse and sexual violence means that people may not be aware of the support services in their area. But knowing how to access support is often the first step towards safety. With data telling us that at least 1 in 4 women experience some form of domestic abuse or sexual violence in their lifetime, we need everyone to know that there is help available. Please help us to spread the word and remember you can signpost to our Services directory  if someone you know needs support.

Thank You!

Diolch Yn Fawr