At Work: Communications

Third Sector - 11 March 2008

Save the Children is an international charity working to prevent the suffering of children by influencing governments and taking practical action.

Development
The charity overhauled its website as part of a wider update of its brand. The new version was launched last month after three months of development.

Design and Content
The site feels straightforward and uncomplicated. Visitors are not inundated with options on the home page, and it's broken down into simple areas such as 'what we do' and 'what you can do'.

It's deceptive, because there is a huge amount of material on the site. The downside of this basic approach means that some very good features feel a bit buried away from the home page.

One of the main features is an area focused on Kroo Bay, a slum in Sierra Leone. It includes videos, pictures and updates from people working in the area. It's a high-quality piece of work and demonstrates the appalling conditions people are living in there. However, the videos did not stream very well.

Special features
The website contains a number of short films hosted by video sharing website YouTube about its work. It's a good selection and portrays far better than words could what the organisation does. A wealth of resources for teachers can also be found on the site.

There's also an interactive map showing the locations of all the charity's shops for people who are interested in volunteering. It's a great way for people to find one close to where they live.

Save the Children says:
'We will be using technology through the website and also text, Bluetooth and interactive billboards to allow families to get involved and show the world just how simple it is to save a child's life.'