Ferne Animal Sanctuary

CASE STUDY

Ferne Animal Sanctuary, a UK-based charity founded during World War II by the late Nina, Duchess of Hamilton & Brandon, has been committed to rescuing and re-homing animals for decades. The charity required ongoing support for their WordPress website to improve both functionality and user experience, and that’s where Opace stepped in.

We started our work with Ferne in 2018 by providing hands-on WordPress training for their team to equip them with the skills needed to manage content independently. Soon after, we developed a custom ‘Friends of Ferne’ form using Gravity Forms, making it easier for supporters to contribute to the sanctuary.

Building on this, Ferne asked us to implement new features, such as animal sponsorship pages. We created custom post types, integrated Stripe payments, and tested everything to ensure a seamless experience. This allowed the sanctuary to offer one-time sponsorship options directly through the website, a much-needed feature for their growing online community.

As their site grew in complexity, Ferne opted for an annual support contract that allowed for continuous maintenance and updates. Over the years, we’ve provided consistent updates, security enhancements, and even implemented new functionality like 2FA, improved donation processes, and automated data capture.

Ferne continues to benefit from our support, with regular site updates and ongoing technical help that ensure the site is always running smoothly, secure, and optimized for their growing audience.

The Results:

Our ongoing collaboration has led to a more robust and user-friendly website for Ferne Animal Sanctuary. With a reliable technical foundation and added features like sponsorship forms and improved donation workflows, the sanctuary is well-equipped to engage with their supporters and continue their mission.