Dorchester Almshouses

The Client

Dorchester Almshouses is a long-established local charity providing accommodation in the heart of Dorchester. Its history can be traced back through three 17th-century almshouse charities, Whetstones, Napper’s Mite and Chubbs, which later merged and became part of Dorchester Municipal Charities.

Today, the almshouses provide accommodation close to Dorchester town centre, with properties situated in West Walks alongside the Borough Gardens.

The organisation needed a clear and accessible online presence where prospective residents, families and other visitors could learn more about the almshouses and the accommodation available.

The Project

Dorchester Almshouses approached Alacrify to establish its first dedicated online presence, and in 2019 we designed and developed a new website for the organisation.

The focus was on creating a straightforward and informative website that made important information easy to find while providing Dorchester Almshouses with a professional platform to explain its history, accommodation and work within the local community.

As part of the wider project, Alacrify also assisted with domain registration, arranged website hosting and helped set up the organisation's email mailboxes.

We also developed a custom registration-of-interest form, allowing prospective residents to submit their details directly through the website and giving Dorchester Almshouses a practical way to manage initial enquiries online.

The Result

The completed website gave Dorchester Almshouses a dedicated online presence for the first time, providing a central place where people can learn about the organisation, its history and the accommodation it provides.

Importantly, the website does more than simply provide information. The custom registration form gives prospective residents a straightforward way to express their interest online, helping connect the organisation with the people looking for its accommodation.

For Alacrify, the project is a great example of how website design for charities and community organisations can combine clear information with useful functionality. It also reflects our long-standing work designing and supporting websites for organisations here in Dorchester and across Dorset.