A women’s refuge in west Suffolk is hoping to promote its work to a wider range of clients via a new modern website.

The site, which was designed free of charge for Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid Centre by local business Kallkwik as a competition prize, was officially launched this week by one the charity’s patrons, BBC Suffolk presenter Etholle George.

The 23-bed refuge, in Kempson Way, was established in 1974 to provide safety and support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. It offers temporary accommodation where they can recover from the traumatic effects of domestic violence.

The centre also offers a range of community services, courses and counselling to help women rebuild their lives after abuse.

Annie Munson, chief executive officer at the centre, said: “Kallkwik built us a professional website because ours was very basic and we felt we needed more information and better technology so if someone was browsing, they could escape from the site quickly without leaving any trace.

“In this day and age, most of the people we see are under 40 and they are all people who use the internet so it is vital to have a completely up-to-date website.

“These women are, after all, trusting their lives and their children’s lives to us so they have to be sure it is the right place, and the internet is the way most people do their research these days. The website has to give the right first impression.”

Kallkwik put the refuge in touch with filmmaker Poppy Jacobs who, as part of her university work, has created some video clips to enhance the website. These will eventually be added to inform users about the various different areas of the charity’s work.

Ms Munson added: “Unless people have experienced physical violence, they don’t realise they are in an abusive relationship.

“The new website will portray the different types of abuse so everyone visiting it will recognise them. We are also trying to get as many different case studies as we can that will ring a bell with someone and might prompt them to seek help.”

To view the new website, visit www.burystedmundswomensaid.org.uk.