Modernising Children’s Hospice South West’s Drupal Platform

The Challenge

CHSW’s existing website was built on an older version of Drupal and faced challenges common to legacy systems:

• Outdated platform with limited long-term support and security risk.
• Complex Salesforce integrations powering core functions such as donor records, event bookings, and purchase processes that needed refactoring.
• Budget constraints that required a practical upgrade path with minimal cost risk.
• A need for editor flexibility so non-technical staff could manage forms and transactions without developer support.

Approach and Solution

Strategic Upgrade Planning

Rather than a simple platform “lift and shift,” ComputerMinds worked closely with CHSW to balance cost, flexibility, and long-term maintainability. Early collaborative discussions helped prioritise project decisions around risk, editorial control, and user experience. 

Flexible Form-Driven Workflows

Instead of implementing a full commerce stack, which would have added unnecessary complexity, the team chose a Webform-centric approach:

• Webform module as the backbone for transaction Flows (donations, event registrations, etc.).
• Bespoke integrations with Salesforce to ensure seamless data synchronisation between submitted forms and donor/event records.
• Editors can manage form content and settings without developer intervention, providing autonomy and reducing support overhead.

Refined Donation Experience

The donation journey — central to the organisation’s digital engagement — was redesigned with effective UX principles:

• Split into a multistep, responsive form flow for clearer, less overwhelming interactions (especially on mobile).
• Progress indicators, summaries, and intuitive field structures to support clearer decision-making.
• Improved presentation of Gift Aid options to help maximise engagement while maintaining compliance and transparency.

Seamless Payment and Event Handling

• Custom payment gateway integration with Webform to handle secure, third-party payment processes.
• Complex event registration flows were implemented using Drupal’s flexible data architecture, with autosaving, Salesforce synchronisation, and clear editorial control for template content.

Technical Implementation

The solution used mature, well-supported tools where possible, extending them only when necessary:

• Webform module as the central transaction interface with extensive customisations.
• Salesforce integration tailored to the charity’s existing CRM and workflow needs.
• Custom field components and handlers for address, Gift Aid, and transactional data.
• Responsive, mobile-friendly form UX with progressive interaction design.

Outcomes and Benefits

• Modern, supported Drupal platform with a secure foundation for future enhancements.
• Greater editorial control empowering the CHSW team to manage vital user journeys and form-based processes.
• Improved donor journeys with clearer, more intuitive experiences.
• Cost-effective delivery by leveraging existing tools like Webform and the Salesforce module instead of custom commerce stacks.
• Seamless integration with core charity workflows, including donations and events.

Key Takeaways

• Practical upgrade planning aligned with organisational priorities can deliver modern platforms without excessive cost.
• Choosing well-supported modules like Webform and extending integrations strategically reduces maintenance risk while maximising flexibility.
• Enhanced UX and clear editorial workflows support organisational goals, particularly for mission-critical processes like donations and event registrations.