ramsac is providing proactive IT support and management for all of CCHF’s IT systems, including regular onsite visits to mange the network, and the provision of strategic planning and budgeting advice, ensuring that the technology continues to meet the charities requirements. Remote technical support is provided via a telephone hotline ensuring that users have access to professional IT support whenever it’s needed, so that IT problems never have a negative impact on the efficient running of the office.
As with all organisations today, IT is critical to the day-to-day running of CCHF. In addition to the servers and PCs installed at its office in Hassocks, West Sussex, the charity maintains two websites (www.childrensholidays.org.uk and www.cchfreunited.org.uk) and a donations database. It also relies heavily on email to communicate with the hundreds of volunteers that help to run the camps and breaks at its activities centre.
“We could not run the charity without our IT systems, yet we do not have the time or expertise to manage them ourselves,” states the Head of Finance at CCHF, Tracy True. “Our Chief Executive had worked with ramsac whilst working at CHASE Hospice Care for Children and recommended them to manage our IT requirements at CCHF.”
“Of course we would always like to have the very latest technology, but funds for our activity centres must always take priority. Put simply, the less money we spend on IT the more children we can invite to our camps and breaks,” explains True. “We must make the most of the technology we have and with ramsac on board we know we can rely on the IT whilst the team goes about continuing its valuable work.”
As one of the oldest charities in the UK, the CCHF exists to give severely disadvantaged children (those who experience poverty, dangerous environments, domestic violence, mental, physical or sexual abuse, bullying, isolation or exclusion from school) from London and surrounding areas a range of holidays and breaks to help improve the quality of their lives, recognise their potential and achieve their personal goals in the safest possible environment.
In 2009 CCHF will celebrate its 125th anniversary since being registered as a charity. During this time it has helped over two and a half million children. However, there are currently 700,000 children living in poverty in London alone and CCHF want to help as many as possible. For more information about CCHF, to make a donation, volunteer, or offer support please visit: www.childrensholidays.org.uk .