Laptops Keep Happy Days Residents Connected
Homeless charity Happy Days is managing to stay connected to residents thanks to funding from two community organisations and support from Core’s IT department.
The team at Core donated spare laptops and set them up with video conferencing software, making sure they were equipped with webcams before delivering them to each of the charity’s eight houses across the district.
One Community Kirklees has also funded a new laptop for Happy Days and the charity has also received an additional £3,000 from Community Foundation for Calderdale to help them manage the impact of the coronavirus.
CEO Dave Fawcett said the laptops mean residents will be able to continue accessing vital recovery and mental health support online during the lockdown.
He said: “Until now addiction and wellbeing support has been on pause, so we are hugely grateful to Core and these other organisations for making it possible for everyone to keep going with treatment at a time when they are facing extra challenges due to the lockdown.
“We are also planning to use the computers for fun activities and already have a quiz night and various motivational speakers lined up,” he added.
Happy Days provides supported accommodation within a community setting for people who have been homeless or are at risk. It helps to raise residents’ health and wellbeing through the creation of safe spaces and meaningful activities and is supported by social enterprises, Happy Days Cycles and Happy Days Building, which provide employment for residents.
Dave said: “With our clients currently unable to take part in bike recycling activities or gardening at the farm, the laptops will help us create some alternative activities and social interaction during what is a very difficult time for many.”
Gareth Henderson, chairman of Core Facility Services, said: “Our IT team have turned this around really quickly and I can’t thank them enough for getting the laptops set up and out to the charity so they can start to be used.
“Coronavirus is affected so many people in different ways and we are pleased to have been able to offer some much-needed support to Happy Days residents at a time when they need it most.”
Core Facility Services has also been supporting the community by donating its vans to charities for use when delivering food and essentials to vulnerable people across West Yorkshire, including Zarach in Leeds and Inn Churches in Bradford.
Gareth said: “Whilst our staff are working safely from home and our vans are parked up, we were keen to offer them for community use and have had a good response from charities in need of extra transport.“It’s all about working together as a community and doing what we can to support each other so that we can all emerge stronger when this is over,” he added.