IT Support Case Studies
Young Suffolk
At the end of March, Suffolk Online, operated by Suffolk ACRE, was asked by locally based Ipswich organisation Young Suffolk, to setup and install 8 new computers across 3 offices in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds & Framlingham. The computers were to be installed in a new second room at the Ipswich base and new offices in Bury St Edmunds & Framlingham. Associated with this, Suffolk Online would also install other equipment including printers, cabling and broadband connections.
Young Suffolk is a registered charity and the only county-wide infrastructure body specifically supporting voluntary organisations working with children and young people across Suffolk. It is their aim to promote the needs and aspirations of children and young people in Suffolk by strengthening and supporting the work of a wide range of our member organisations to provide safe, exciting and sustainable services.
Alison Archbold Communications Manager said ‘In 2007 Young Suffolk’s work was boosted by a successful Big Lottery grant which enabled us to recruit three new Area Co ordinators to cover the region. Also Young Suffolk who supports young people’s volunteering in the County heard in December 2007 that we’d also been successful with our v funding bid which meant further appointments of three Youth Volunteering Advisors across Suffolk.
To accommodate the IT requirements of these new posts Suffolk Online helped us to equip a second office at Castle Hill Community Centre in Ipswich as well as set up completely new offices at Framlingham Youth Club and SCA in Bury St Edmunds. This was a mammoth task and Matthew and the team were fantastic in their support during this really frantic time for us. It all went exceptionally smoothly and was all completed within the planned timescale with all the new staff joining us on 1st April all set up with PC’s and ready to go.”
Young Suffolk continue to be supportedby Suffolk Online’s paid for monthly ICT support contract.
Suffolk Online offer a wide variety of IT support packages for the voluntary sector, starting from the very small charity to the large national organisation. From just £15 per month, packages are available to support your organisation’s IT needs, whether that be on-site or telephone & remote support or procurement advice.
Suffolk Online cover the whole of Suffolk so if you are interested in any of these packages please visit the website www.suffolkacre.org.ukand click on ICT along the left hand side or contact IT Manager of Suffolk Online & Suffolk ACRE, Matthew Morling, is also available to take your queries on 01473 242521 or matthew.morling@suffolkacre.org.uk.
Suffolk Refugee Support Forum
Suffolk Refugee Support Forum is a small charity based in St Matthew’s Street , Ipswich. We offer support and advocacy for over 600 refugees and asylum seekers living in Ipswich and the surrounding areas.
Following a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund, we approached Suffolk ACRE for a quote to install six new PC’s and a server in our office. Matt and Danny came to the office to discuss our needs and to look at the existing set-up which was badly in need of modernisation. They advised us of the best system to suit our needs and searched for the most cost effective equipment for us, bearing in mind our budget.
The equipment was installed with minimal disruption to our office and is now running well. Matt has been very attentive in clearing up the initial minor teething problems we experienced, both by telephone and by visiting us. All work carried out has been done in a very professional and helpful manner. The staff at Suffolk ACRE have explained the new system clearly to us and given us step by step instructions to help us to use it effectively. The staff and volunteers at Suffolk Refugee Support Forum are enjoying using the new faster machines and report that they are really helping us to improve the services we offer to our clients.
We have just agreed an on-going service arrangement for IT support from Suffolk ACRE which enables us to contact the team for any further help we need. The response so far has been very prompt and professional.
Many thanks to Matt, Danny and the team at Suffolk ACRE.
Peter & Olive Collins
Both Peter and I have been very grateful for all your support over the last few years with Suffolk Online.
When we first had a computer neither of us had any idea how to use it, or how much use and benefit it would be to our busy physiotherapy practice!
You have been able to sort out our little problems and answer our queries every time ,even when our questions must have seemed crazy to you because of our lack of technical ability!
After ten? Years ,when SOL was in its infancy ,we were too ,with computers, even now at seventy years old we are learning how useful all this modern technology is!
Thank you all so much at SOL - you have always supported us and we will always be happy to support you in any way we are able
