Hugs Charity’s Journey to Enhanced Safety and Efficiency

Introduction

Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity, a small charity focused on supporting families affected by childhood cancer, faced several challenges common to small charities, including security concerns. This case study explores the journey of Hugs in addressing these challenges, particularly through installing CCTV and an intruder alarm system, facilitated by Start With Smart.

Background

Hugs originated from a fundraising initiative for a young boy named Henry Hallam, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. As the initiative evolved into a charity, Hugs from Henry expanded its mission to support more families, eventually rebranding as Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity. The charity operates retail outlets to fund its activities, including a respite home for affected families.

Challenges

Running a small charity like Hugs involves several challenges:

1. Security Concerns: Retail outlets faced theft and antisocial behaviour, impacting the charity’s ability to support its cause.
2. Operational Efficiency: Managing donations, especially large items, required a systematic approach to ensure the safety and efficiency of operations.
3. Staff and Volunteer Safety: Ensuring the safety of staff and volunteers, particularly during early hours or in isolated tasks, was paramount.

Solutions Implemented

To address these challenges, Hugs partnered with Start With Smart to implement the following solutions:

1. CCTV System: High-quality CCTV cameras were installed both inside and outside the retail outlets. This system allowed for live monitoring of the premises, providing evidence in case of theft and helping manage antisocial behaviour around the donation bins.
2. Intruder Alarm System: An advanced intruder alarm system with app control and easy set/unset features was installed. This system offered additional security during non-operational hours and facilitated remote management by the charity’s staff.

Impact

The installation of these systems had a profound impact on the charity:

• Enhanced Security: The CCTV system deterred potential thefts and helped identify perpetrators, significantly reducing losses and ensuring that donations reached those in need.
• Operational Efficiency: The systems allowed for better management of donations, ensuring valuable items were not damaged or lost, and improving the sorting and storage process.
• Safety and Peace of Mind: The safety of staff and volunteers was greatly enhanced, with the ability to monitor the premises remotely and respond quickly to any security breaches.

Conclusion

The partnership with Start With Smart proved invaluable for Hugs, demonstrating the importance of modern security systems for small charities. Not only did these measures protect the charity’s assets, but they also ensured a safe working environment for its dedicated staff and volunteers. The success of this initiative highlights the potential for other small charities facing security challenges to employ similar strategies.