Good Connections: WiFi for good!

the results

• Residents could reconnect with their friends and loved ones, some of whom were in different countries.
• The YMCA surbiton was able to offer a better experience to their residents, on top of some of the great reinsertion programmes they already offered.
• Residents could apply for jobs, handle their welfare payments and complete courses online, to get back on their feet!
• Residents can access streaming platforms, to watch Netflix, and escape from their realities

Wifinity employees were lucky enough to spend the day with the residents and fantastic YMCA staff. It was heartwarming and so rewarding to hear some of the feedback, such as this resident quote: “You installing this, I think, makes a huge difference to these people. Being able to educate yourself is a lifeline to get out. I really want to do an online education. Nine months I’ve been here, and we’ve not been able to, and now I can. So yeah, really, thank you guys!”

the results

• A vast number of Ealing residents are from overseas, so this enabled them to reconnect with their families in their home countries.
• Previously there was no working WiFi in the bedrooms or the communal areas, so this connectivity has suddenly given residents access to the services, connections and just helped reduce isolation.
• This was a particularly difficult install, as some of the legacy cabling was completely out of date, so our teams worked tirelessly to get residents online, on time!
• Our partner Cambium provided the hardware to us for free, which made a huge difference, as we were able to put in state of the art tech, that will last for years to come.
• This feedback from the site manager says it all “Having no access to the Internet can lead to unintentional social exclusion – many residents have smartphones and tablets, but cannot afford monthly contracts, so become digitally excluded; unable to access potential job opportunities, state benefits and their loved ones at a time when they need them most. The benefits of Wifinity’s gift cannot be understated and will make a huge difference to the quality of our residents lives. Already we have a resident excited about signing up to an online education course and others talking about the value of being able to contact a wider support network.”