Touch Screen Innovation for Neonatal Charity

Touch Screen Innovation for Neonatal Charity

Libby Mae’s Little Angels is a charity set up in memory of the founders’ daughter, that funds the…specialised work of eighteen neonatal units in the Midlands. The charity has completely revolutionised its fundraising activity with the latest in touch screen technology from Midshire. Wholly reliant on donations to fund its activity, the organisation was also in talks with Midshire to develop a new app for parents and families effected by baby loss and neonatal issues, which could be used on both Android and IOS devices.

The Problem: Looking for Audio Visual Equipment

Problem 1: Engagement at fundraisers
Problem 2: Searching for a mobile AV solution
Problem 3: Direction and design of a new charity app

As a registered charity, Libby Mae’s Little Angels is dependent upon donations generated from its own activity, to both raise money and spread awareness of its work. A constant problem was reinventing the ways in which they engaged with potential benefactors to spread the important message.

Secondly, as a campaigner for eighteen neonatal units in the West Midlands, Libby Mae’s is constantly on the move. Coupled with hosting various charitable events across the country, the organisation needed a new way of reaching its audience, but one that was easily transportable.

Lastly, the charity’s founders, Charlotte and Richard Sharratt had wanted to design an app to help parents and families for a long time, but had no idea of where to begin, what it should look like, or how users would interact with it.

The Solution: Interactive Touch Screen Technology

Solution 1: Touch screens to reinvent fundraising
Solution 2: Mobile AV equipment for easy transportation
Solution 3: The perfect platform for an app

Midshire’s solution was to provide Libby Mae’s with three compact, easily transportable, 22-inch interactive touch screen tables. The state-of-the-art AV equipment was proposed to be the perfect tool for the charity to showcase its website, photo, and video content at events. As a leading provider of AV solutions, Midshire would also maintain the devices as part of its AV support package, so the devices would be fully functional and available for use at a moment’s notice.

After talks with Midshire’s Group Marketing Manager, Adrienne Topping, agreed that Midshire would support the design of the new app, at no cost to Libby Mae’s, but as part of the companies CSR strategy. The app would work in harmony with the three touch screens provided. Fully interactive and simple to use, the app would be a hub of vital information for expectant parents, and the touch technology the perfect platform to access it.

“The app is being designed as a central point of reference for worried parents that need to know a whole manner of things relating to the health of their baby, from top neonatal units or surgeons and their locations, to finding specialist counselling and bereavement services.

“As a registered charity, Libby Mae’s Little Angels are entirely self-funded, so we donated £1,200, and a desktop photocopier to help them reach their ever-increasing targets. I have personally been involved in and love supporting many of the charity’s initiatives.” Steve Morgan, Regional Sales Manager, Midshire

The Outcome: Audio Visual Equipment Enhances Fundraising

An immediate benefit of the AV installation has been to bring some much-needed life to the specialised unit at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, where Charlotte and Richard sadly lost their daughter, Libby Mae. A permanent fixture that adds a high-tech feel to the unit, one of the devices has been fitted onto a unique ‘Hi-Lo’ stand, making it completely manoeuvrable dependant on need; it can be raised high to show announcements, or be lowered to the floor for use by children.

Most notably, the AV equipment has completely changed the way that Libby Mae’s raises money. They can now keep people engaged with the emotive content they display, making the charity’s cause tangible and visible at exhibitions and events.

By creatively displaying their content to people, they are more captivated and absorbed, the charity is now much better equipped to reach their ever-increasing targets, having raised over £250,000 for the eighteen neonatal units in the Midlands to date.

“My husband Richard and I are so excited to have these touch screens, they will really help with our fundraising initiatives. We have one of the tables installed at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, another in the Hospital’s neonatal unit waiting room, and the last we will take to events throughout the year.

“We just want to be able to give struggling parents access to information that we couldn’t find readily available, hopefully our experience with Libby Mae can have a useful and lasting impact.” Charlotte Sharratt, Founder and Trustee, Libby Mae’s Little Angels