This project is being carried out to help enable charities, and other voluntary organisations, to be able to respond quickly and efficiently to changes which affect service users as we move through different phases of the pandemic. As we learn more about the causes, treatments and prognoses of Long Covid we will need to adapt the services delivered to those living with the disease. This project aims to explore how those services can be designed and developed collaboratively with a shared set of assets, and will run until August 2021.
Michael MacLennan, founder and Chief Executive at covid:aid, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Hactar on this work, which will further our mission to ensure that all those affected by Covid-19 receive the support that they need.
“Many of those living with Long Covid have been doing so for well over a year now. Our research and the assets we develop will help charities and other organisations provide people living with Long Covid with the support they so desperately need.”
Gemma Hampson, Managing Director at Hactar, said: “This is a new disease with new challenges and there are already so many organisations providing great support. Working with covid:aid means we can help these organisations have more understanding of who their services users are and what they need, in a joined up way.
”Hactar works with charities every day. It’s our aim to create these tools based on research and evidence so these organisations can have an even bigger impact.”
Chris Thorpe, Head of Technology at CAST and Catalyst, said: “From the last year’s work, we know that charities are putting more effort into collective efforts than ever before. Those living with Long Covid have been supported admirably by voluntary groups who have in turn supported each other in unprecedented ways. As more mainstream charities are supporting Long Covid patients with different parts of their lives, we want to make as much information available to them, so we’re all in the know and can build shared and seamless responses to provide the support that is needed and deserved by so many.”
Hactar is a modern agency with a Lean philosophy, a smart approach to technology and a commitment to social good. They consult, workshop, present, plan, research, design, test and build — usually for digital products and services.
CAST is the Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology, and helps grow charities’ capabilities using digital, data and design. It is an incubator of Catalyst, which connects UK charities to digital tools, support & inspiration.