Reliable technology helps charities spend more time supporting people and less time dealing with IT problems.
Cosmic provides managed IT support for charities, social enterprises and community organisations. Our partnership with Help & Care shows how practical technology support, training and consultancy can work together to strengthen an organisation.
Help & Care is a Dorset-based charity that supports people and communities. Our relationship began many years ago through training and consultancy. In 2023, the partnership expanded to include comprehensive managed IT services.
A values-led partnership
Cosmic and Help & Care share a commitment to creating positive social impact.
Both organisations put people and communities at the heart of their work. This shared purpose has helped us build a trusted and collaborative partnership.
Rather than treating technology as a separate issue, we consider how people, systems, security and organisational goals connect.
Mark Sharman, CEO of Help & Care, said:
“Cosmic’s support has been a cornerstone of Help & Care’s operational efficiency and strategic growth. The holistic approach to IT management and digital transformation has not only enhanced our technical capabilities but also strengthened our ability to serve the community effectively.
“We highly recommend Cosmic to any organisation seeking a reliable, knowledgeable and values-driven IT partner.”
Proactive managed IT support for charities
Our team provides ongoing support across Help & Care’s technology systems.
This includes:
- Everyday technical support and troubleshooting
- Hardware and software management
- Network and device security
- Data backup
- Microsoft 365 support
- SharePoint development
- Cybersecurity guidance
- Regular planning and review meetings
This proactive approach helps prevent problems, reduce disruption and keep technology aligned with the charity’s wider plans.
Lisa Hovey, Head of Governance at Help & Care, said:
“Cosmic’s proactive approach to IT management, especially their robust cybersecurity measures and regular check-ins, has fortified our operations and ensured alignment with our organisational goals.
“Their commitment to security and seamless communication has been invaluable.”
Moving Sage Finance to Microsoft Azure
One of the partnership’s major projects involved moving Help & Care’s Sage Finance service to a dedicated Microsoft Azure environment.
Cosmic planned and managed the migration, helping Help & Care move its financial operations to a secure and scalable platform.
We also helped the charity make effective use of donated Microsoft credits. This meant Help & Care could improve its systems without unnecessary additional software costs.
The new environment has:
- Strengthened data security
- Improved the reliability of financial systems
- Created a more scalable setup
- Made better use of charity-specific Microsoft support
Responsive remote IT support
Cosmic is based in Honiton, while Help & Care operates from Bournemouth. However, distance has not prevented us from building close working relationships.
Our team provides responsive remote IT support and proactively monitors Help & Care’s systems. This allows us to resolve many issues quickly, wherever staff are working.
We also introduced “Getting to Know You” sessions. These informal sessions helped Help & Care employees meet the support team, understand how to ask for help and feel more confident using the service.
Lisa Di Vito, Internal Communications Lead at Help & Care, said:
“The ‘Getting to Know You’ sessions initiated by Cosmic have significantly improved our staff’s relationship with their support team.
“This proactive engagement has not only enhanced user satisfaction but also fostered a more collaborative work environment.”
Making Microsoft 365 work harder
Nonprofit Microsoft licensing can offer valuable savings, but organisations need the right support to make full use of it.
Cosmic helps Help & Care manage its Microsoft 365 environment, hardware and software systems. We also provide advice on charity licensing, helping the organisation choose suitable tools and avoid unnecessary costs.
This support gives staff reliable access to the systems they need while helping leaders make informed technology decisions.
Building a SharePoint intranet
Help & Care needed a simple, effective way for staff to find information, access documents, and keep up with organisational news.
Cosmic developed a new SharePoint intranet through a collaborative process. We ran workshops and feedback sessions with employees to understand what they needed from the platform.
The resulting intranet gives staff one central place to:
- Access HR documents
- Read company news
- Find policies and guidance
- Submit IT support requests
- Locate frequently used resources
The intranet was also set as the default homepage across staff devices. This increased awareness and made important information easier to find.
Lisa Di Vito explained:
“The newly developed SharePoint intranet has centralised our communications, allowing every staff member—regardless of their location or role—to access crucial HR documentation and stay updated with the latest company news and policies, all from one platform.
“Integrating our support ticketing system within the intranet and setting it as the default homepage on all devices has significantly raised the visibility and usage of these resources.
“This strategic enhancement has not only streamlined our operations but has also fostered a more connected and informed workplace environment.”
Supporting leaders through digital change
Technology projects work best when leaders understand how digital change affects people, culture and daily processes.
To support Help & Care’s senior leadership team, Cosmic delivered its Leadership in the Digital Age programme.
The workshops explored:
- Strategic vision
- Effective use of technology
- Organisational culture
- Managing change
- Improving processes
- Turning ideas into practical projects
Julie Hawker, CEO of Cosmic, said:
“By focusing on strategic vision, technology use, cultural development and process improvement, we empowered Help & Care’s leaders to drive digital transformation.
“It was rewarding to see participants apply the concepts to real projects and achieve tangible results.”
More than an IT helpdesk
Managed IT support for charities should do more than fix technical problems.
It should help people work confidently, protect important information and support the organisation’s mission.
Our work with Help & Care combines:
- Reliable day-to-day support
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud services
- Microsoft 365 expertise
- SharePoint development
- Staff engagement
- Leadership training
- Strategic consultancy
This joined-up approach gives Help & Care a trusted partner for both immediate support and long-term digital development.
What comes next?
Cosmic will continue to support Help & Care as its technology, teams and priorities develop.
Together, we will review systems, strengthen digital security and identify practical ways technology can support the charity’s strategy.
Looking for managed IT support for your charity?
Explore Cosmic’s managed technology and IT support services to see how we can support your organisation.
You can also read the National Cyber Security Centre’s guidance for charities for practical advice on protecting your people, systems and information.
Whether you need everyday technical help, Microsoft 365 support, cybersecurity guidance or a longer-term digital plan, our team will start by listening to what your organisation needs.