Tag Archive for: christmas

Claire Christmas

Giving back in 2020

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Whilst, I am sure, a lot of us would like to return (give back) 2020 for a full refund, this is about us giving back to others in 2020, working to look after our local community and beyond. This year is no exception.

We are very happy to report that our local foodbank is not accepting donations at this time due to the generosity of other locals; we have therefore looked at other core requirements of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to see where we can make the most impact.

So, as usual, rather than buying corporate gifts, we are contributing that budget to supporting three wonderful charities that help with shelter, clothing and a warm bed…

Step By StepStep By Step Logo

Step by Step passionately believe in supporting local young people who are going through hard times.

Taking a unique step by step approach, providing accommodation, personal development opportunities, and specialist support services, helping young people to realise their aspirations and reach their full potential.

Find out more at: https://www.stepbystep.org.uk/

RE:ACTRE:ACT Logo

RE:ACT is a humanitarian charity that provides direct action in emergencies and crisis, serving the most vulnerable people in need by deploying highly trained RE:ACT Response Teams.

Most are military veterans, many come from blue light services; others are simply people with a burning desire to make a real difference.

In March 2020, with the world gripped by the Covid-19 health pandemic, they mobilised their resources and deployed their largest operation to date, this time on home soil.

Find out more at: https://www.re-act.org.uk/

The Hope HubHope Hub Logo

Working to prevent and end homelessness in Surrey Heath Borough and surrounding areas.

The Hope Hub supports the vulnerable, those affected by homelessness issues and poverty in there community.

During Covid 19 they helped source and negotiate temporary (and at best, permanent) accommodation for all homeless folk within Surrey Heath Borough.  In the period April -September 2020, there services were accessed 4,704 times.

Find out more at: https://thehopehub.org.uk/

There are many worthwhile charities and this year, more than ever, charities are struggling as fund-raisers were cancelled and people started to struggle themselves due to job lose or reduced hours. We hope you agree these are great charities to support at Christmas.

We wish all our customers, suppliers and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2021.

 

Claire Christmas

Christmas Charity Giving 2019

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Once again this Christmas, rather than buying corporate gifts, we are contributing that budget to two local charities.

This year we are once again donating to our local food bank and also adding a local homeless charity. Sadly, demand for both of their services are rising year on year.

Trussell Trust – Farnborough Foodbank

Update – We donated 69kg of food to our local Trussell Trust Farnborough Foodbank. Helping towards the Christmas Hampers and School Lunches they were packing.

For the third year running, Dogsbody Technology took part in the Reverse Advent Calendar #FoodbankAdvent. Donating essential items to our local Farnborough Trussell Trust Foodbank ,where demand still increases.

Food Bank Use
Food Bank Use

 

This year, to help end the need for food banks, the Trussell Trust commissioned a 3 year research project State of Hunger, the most authoritative piece of independent research into hunger in the UK to date.

We are proud to support this great local charity again although the increase for the service is sad to see year on year.

The Society of St James

Previous years we have donated to local charities. This year we decided to include The Society of St James an organisation that has been running for 45 years.

A homeslessness charity providing supported living services, drugs and alcohol recovery, specialist support accommodation and sports therapy.

Helping vulnerable people and the local community through social enterprises, such as cafe’s and a computer recycling and refurbishment service. These also provide valuable volunteering opportunities and work placements.

 

I hope you agree these are great charities to support at Christmas. Its never too late to make a donation yourself 🙂

We wish all our customers, suppliers and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2020.

 

Silver Shutdown Button
Claire Christmas

2019 Christmas Shutdown

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Its that time of year again, when too many mince pies are eaten and elves have an unnatural affiliation with shelves. We are taking some well earned time off by closing our office for the festive period…

Our Christmas Shutdown hours are:

  • Fri 20 Dec 2019 – Office closed after 15:00.
  • Tue 24 Dec 2019 – Office closed after 13:00.
  • Wed 25 Dec 2019 – Public Holiday.
  • Thurs 26 Dec 2019 – Public Holiday.
  • Fri 27 Dec 2019 – Office Closed.
  • Mon 30 Dec 2019 – Office Closed.
  • Tue 31 Dec 2019 – Office Closed.
  • Wed 01 Jan 2020 – Public Holiday.

Support

During this time, response to emails maybe slower than usual and any issues will be dealt with on an emergency out of hours basis.

We will only be supporting customers who are experiencing a situation where business cannot function without a resolution such as:

  • Website / Server down.
  • Inability to trade online.

Emergency issue

Contact us as normal. All calls and support emails will be routed to our on call engineer.

Maintenance customers

Maintenance will be ‘business as usual’ for customers on our maintenance plans.

Hosting issues

Dogsbody’s status page will advise of any known internal and hosting server issues.

 

Normal service will resume on Thursday 02 January 2020.

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Stowmtropper in a christmas tree

Image by Duy Hoang on Unsplash

 

Claire Christmas

#FoodbankAdvent 2018 – Reverse Advent Calendar

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Dogsbody Technology have once again taken part in #FoodbankAdvent 2018 – The Reverse Advent Calendar, and this year we went bigger and better!

On the 5th December 2018 Dogsbody Technology donated over 150 items (over double of last year!) weighing over 76 kg of food and non food to our local Farnborough Trussell Trust Foodbank #FoodbankAdvent.

 

#FoodbankAdvent 2018

Director Dan Benton and the volunteers at Farnborough Foodbank #FoodbankAdvent 2018

Unfortunately demand over the last year has risen.

“December was the busiest month for foodbanks last year. During December 2017, The Trussell Trust’s network provided 159,388 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis; 65,622 of these went to children. This is a 49% increase on the monthly average for the 2017-18 financial year.

The figures reveal the year on year need for foodbanks in December is increasing steeply – the number of food supplies given to people mark a 10% rise from December 2016 when 144,677 were given out.”

Inspired to take part too? Its not to late to start!

  • Read Trussell’s Trust’s What goes in a food bank parcel and non food items to see the items they like to be donated.
  • Find your local Trussell Trust food bank or donate to others in your area. There are even collection points in supermarkets across the country so you can add an extra something to your weekly shop and pop it in the collection point as you leave.
  • Look at your local food bank’s website for the list of items they urgently need.
  • Donate long life items (tinned or dried) so as not to waste fresh food (which goes off quickly).
  • If you want to collect an item a day as per the advent calendar, then your donations will be just as welcome in January as winter sets in!.

 

#FoodbankAdvent 2018

#FoodbankAdvent 2018

 

Dogsbody Technology want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2019.

 

 

Claire Christmas

2018 Christmas Shutdown

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After a busy 2018, Dogsbody Technology will be taking some time off to celebrate the festive season.

Our Christmas opening hours are:

  • Thu 13 Dec 2018 – Office Closed after 16:00.
  • Fri 21 Dec 2018 – Office Closed after 13:00.
  • Mon 24 Dec 2018 – Office Closed.
  • Tue 25 Dec 2018 – Public Holiday.
  • Wed 26 Dec 2018 – Public Holiday.
  • Thu 27 Dec 2018 – Office Closed.
  • Fri 28 Dec 2018 – Office Closed.
  • Mon 31 Dec 2018 – Office Closed.
  • Tue 1st Jan 2019 – Public Holiday.

During this time response to emails maybe slower than usual and any issues will be dealt with on an emergency out of hours basis. We will only be supporting customers who are experiencing a situation where business cannot function without a resolution such as:

  • Website / Server down.
  • Inability to trade online.

To raise an emergency issue please use our usual contact details as calls and support emails will be routed to the engineer on call.

For our maintenance customers we will continue monitoring and patch servers as usual over the Christmas period.

Also check our status page for any known internal and hosting server issues.

Thank you for your continued support throughout 2018. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Featured Image by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Claire Christmas

2017 Christmas Shutdown

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Christmas is fast approaching and we wanted to let you know that Dogsbody Technology will be taking some time off to celebrate the festive season.

Our office will be closed on the following days and response to emails maybe slower:
– Fri 15 Dec 2017 – Office Closed after 13:00
– Fri 22 Dec 2017 – Office Closed after 13:00
– Mon 25 Dec 2017 – Public Holiday
– Tue 26 Dec 2017 – Public Holiday
– Wed 27 Dec 2017 – Office Closed
– Thu 28 Dec 2017 – Office Closed
– Fri 29 Dec 2017 – Office Closed
– Mon 1 Jan 2018 – Public Holiday

During this time any issues will be dealt with on an emergency out of hours basis and we will only be able to support customers who are experiencing a situation where business cannot function without a resolution such as:
– Website / Server down
– Inability to trade online

We will continue monitoring and patching servers as usual over the Christmas period.

We recommend our hosting customers check our status site as usual which will continue to be updated.

If you need to raise an issue please use the standard contact details as calls to our office and support emails will be routed to the engineer on call.

Thank you for your continued support throughout 2017. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Claire Christmas

#FoodbankAdvent 2017 – The Reverse Advent Calendar

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As Foodbank demand soars in the UK Dogsbody Technology are proud to announce that this year instead of further charity giving or sending corporate gifts we will be taking part in the Reverse Advent Calendar #FoodbankAdvent by donating essential items to our local Farnborough Trussell Trust Foodbank.

December is the busiest month of the year for foodbanks, with 45% more referrals during the two weeks before Christmas. More than 90% of the food donations comes from the public.

The Trussell Trust runs the largest network of foodbanks in the UK, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis. Thirteen million people live below the poverty line and in the last year they gave 1,182,954 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis – up over 6% from the previous year. Of this number 436,938 went to children.

What is a Reverse Advent Calendar?

Traditionally advent calendars are something you open each day from the 1st to the 25th December and get a reward. It used to be a tiny picture or a chocolate, now adults can indulge themselves with everything from make up to alcohol!.

Instead with the Reverse Advent Calendar you start with nothing (empty box) and put one item for your local food bank into it every day. You could do this for 25 days to mirror the advent calendar – or perhaps for a whole month.

Follow us on social media to see our Advent grow!

Throughout December we will be posting updates on how our calendar is growing and our aim is to donate over 60+ items in total.

Want to take part too? Its not to late to start!

  • Read Trussell’s Trust’s What goes in a food bank parcel and non food items to see the items they like to be donated
  • Find your local Trussell Trust food bank or donate to others in your area.
  • Look at your local food bank’s website for the list of items they urgently need.
  • Donate long life items (tinned or dried) so as not to waste fresh food (which goes off quickly)
  • Get your donation to the food bank by early December for them to be useful for Christmas
  • If you want to collect an item a day as per the advent calendar, then your donations will be just as welcome in January as winter sets in!

In one of the richest countries in the world, no one should be hungry at any time of year but especially not at Christmas. Dogsbody Technology hope to make a small difference to someone this Christmas.

Update: Dogsbody Technology donated 74 items to Farnborough Trussell Trust Foodbank #FoodbankAdvent weighing in at 37.1 Kg!

It was great to give something back to our community and the Trussell Trust Foodbank were very pleased with our donation – it is definitely something we will repeat!

A big thank you to all our customers and suppliers who have sent us season greetings, cards and presents – Dogsbody Technology are pleased to have such awesome allies 🙂

 

We wish all our customers, suppliers and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2018.

 

Claire Christmas

2016 Christmas Shutdown

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Christmas is fast approaching and we wanted to let you know that Dogsbody Technology will be taking some time off to celebrate the festive season.

Our office will be closed on the following days and response to emails maybe slower:
– Fri 16 Dec 2016 – Office Closed after 13:00
– Fri 23 Dec 2016 – Office Closed after 13:00
– Mon 26 Dec 2016 – Public Holiday
– Tue 27 Dec 2016 – Public Holiday
– Wed 28 Dec 2016 – Office Closed
– Thu 29 Dec 2016 – Office Closed
– Fri 30 Dec 2016 – Office Closed
– Mon 2 Jan 2017 – Public Holiday

During this time any issues will be dealt with on an emergency out of hours basis and we will only be able to support customers who are experiencing a situation where business cannot function without a resolution such as:
– Website / Server down
– Inability to trade online

We will continue monitoring and patching servers as usual over the Christmas period.

We recommend our hosting customers check our status site as usual which will continue to be updated.

If you need to raise an issue please use the standard contact details as calls to our office and support emails will be routed to the engineer on call.

Thank you for your continued support throughout 2016. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dan Benton

2015 Christmas Shutdown

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Christmas may have screamed up on us all faster than Rudolph seeing red but we wanted to remind you that we will be here to support you through out the Christmas holidays.

We will be taking some time off though and the office will be closed from 25th December 2015 to the 3rd January 2016 inclusive.

We will also be out of the office from 13:00 PM on Friday 18th December for our Christmas party. We’re off to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens!

During this time any issues will be dealt with on an emergency out of hours basis and we will only be able to support customers who are experiencing a situation where business cannot function without a resolution such as:

  • Website / Server down
  • Inability to trade online

We will continue monitoring and patching servers as usual over the Christmas period.

For our hosting customers, our status site will continue to be updated and we recommend you check here first as we may already be aware of an issue and posting updates for you. If you need to raise an issue please use the standard office telephone number and support email and your query will be routed to the engineer on call.

Thank you for your continued support throughout 2015. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dan Benton

2014 Christmas shutdown

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Christmas may have screamed up on us all faster than Rudolph seeing red but we wanted to remind you that we will be here to support you through out the Christmas holidays.

We will be taking some time off though and the office will be closed from 25th December 2014 to the 4th January 2015 inclusive.

During this time any issues will be considered emergency out of hours and will only be able to support customers who are experiencing a situation where business cannot function without a resolution such as:

  • Website / Server down
  • Inability to trade online

We will continue monitoring and patching servers as usual over the Christmas period.

For our hosting customers, our status site will continue to be updated and we recommend you check here first as we may already be aware of an issue and posting updates for you. If you need to raise an issue please use the standard office telephone number and support email and your query will be routed to the engineer on call.

Thank you for your continued support throughout 2014. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.