Paxton simplifies access control for Birmingham charity Bringing Hope

Operating from a busy multi-use facility, Bringing Hope shares its premises with a nursery and other partner organisations. In order to enhance building security and streamline access for staff, volunteers and visitors, Bringing Hope partnered with ID Security Systems (a Birmingham-based specialist in integrated electronic security solutions).

The charity needed an access control system that could improve security, support its safeguarding responsibilities and adapt to evolving needs. Following a network upgrade, the team sought a modern solution that would be easy to use and provide better visibility of movement throughout the premises.

Key requirements included:

*Managing different user access levels for staff, volunteers, clients, professionals, and tradespeople, including weekend-specific access

*Protect service users with lockdown functionality and controlled building flow

*Ensure secure and zoned access across multiple doors and floors, with future plans to extend control to the lift

*Automate out-of-hours restrictions using time zones to reduce manual intervention

*Enable quick and simple deactivation of lost or unreturned fobs to maintain system integrity

*Provide an intuitive and user-friendly interface that works for non-technical staff, while offering full oversight of building occupancy 

Proven functionality

After carefully assessing the needs of the site, ID Security Systems recommended and installed Paxton’s Net2 access control across six key doors within the Bringing Hope facility. With multiple users, varied access requirements and a mix of staff, volunteers and service users on-site, the functionality with Net2 proved to be an ideal fit.

Net2’s intuitive software interface was particularly valuable to the security systems manager. “I’m not very tech-savvy,” said Bishop Robin Thompson, executive director of Bringing Hope, “but Net2 is so easy to use. It didn’t take long to learn the system at all, and I now have a clear overview of who is where and when in the building.”

The system allows administrators to define access levels based on roles, granting staff, professionals and weekend volunteers access to only the areas they need. Time zones are used to automatically lock areas after hours and assign limited-time access to tradespeople, reducing administrative effort and improving security.

Lockdown capability provides peace of mind, particularly in an environment supporting vulnerable individuals. Bishop Robin Thompson explained: “The lockdown feature is particularly useful in our environment due to the vulnerable people we work with and some of the horrible things we know happen in the world.” 

End result

Since installing Paxton’s Net2 system, Bringing Hope has enhanced security across six doors, managing over 35 users with ease and confidence.

The charity benefits from streamlined user management (including swift cancellation of lost or unreturned fobs) and automated control of access through time zones, which reduces administrative overhead and increases site safety.

The lockdown feature offers critical protection tailored to an environment supporting vulnerable people, while real-time monitoring affords staff clear visibility of occupancy and movement within the building.

Looking ahead, the planned expansion of Net2 access control to the building’s lift will further improve traffic flow and reinforce separation between Bringing Hope and other on-site organisations.

*Further information is available online at www.paxton-access.com