After a demonstration to a number of the Consortium members CHARMS was ordered and installed within a matter of weeks. The decision to go with CHARMS was easy once members had seen it in action. Also influenced by the fact that a number of other consortia, local authorities and voluntary agencies already use CHARMS the members of the Yorkshire Consortium were pleased to go ahead with its purchase. They can now record and monitor children and families; find matches; produce management statistics and print off referrals for the National Adoption Register for England and Wales - themselves long standing users of CHARMS. If you are interested in a free demonstration of any of our systems please get in touch by email at info@chl-systems.co.uk or call us on 0870 112 0421 (ask for Christine or Karen, or FAX : 0161 236 6486).

Abdel Iffakh from the Sure Start programme in Hyde has just confirmed that CHL are the provider of the database system for their use. The decision to award the system to CHL was influenced by a glowing reference from one of CHL's existing SureCHART users - Andrew Blore (Information and Monitoring Coordinator for Sure Start Ashton): "We have been using the CHL SureCHART system for over six months and it has been fantastic. The system supports both the day to day needs of the programme and Sure Start head office requirements. I have found the system easy to use yet flexible enough to respond to changing demands both internally and externally. The level of support given by CHL has been excellent, they respond to any problems the same day and the staff have been very friendly and supportive. I cannot recommended this system highly enough." If you are interested in a free demonstration of any of our systems please get in touch by email at info@chl-systems.co.uk or call us on 0870 112 0421 (ask for Christine or Karen, or FAX : 0161 236 6486).

With over 100 local authority sites using CHL's range of systems the drive has started to raise awareness of what those systems can offer to the whole of the public sector in the UK. Over the next few weeks we will be "out in the field" telling local government and central government people what the benefits are of using CHL. If you are interested in a free demonstration of any of our systems please use the contact form provided on the contact us page or call us on 0161 237 1872 (ask for Christine or Karen, or FAX : 0161 236 6486).

ETC Version 7.5 has been installed in Blackpool, Camden, Bury, Ealing, Southwark, Redcar and Plymouth and they all report huge satisfaction. Jas at ealing said, "I really enjoy using the ETC system and will make considerable use of the reports, especially the Team Staff List"

Thanks to Sarah Pepys, Jenny Dix, Jane Sklaroff and Ken Dore for their help on 4 December 2002 when the men from CHARMS installed the new system. In the words of the Team from IOW themselves : " For computer semi-illiterates the system is very easy to use and gives instant access to a multitude of statistics hitherto collected from far flung written records. Above all it was installed by CHARM-ing people !" The Isle of Wight is now one of the increasing number of users of CHARMS (Computing Help Adoption Register Management System) around the UK. CHARMS is the leading software package that matches children and families. Over the next year users will see the benefit of increased use of the internet and further enhancments to monitor progress of children and families throughout the whole process of adoption and fostering - and post adoption

With the considerable help of Hazel Brooks and the Family Placement Team in Coventry CHARMS is now up and running. Data has been successfully transferred from a number of other systems formerly in use by the Team and over the next couple of months CHL will be liaising closely with Hazel to make sure that the transition is seamless. Coventry are now alongside Birmingham and Manchester Social Services departments in the forefront of the use of CHARMS. Other CHARMS sites are, West Midlands Adoption Consortium, Shropshire CC, London Boroughs of Redbridge, Bromley and Islington, East Sussex CC, Barnsley MBC, Isle of Wight, South Wales Consortium, Parents and Children Together and Greater Manchester Consortium - as well as the National Adoption Register for England and Wales. Thanks again to Hazel and the Team at Coventry.

The big push has begun and Xsel Media, in the North West of England, have taken advantage of CHL's Customer Relationship Management system which is now available to businesses of all sizes. CHL-CRM offers complete business and customer management, from customer records and contact history to job recording and invoicing. It also manages mailouts and label printing so that all your needs are met in one system. "

Diane Bailey Associates of Bamford in Rochdale were looking for jargon free advice and help with their computer systems and infrastructure. CHL were able to offer a cost-efective service to analyse the existing setup, produce a report in plain english and implement the recommendations within a matter of weeks. In the process we were able to reassure the team and provide telephone backup to give complete peace of mind." For more information about Diane Bailey Associates go to DBA"

Surestart Hattersley have helped CHL with the development of the SureCHART (Computing Help Activity Recording and Tracking) system. SureCHART has been in development for a full year and has been thoroughly tested by the Ashton and Hattersley programmes in the Greater Manchester Borough of Tameside. It is comprehensive and, as it is based on CHL's proven technology, it is also user-friendly and reliable." CHL's support package is recognised as one of the best. We guarantee a response to all calls within 2 hours and we have never been stumped for an answer yet."

Surestart Hattersley have helped CHL with the development of the SureCHART (Computing Help Activity Recording and Tracking) system. SureCHART has been in development for a full year and has been thoroughly tested by the Ashton and Hattersley programmes in the Greater Manchester Borough of Tameside. It is comprehensive and, as it is based on CHL's proven technology, it is also user-friendly and reliable." CHL's support package is recognised as one of the best. We guarantee a response to all calls within 2 hours and we have never been stumped for an answer yet."