YMCA protects ‘Heart of England’ facilities with IDIS

YMCA Heart of England has upgraded video systems across its busy community facilities in Birmingham, Solihull, Rugby and Coventry with a…
YMCA

Share this article:

YMCA Heart of England has upgraded video systems across its busy community facilities in Birmingham, Solihull, Rugby and Coventry with a roll-out of end-to-end DirectIP technology from IDIS.
Part of the international YMCA movement, YMCA Heart of England supports local people, including
vulnerable groups, with services from housing to youth services.

Systems integrator Unison Integrated Technology was asked to replace YMCA’s poorly performing
mix-and-match systems, incorporating elements from different vendors, with more efficient end-to-end
technology from IDIS. YMCA selected IDIS because the single-source model offers advantages including assured compatibility and ease of installation, lower up-front costs, ongoing tech support and long term value, all ensuring lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

At the YMCA Birmingham centre, for example, the inefficient video has been replaced by an IDIS
DirectIP solution comprising a 32-channel NVR; 19 Full-HD vandal-resistant IR domes; and 11 Full HD IR bullet cameras. The IDIS technology was easy to implement thanks to true, plug-and-play
design, allowing the project to be completed without interruption to day-to-day activity at the centre.
The 2.8mm fixed lens 2MP dome and bullet cameras, equipped with true WDR and IR LED, were set
up to capture crisp, clear images of the building exteriors, entrances and internal corridors and
communal areas day and night. And the powerful 4K NVR delivers throughput of up to 960ips real time recording and live monitoring with no visible latency.

Unison also opted to replace all the legacy cabling, upgrading to a future-proofed Cat6. This new
robust infrastructure will allow YMCA Heart of England to take advantage of increased video
resolutions in the future, making it easy for them to adopt powerful yet affordable IDIS Deep Learning
Analytics for a range of automated detection functions that trigger highly accurate alarms and
notifications. The new solution is simple to use, with the license-free IDIS Center VMS giving staff and
authorised volunteers an intuitive interface to manage devices, benefitting from high-performance live
monitoring and rapid retrieval of footage, while easily configuring user permissions to provide team
members with appropriate role-based access rights.

“YMCA Heart of England were so impressed with the results we delivered at their Birmingham centre
they then asked us to upgrade all their premises across the whole region,” said Matthew Rodden,
Director, Unison Integrated Technology.

The entire project was completed in just four weeks. And reducing waste and costs further, a number
of third-party legacy cameras were retained to operate seamlessly under the IDIS Center VMS.
“We are delighted that IDIS technology has proved to be the best solution for YMCA, with competitive
up-front pricing and the low ongoing lifecycle costs,” said Reiss Spear, Sales Manager, IDIS Europe.

 

To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global security market please register to receive our newsletter here.

Media contact

Rebecca Morpeth Spayne,
Editor, Security Portfolio

Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922
Email: [email protected]

About Security Buyer

Security Buyer is the leading authority in global security content, delivering expert news, in-depth articles, exclusive interviews, and industry insights across print, digital, and event platforms. Published 10 times a year, the magazine is a trusted resource for professionals seeking updates and analysis on the latest developments in the security sector.

To submit an article, or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact our team below.

Rebecca Spayne Picture

Rebecca Spayne

Group Managing Editor

Georgina Turner Picture

Georgina Turner

Sales Manager

Afua Akoto Picture

Afua Akoto

Marketing Manager

Related News

Camera of the year - securitybuyer.com

Camera of the Year needs your vote!

Voting is open for Camera of the Year at the Security Buyer Readers’ Awards 2026, with readers invited to recognise the camera
Data Storage solution of the year - securitybuyer.com

Vote for Data Storage Solution of the Year

Voting is open for Data Storage Solution of the Year at the Security Buyer Readers’ Awards 2026, giving readers the
Ai Solution of the year - securitybuyer.com

Have your say: vote for AI Solution of the Year

Voting is open for AI Solution of the Year at the Security Buyer Readers’ Awards 2026, with readers invited to select their winner
Access control of the year - securitybuyer.com

Have you voted for Access Control Solution of the Year?

Voting is open for Access Control Solution of the Year at the Security Buyer Readers’ Awards 2026, with readers invited
PaxLock Pro2 - securitybuyer.com

Paxton officially launches PaxLock Pro2

Paxton the security technology manufacturer has launched a brand-new re-engineered PaxLock which is built to protect straight
KentixONE data centre - securitybuyer.com

Data centre security with KentixONE

Prior1 develops container data centers to meet the highest security and energy efficiency standards. Their containers require
Chubbsafes - securitybuyer.com

Chubbsafes explores certified storage for jewellery and precious metals

Chubbsafes, part of Gunnebo Safe Storage, has launched a new technical discussion guide examining when certified
Mercury trends report - securitybuyer.com

New Mercury Research Finds Growing Cybersecurity Gap

2026 Trends in Access Controllers Report finds interoperability, cloud connectivity and AI are reshaping long-term controller strategies.
Chris Carroll - securitybuyer.com

Comelit-PAC Promotes Chris Carroll as Sales Director

Comelit-PAC has appointed Chris Carroll as Sales Director, following an 18 year career with the company, seeing him progress
Jason Bezuidenhout - securitybuyer.com

Zygal Appoints Jason Bezuidenhout

Zygal has appointed Jason Bezuidenhout as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), strengthening its leadership team as the company continues
Scroll to Top