Kennemerhart is a VVT organization in Haarlem with nine nursing homes, a center of expertise for people with acquired brain injuries, and a rehabilitation department. Within the organization, Kayleigh Glas, program manager for care technology, oversees all innovations related to technology and well-being. “I have final responsibility for all projects related to healthcare technology,” she explains. “With our team of six, we essentially manage all projects related to innovation within Kennemerhart.”
Kayleigh already knew Leona and Marion from her previous network and was familiar with their effective approach. “I immediately thought: that’s exactly the structure we’re missing here,” she says. She introduced 2MakeItHappen to her director, Christiaan Merkuur, and got the green light to start the collaboration. Now, it’s become an indispensable part of the team. “After a year, we extended the partnership because we saw the added value. Marion and Leona are just so passionate about their work. It’s fun to do that together. And it works.”
Technology with an impact
2MakeItHappen plays a key role in healthcare technology projects. “They help us figure out what grants are available, what requirements we need to meet, and assist us in drafting the necessary documents,” Kayleigh explains. “Technology is booming in the healthcare sector right now, but the regulations are often complex. We’re just doing our job, of course, so it’s really nice that they take care of this process for us.”
They also prove their worth when it comes to fundraising. “Not everything qualifies for grants—for example, assistive technologies that don’t reduce the workload. In those cases, we work together to see if we can apply for funding so we can still purchase those products.”
Thanks to this approach, Kennemerhart was able to invest in sleep and relaxation technology, among other things. “We were able to purchase a whole range of assistive devices through fundraising: the Somnox, robotic cats and dogs, and the Big Brain Radio, which seniors can operate themselves. This really helps improve the well-being of our residents.”
Contribute ideas and get involved
According to Kayleigh, their support doesn’t stop at helping you write a grant application. “They’re actually involved in everything. If I have an idea, I just send an email asking, ‘Could we use this for fundraising or grants?’ Within three minutes, I get a reply from Marion: ‘Shall we schedule a meeting?’ They really guide you through what’s possible.”
Even when obstacles arise, they remain engaged. “Sometimes an application is partially approved or rejected. In that case, they immediately check to see if there’s an alternative fund. Or if we receive a supplementary request from, say, RVO, they dive right in: what exactly does this mean, and what do we need to take into account? That speeds up the entire process tremendously.”
One main route
The partnership with 2MakeItHappen has helped Kennemerhart establish a systematic approach to securing grants and subsidies. “Especially in larger organizations, it’s important to have a single point of contact,” says Kayleigh. “That way, you maintain an overview and prevent everyone from submitting small applications on their own. For example, if one employee applies for 2,000 euros from a fund where you can receive up to 50,000 euros, you’re blocking that opportunity for the rest of the organization. By coordinating it centrally, you can see that and make a much bigger impact.”
In conclusion
We wrap up the interview with the same question we ask everyone: How would Kayleigh describe 2MakeItHappen in three words? She doesn’t have to think twice.
