Innovative Collaboration Empowers Homeless Through Virtual Reality

Apax partners with Insight to deploy innovative technology 

Insight Enterprises (NASDAQ:NSIT), a global Solutions Integrator driving client success through digital transformation, has partnered with non-profit Apax, to help homeless individuals use virtual reality (VR) to prepare for independent living.

London-based Apax, which supports more than 140 people across the capital, is leveraging Meta Quest 2 with the TRIPP meditation app to improve mental health recovery. Insight facilitated the supply of headsets, software licensing and the required integration for the organisation.

According to UK homelessness charity Crisis, 45% of people experiencing homelessness have been diagnosed with a mental health issue. For rough sleepers, that figure rises to 80%. These individuals also struggle with everyday life skills, which makes a future move to independent living extremely challenging. As such, Apax representatives say they often seek innovative ways to help vulnerable people, including through the adoption of new technologies like VR. 

In recent years, several clinical trials have demonstrated how VR can play a big part in combatting mental health issues. For example, the technology can be used to re-create real-life experiences within a safe and controlled environment. 

But this is not the only way in which the technology can be used. Apax found that by adopting VR, it also has the potential to improve its residents’ digital skills. This has proven an effective combination, helping residents ease their way back to independent living. The project has been so successful that it has won this year’s Health Tech Digital award for the best use of virtual reality.

To do this, Apax examined several potential headset suppliers, opting for the Meta Quest 2 VR headset and choosing Insight as a partner to work out how best to use the hardware, identify the most suitable wellness applications and ensure the smooth roll-out of the technology. 

Insight recommended the TRIPP wellness platform for its spatial audio and visual experience. Insight used its experience to negotiate a software licence that could provide a range of wellbeing experiences that were carefully selected to positively impact residents’ moods. This not only had a beneficial effect on wellbeing but helped build confidence too. The new system further eliminated paper-based reporting, freeing up key workers to provide more quality support to residents.

“We had an opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives,” said Davi De Andrade, services development executive at Insight UK. “Our experience in spatial computing, coupled with our longstanding work with independent software vendors, meant we could provide an innovative solution to Apax and their clients.”

Apax has already seen the benefits of the initiative. “The vast majority of our residents have the potential to live independently one day. Our job is to provide the services that ensure they can confidently complete that journey. Our new VR Wellness programme has delivered incredible results that have improved mental health and provided the confidence that people need for a more fulfilling life, said Israa Qaddourah, Project Manager at Apax

Meta’s Era Sahni, Director of B2B Channel Partnerships, Reality Labs, said: “We were delighted to work with Apax on such an innovative project. The organisation provides valuable assistance to individuals in genuine need and we’re happy that Meta Quest is helping vulnerable people find their way back into society.”

Plans are underway to explore further deployment of VR within Apax for staff training and to enhance clients’ life skills and digital dexterity.