At a recent industry event, one story stood out, not for its scale, but for its sincerity and strength of conviction. Carolyn Riozzie, Quality Manager and Nominated Individual at Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions CIC, travelled more than four hours and used a day of her own annual leave to do one thing, tell others how the Gather platform has transformed the way her organisation works.
Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions is no ordinary organisation. Operating as a Community Interest Company since 2007, every board member identifies as disabled, and the organisation is built around the ethos of lived experience driving decision-making. In partnership with Gather, they are reimagining the recruitment and onboarding journey, streamlining processes, automating candidate screening, improving interview assessments, and delivering a faster, more consistent onboarding experience.
Gather’s unique power lies in its ability to unify communications across stakeholders, whether staff or service users, giving organisations a clear, real-time view of their operations. It doesn’t simply listen—it understands, acts, and evidences results.
Carolyn’s visit wasn’t driven by sponsorship or incentive. It was voluntary. It was personal. And it was powerful.
She spoke passionately at the Gather stand about the platform’s real-world impact: reducing admin, lowering costs, easing compliance, and giving teams like hers the tools to focus on what truly matters—people. “Gather has immeasurably helped us,” she said, encouraging others to explore how the system could benefit their organisations too.
Neil Newman, Founder of Gather, remarked on the experience saying: “Carolyn’s commitment goes beyond advocacy—it’s a testament to the deep and lasting impact that technology can have when it’s designed for real needs.
“We’ve had many customers share their stories, but Carolyn’s devotion is something else entirely. We’re proud to support her and the incredible work of Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions.”
As Gather continues to evolve and implement cutting-edge tools with partners like Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions, this story is a reminder of what’s possible when tech meets purpose, and when people like Carolyn lead the way.
