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19-03-24, 10:39AM

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VLH: We must make clear that VLH is an independent website/forum, it has no connection to any company, no company has any say in the running of VLH, no company has any right to membership information, no membership information is passed or sold to any company.

If you have passed this way before and read the following text please visit the Supporters' Benefits page, if not please read on.

VLH came to internet in 2002, in its early form it was a quickly thrown together website. Its creator (a website writing novice) felt that there was something lacking in the current forms of communication within the company, these were primarily through the company and/or its dominant (perhaps over friendly) union, a need for staff to be able to communicate with each other by another method with more freedom was needed.

It has to be admitted that a certain amount of angst against the company at the time was involved in the decision to create VLH, but it was the lack of flow of information that was the main driver. The creator was involved in a grievance lasting 3 years, it went before three different GMs and two different directors before they conceded to the arguments being put before them, and returned to the status that existed 3 years prior. Better to be up in arms than down on your knees, you can't fight on your knees.

Hence the name verylittlehelps, everylittlehelps was considered but not only did it not fit the reason for the sites existence, but we all know how touchy some powerful companies can be about things. It transpired in 2003 that an employee, not the owner of VLH, was called to an office and warned that VLH would be referred to the legal department, but we are still here.

In the latter part of 2004 it was realised that due to its popularity and growing readership it could not continue in its current form, which was a very open structure with membership not being a requirement, this open structure led to a great many personal messages being sent to the creator from some very sad individuals, these were treated appropriately and consigned to the recycle bin. Even recently emails are received from persons formally of the higher management ranks who are disturbed by the existence of VLH, or perhaps they are just disturbed.

In January 2005 VLH was rewritten to take advantage of one of the many open source forum software packages to be found on the net, Simple Machines Forum. This step and the rapid growth in membership meant that a set of rules and guidelines had, by necessity, to be developed to keep the site within the law and out of corporate clutches. As the site grew additional administrators and moderators had to be appointed, this was and is always done with consultation with existing admins & mods, apart from the obvious characteristics needed to be a moderator we have tried to cover most departments of the company and most regions. VLH admins & mods are spread throughout the UK.

Since 2005 VLH has undergone steady growth and improvements due to the support of its loyal and ever growing members, many thanks to you all, if you stay with us we will stay with you.

VLH is still an independent site owned by one individual. 2002 - 2010 it was financed by the individual with the help of a small group of regular contributors, many thanks to those who contributed to the running costs of this site. It is administered and moderated by a great group of individuals who do not always agree, but agree that it's OK to disagree (most of the time).

In mid 2010 VLH was getting over 3 million hits a month, due to this the hosting package had to be upgraded to maintain an acceptable level of connection for all members, this also meant a considerable increase in costs. After much deliberation it was decided that VLH would seek a donation from supporters for access to certain areas and functions.  This link will take you to the Supporters' Benefits page.

VLH will endeavour to continue to bring the latest news to its members and be the means for them to share news and advice with each other. Perhaps also share a laugh.

VLH was created for the benefit of staff and that is what it will remain, finances permitting, and remember;

VLH:- does NOT: do spam, pop-ups, pop-unders or advertising.
is NOT: financially, or in any way, connected to or controlled by any company.
does NOT: pass, sell or trade any member details with any third party.
is totally funded by voluntary donations from its supporters.
guards and respects the anonymity wishes of its members.

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