091122 RSCP Regional Ict Strategy

Regional ICT Strategy

Mark Walker, SCIP

ICT Champion for the South East

About Me

• SCIP: IT services and training to charities and community groups

• Social enterprise founded in 1996, based in Brighton

• Regional ICT Champion for South East England

• www.movember.com

Regional Strategy for VCS

• ICT is one of the core tools for running an effective organisation

• Good use of ICT saves time and money

• Bad use of ICT wastes time and money

Possible Benefits of ICT

• Better Campaigning

• Better Services

• Better Fundraising/Sustainability

Fit for Purpose?

• Enough reliable computers

• Necessary printers, cameras, projectors

• Appropriate Software

• Relevant Skills

• Ongoing Investment

• Awareness of Changing Demands

Some problems with ICT and VCS

• Lack of investment in ICT

• Lack of expertise amongst infrastructure organisations

• Lack of specialist support from suppliers

• Big orgs and small orgs can have different needs

ICT Strategy: Key Goals

1. Funders are positive about VCS investment in ICT

2. VCS support networks can advise and signpost on ICT

3. Volunteers respond to needs of the sector

1. Positive funders

• Revenue and capital

• Total Cost of Ownership

• Pre-application support

• Information and signposting

• Training for staff

2. Better support networks

• Training for staff

• Local signposting to relevant resources

• Development workers and other advisors understand their role in relation to effective ICT

• Sharing information about suppliers

3. Effective use of volunteers

• Lifeblood of sector

• More and more available

• More than the demand from groups [?]

• Better brokerage

• Training esp project management

What is my role?

• Identifying needs

• Working with infrastructure

• Training + awareness-raising

• Help, sounding-board, signposting

• National networks

What is my role?

• Eg Better brokering of IT volunteers– Lots of them available– Lots of people looking for help– How can we help connect them better?– Who is involved in this issue?– What support do they need?

Exercise: Red/Amber/Green

• “We are developing a new project targeted at unemployed youth.

• We need a simple website explaining the services that we will be offering, which needs to be ready for our project launch next month.

• Can you find me a volunteer…”

Exercise: Red/Amber/Green

• “We have just raised some funding for a systems upgrade.

• We need someone to help us with the tendering process, and the selection of a supplier.”

Effective ICT Volunteers

What’s the problem?

• VCS = good volunteering policies and processes

• Experience of working with volunteers

• Innovative and resourceful

• So why are IT volunteers different?

• Are they different?

Effective ICT Volunteers

Who is involved?

• Volunteer Centres, Volunteer Managers, Other brokers

• Support networks– Local, Sub-regional, National

• Employers

• Job Centres?

Effective ICT Volunteers

What’s the solution?

• Training – Awareness of issues– Understand possible solutions– Improved processes– How to access the help available

• Ongoing support

Effective ICT Volunteers

Lessons for brokers?

• Think about projects not technology

• Think about needs, not solutions– Eg fundraising, communications,

administration, services

• Engage with volunteers– Project management expertise,

procurement

Effective ICT Volunteers

Is it the Right Project?

• Not mission critical

• Not in a hurry

• Supported by board and other staff

• Well planned – know your aims

• Well managed

• Well supported

How can you help?

• Do you agree with core themes?– Funders, Support Networks, Volunteers

• In what way does it link to your work?– Funder? Support network? Employers?– Training/awareness raising?

Where to get help

• www.ictchampions.org.uk

• www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk

• www.it4communities.org.uk

• Mark Walker

• [email protected]