ICT Development Services September 2008 Newsletter
The content of this newsletter was last edited on 2nd September 2008
Welcome back from the summer holidays to the September issue of the NCVO ICT Development Services (ICTDS) newsletter.
As you’ll see below, there's lots of information about social media in action and how its impact is being recognised at a national level.
If you're interested in finding out more about social media (also termed new media and web 2.0) then why not download the "How to use new media" guide.
If you have been forwarded this email from a colleague and would like to subscribe then email ictresources@ncvo-vol.org.uk.
Contents
News
Communities in control
Communities and Local Government (CLG) published their “Communities in control: real people,
real power” White Paper in July. The paper seeks to address how power, influence and control
are accessed at a local level and the tools that support it. There’s a particular focus on
ICT with the creation and funding of “digital mentors”.
The Regional Forum have
created a summary of
the white paper and opinions are already starting to be formulated online
such as this
blog post from Paul Webster. You can access the
full paper on
the CLG website and find out how to submit your comments.
Circuit rider standards and skills guide launched
Lasa has announced that version 1.0 of the ICT standards and skills guide for circuit riders
has been released. Titled "Improving Circuit Rider Service To Voluntary And Community
Organisations - Tools To Build Circuit Rider Competencies", the guide seeks to address the skills
and competencies circuit riders need to successfully support voluntary and community
organisations. You can download a copy of the guide at
www.ukriders.info/training-and-standards/icthub.
European e-Inclusion awards 2008
The European e-Inclusion Awards are open for nominations and aim to inspire progress and
encourage industry, governments and other organisations to exploit ICT to combat social and digital
exclusion. The awards are open to organisations in the public, business and voluntary sector
or civil society. Entries close on 12 September and you can find out more at
www.e-inclusionawards.eu.
Delivering ICT support through social enterprises
If you are working for a social enterprise delivering ICT support or considering setting one
up then
read this new
report from four of the regional ICT champions. The report looks at the viability of the
social enterprise model, how existing social enterprises have emerged and how they could
progress.
Charities urged to harness social media
The
Guardian reported recently on some of the issues facing charities in the face of increased use
of new technologies. The article gives an interesting insight into why charities should be
embracing social media, rather than restricting its use for their staff and organisation.
Funding for ICT
We've pulled together some of the recent funding announcements that have been made in relation
to ICT. For information on funding in your area,
contact your local CVS or
regional ICT
champion.
Colin Harrison, Yorkshire and the Humber regional ICT champion, has also pulled together some
really useful links around funding ICT
http://yhictchampion.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/sources-of-funding-for-ict-projects/.
TalkTalk launch Innovation in the Community Awards 2008
TalkTalk Innovation in the Community Awards enables charity and community groups throughout
the UK to harness the power of the Internet. 30 winners will receive cash grants of £2,000 each to
fund technology related projects, as well as technology equipment to help them make the most of the
Internet. Applications are open until 30 September 2008.
Find
out more on the TalkTalk website.
City Bridge Trust
The City Bridge Trust has announced a funding stream focussing on strengthening the third
sector in London. The fund includes a theme looking at new and strategic approaches to the
use of ICT. There is no deadline for applications and
more
information can be found on their website.
GRANTfinder discount scheme
Charity Technology Trust has added GRANTfinder to their suite of products available through
the
CTX scheme. GRANTfinder is a funding
database carrying up to date details in excess of 4,000 UK and EU grants, loans, venture capital
and advisory.
Find out more
about accessing the discounted cttGRANTfinder service.
Case studies
ColaLife campaign takes shape over the web
If ever you needed evidence of the power of the web then you needn’t look further than the
ColaLife campaign, now taking up home at
www.colalife.org. In the short space of four months one
man’s idea for how to address childhood mortality has turned into an international campaign using
free web based tools and the support of individuals across the globe.
Read more about the ColaLife
campaign.
ICT volunteering in action
Volunteers are a valuable source of ICT support for many organisations. Volunteer
Yewande Olowokere has been working with Time for Families, an organisation that runs courses in
prisons for offenders and their partners, to develop a bespoke database. Time for Families
are really pleased with how the project has developed and are now able to fully evaluate the work
that they do. Read more about this project and other volunteering case studies on the
iT4Communities
website.
Technology in action
Moving your meetings online
As part of the DC10plus programme to address social inclusion, Sunderland City Council have
launched their own digital challenge, enabling the city to become digitally enabled. One of
the developments has been Flash Meeting a system that allows virtual meetings between two or more
people, who have access to the internet. You can find out more about tools to facilitate
online meetings on the Knowledgebase.
Social technology awards
Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently announced the winners of the UK Catalyst Awards 2008 at
a ceremony in London. The awards came out of the Government’s Council on Social Action and
recognise people who are using social technology in new and exciting ways. The awards
featured prizes such as the imaginatively titled "Chalk and Cheese Award" and the "David and
Goliath Award". For a full list of the winners,
visit the award
website.
Video consultation
If you’ve been thinking about how you might work with video in your organisation then
take
a look at this example of video as a consultation tool. This use of video worked
particularly well for consulting with young people but many other organisations are also
benefitting from video.
There's more
about using video on the ICT blog.
Second health - the future of healthcare communication?
Imperial College London and the National Physical Laboratory have worked together to develop
a virtual hospital, exploring the possibilities for health provision in the future. The
virtual world is set within
Second Life and is looking at innovative
ways of communicating complex health issues as well as illustrating what health care might look
like in the future. Why not pop in and make an appointment?
http://secondhealth.wordpress.com/
Mental Health Social Networking
The mental health sector has a new home online for social networking at
http://net.mesomoco.org.uk/. The site has been
developed by
MESOMOCO, a social enterprise that helps
people who suffer from mental illness get back to work. The purpose of the social networking
site is to enable people in the mental health space to privately connect, converse and collaborate
to generate a positive impact among mental health sufferers. Why not take a look and take
part.
... SOFTWARE
Serious gaming
The idea of using computer games to address issues such as mental health and sexual health
has been developing for some time. However, the perception of computer gaming can be
negative, with particular concerns surrounding violent video games and the safety of young people
online.
The Alliance
for Digital Inclusion met recently to discuss the issue of serious gaming and have posted all
of their findings online.
... ACCESSIBILITY
Beijing Olympics - special "State of the eNation" report
In this special issue of the eNation report, AbilityNet have asked disabled users to test the
accessibility of the Beijing Olympics website. In this report AbilityNet take a look at both the
usability and accessibility of the Beijing Olympics site and ask if disabled sports fans can easily
access the games website. Read the full report at
www.abilitynet.org.uk/enation99.
Assistive technology videos
The website
http://lab.dotjay.co.uk has pulled together a selection of
videos illustrating how to use accessibility tools including screen readers and magnifiers.
Find out more at
http://lab.dotjay.co.uk/notes/assistive-technology/videos/.
... AND FINALLY
Looking for a new ICT job in the sector?
Don't forget that the ICT Development Services website has a jobs board for the
latest ICT jobs in the voluntary and
community sector. You can also post your vacancies for free, email details to
ictresources@ncvo-vol.org.uk.
Events and training
Achieving together, Collaborative Working Conference - 22nd October
NCVO's third annual collaborative working conference will present cutting edge thinking and
offer opportunities to exchange ideas and experience with peers. As well as workshops on
topics such as collaborative HR, merger and joint working for public service delivery, the
conference will feature a workshop on web 2.0 for collaboration.
The session will explore the new relationships and new engagement made possible between organisations and individuals using interactive web 2.0 technologies.
For more information and online booking go to
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/collab08. Why not
follow the conference before, during and after at
http://twitter.com/NCVOcollaborate.
For your diary in September ...
Below is a selection of events happening in September, all other events are listed at
www.icthub.org.uk/events.
London ICT network meeting - 24th September
If you are a circuit rider, accidental techie or someone who provides technology support to
London non-profits - Lasa is running a network meeting on 24 September at SAVO (Southwark Voluntary
Action). For more information go to
Weblink
.
UK Youth Online Live - 27th September
This one day event is a unique opportunity for people to get together to share their interest
in how new technology, social media and online tools impact upon work with young people. The
day will involve shared conversations, demonstrations and idea-sharing to learn from each other
about the challenges, possibilities and practicalities of bring together work with young people and
new technologies. For more information go to
www.icthub.org.uk/events/uk_youth_online_live.html.
Live and Local, Ruralnet 2008 conference - 30th September to 1st October
The annual Ruralnet regeneration conference is being developed to cover the topics that you
are interested in. Sessions will include on looking at whether or nor rural communities are
being left behind digitally, run by Yorkshire and the Humber regional ICT champion Colin
Harrison. For more information go to
www.icthub.org.uk/events/live_and_local.html.
Promote your ICT event for FREE
Don’t forget that you can post your ICT event for FREE on the ICT Development Services
website
www.icthub.org.uk/events.
Offers and services
Are you looking to raise your company's profile in the voluntary sector?
Whether you want the latest sector information, to raise your company's profile or
opportunities to network, you can achieve all these and more by joining
NCVO's corporate
membership scheme. Corporate members also receive free publications, including a copy of
the
Civil
Society Almanac 2008, and discounts on conference suite hire, events and advertising
opportunities. Membership starts from only £142.50 per year. For more information on
how to join visit
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/corporate.
How to Get Free Professional IT Support
Many organisations need some kind of IT help or support but don't know where to get
help. Couple that with the budget busting costs of technology projects and voluntary
organisations can be quickly left behind.
iT4Communities solves this problem. They are a charity that introduces volunteer IT professionals to voluntary organisations in need of IT help. With over 5,000 volunteers registered there's likely to be someone waiting to share their time and talent with you. If your organisation's website is looking weary, your database is out of date, or your network is not working then register for free volunteer IT support at www.it4communities.org.uk. Alternatively contact the team on 020 7796 2144 or email info@it4communities.org.uk.
Products and services for the voluntary and community sector
If you need to find a reliable supplier for software, hardware, a web designer or an ICT
consultant then visit the ICT Suppliers Directory at
www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk. The
directory, produced by
Lasa, offers a comprehensive, easy to search
national listing of suppliers with a proven track record of working with the voluntary sector.
Discounted ICT software and hardware
Whatever your ICT requirements, NCVO member organisations can save money on a range of
market-leading products and licensing options through our recommended suppliers.
Find out more about the discounted
products and services available.