IT Matters bulletin April 2010
Welcome to this first edition of IT Matters, a monthly bulletin keeping you up to date with what the Third Sector Hub is doing to help Third Sector Organisations in North East Lincolnshire to use IT differently, more effectively and with the purpose of making organisations more sustainable for the long-term.
this month:
why IT matters to your organisation / free IT training / laptops to borrow / IT Matters – the event / social media event
Download the bulletin in .pdf format here.
Why IT matters to your organisation
Digital exclusion is a national issue, with a divide between those individuals using IT and those not. But this divide also exists within the Third Sector, between charities, voluntary and community groups and other organisations who use, embrace and capitalise on IT and those who use IT ineffectively or not at all. Effective use of IT is now, more than ever, a factor in the long-term sustainability of Third Sector Organisations.
Why should IT matter to you? What about…
Better service delivery – you can deliver differently or deliver different services
Better access to information for your managers or board
Better financial management, auditing and reporting
Better client and beneficiary management
Improve information for your community
Improved staff development
Keep up to date with latest developments and legislation
Considerably better fundraising – many opportunities are only online
Improved external communications
Raising your profile
Better general administration
Saving costs…
Enough said. Start improving your IT now!
Free IT training
VANEL has a new programme of IT courses being planned. The first set of courses is aimed at staff & volunteers in North East Lincs Third Sector Organisations. Each ½ day course is FREE as these events are subsidised through Common Treasury financial support. Booking is essential. (A fee will be charged for non-attendance.)
More details on the Hub website here http://bit.ly/cHAjhM
Beginners ICT Foundation course
18th May (am)
20th May (am)
24th May (pm)
15th June (am)
16th June (pm)
Word Foundation course
18th May (pm)
15th June (pm)
Excel Foundation course
20th May (pm)
16th June (am)
Efficient Email & Internet
24th May (am)
To book or for more details please contact Vicky at VANEL on 01472 231123 or email vicky@vanel.org.uk.
Ideal for staff or volunteers to move their ICT skills along.
Laptops to borrow
VANEL has a number of laptops which are available for hire. These have been funded from Common Treasury or Yorkshire Forward money and are maintained by us for the benefit of Third Sector Organisations.
The laptops are up to date, excellent for short term hire (events, meetings etc) and can be borrowed for as little as £5 per day (higher rates for public or private sector, I’m afraid).
Need a laptop? Call Vicky at VANEL on 01472 231123 to discuss.
IT Matters – the event
A free, morning briefing will take place on Wed 5th May at Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre. Anyone involved in IT in the local Third Sector is invited to attend.
If you look after the IT for your charity, voluntary or community group or other third sector organisation, whether formally or ‘accidentially’, then we hope you’ll get some support from attending the event.
If you’re a Trustee or manager with oversight of your organisational IT (purchase, implementation, development or support), then please come along.
If you’re an individual with IT skills who may be able to offer support to a charity or group to assist with their IT, then again we’d like to see you there.
The event will consist of short, practical briefings and workshops designed to help the Third Sector Hub begin to work with both groups and individuals involved with IT support in our sector. We’ll be explaining why IT Matters, what support is out there, how we can support each other and how we can all make our organisations more resilient and sustainable though effective use of IT.
We’ll talk about our new IT Supporters Network and how you can become part of this to get practical help with IT.
If you can spare the morning (food at the end of it) then please call myself (Karl) or Vicky on 01472 231123 to reserve a place.
More info very soon on the Hub website at http://bit.ly/czIhQC
Social media event
On 29th April (6pm-9pm) at the Fishing Heritage Centre, there will be a “Social Media Surgery and Transformational ICT Event” organised by NAVCA and the national ICT Champions Network. The event is free (booking required) and will be relevant to any organisation looking to understand how social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, WordPress etc) can be used effectively.
More information and a flyer on the Hub website here: http://bit.ly/9zvsLm
Next bulletin mid May.
Do you have something IT related that needs to go onto our website or into this bulletin? Let me know.
Contact me – Karl Elliott, Third Sector Hub Manager at VANEL on 01472 231123 or email karl@vanel.org.uk