For development workers in local infrastructuresupport organisations

Mark WalkerSCIPSouth East ICT Champion20th March 2009

• A champion for ICT in your region• To see local infrastructure support organisations

Operate more efficiently in its day to day work

Be more effective in its reach and influence• Voice, representation, advocacy• Signposting sources of help• Strategic support

Regional ICT Champions

Background – Reason For Workshop

found the same 4 needs arose when talking to

development workers about ICT:

• Awareness of the increasing potential for ICT • Information on issues groups should consider when

using ICT (planning, policies, support contracts)• Information on sources of funding and local support • Ability to explore the barriers created by ICT for some

members

How do we cope with Recession?

• What are your ideas?

• What are the threats?• What are the opportunities?

• How do you think ICT can help?

Outline of day

• Look at your questions about ICT• What help is there?• Benefits of ICT• Total Cost of Ownership• Funding for ICT• Planning for ICT

•ICT Health Check•net:gain

• Rounding Up

ICT & Your Role

• Questions your clients ask about ICT• How you answer those questions.• Where you can get help.• Supporting the sector.

• How to help groups make better use of ICT• Through Planning• Using “Tools”• Using Appropriate ICT Services

Exercise

• What questions do you have about ICT?

• What questions do you get asked?

Guidelines

- ‘one question per post-it’, put them up on board/wall

- group in to themes under each topic’

What Help Is There?

• Regional ICT Champions • The Knowledgebase (was ICT Hub now LASA)• ICT Suppliers Directory• ICT Development / Circuit Rider Projects• Local Infrastructure Organisations providing general

support services may also provide ICT services• Volunteers including specialist IT volunteers from

www.it4communities.org.uk• ICT Info ‘Toolbox’ (being produced by the ICT

Champions)• Private sector and social enterprises providing – IT

Support, Web Design, Database Development etc.

The Web As A Support Tool

When looking for information and advice which sites do YOU use?

How do you find out about useful sites?

What questions do they answer?

What sites do you find unhelpful?

Benefits of ICT

• Efficiency – Do things quicker• Effectiveness – Do things better• Information – Storage, Sharing, Processing• Communications – staff, clients• Promotion – fundraising, internet added new

dimension to recording of events content for annual reports

• Administration – recording, finance, reporting, research/development, quality

Total Cost of Ownership

• A PC is not just a box!• You would not buy a car without budgeting for the

following;•petrol•MOT•servicing•general repairs•breakdown cover•insurance

Exercise : Costing ICT

• The “Happy To Help” Exercise

• Exploring the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Budgeting – what to include

• Hardware

• Software

• Installation

• Maintenance

• Backup

• Consumables

• Insurance

• Broadband

• Web hosting

• Training

• … and more ?!

Funding for ICT

Remember when preparing bids/budgets

• Some funders are more positive about ICT than others

• Be realistic about total costs

• Identify benefits investing in ICT will bring to the project

LUNCH

LUNCH 45 minutes break

Social media - reflections

• What ideas do you have based on the Master-class?

• How do you think organisations need to make more of social media?

• How could the groups you support be more effective in their campaigns by using social media?

• What gaps are there in supporting them?

• What was the best idea which came from the session?

Exercise Planning in VCOs

In Groups discuss your experiences of ICT planning

• What happens in the groups you work with?• How much time is spent?• What support do you offer?• Any examples of ICT planning?• Think about

• Methodologies• What works?• What doesn’t?

ICT Planning

• Planning is good practice

• There are different methods find the one that fits

• Know your own position - Where are we now?ICT Health Check (NB not just about computers)

• What’s The Mission - Where are we going?

• Understand how ICT helps you get there?

Exercise: DIY ICT Health Check

For your organisation:

• Using the headings on the handout spend 15 minutes answering the questions

Exercise: DIY ICT Health Check

Reviewing The DIY ICT Health Check Exercise:

• What does this exercise tell you about the development needs of the organisation?

• Are there specific short-term needs?• Is there clearly someone responsible?• Are budgets realistic?• Have skills and training needs been considered?• What else?

How social media can help groups you support

• The Social Media Game

• Ways to make the organisations you support more … • Effective in communication of their message• Efficient through use of free online resources

• Wordpress or Blogger websites• Wiki – collaborative development• Flickr and Youtube – photo and video capture of events and

beneficiaries• Conversations with those you help and those who want to support

you through blogging and Twitter

More Detailed Planning

More Detailed Planning

is a professional development programme for senior managers of third sector organisations.

It allows them to take control of strategic planning and apply it to technology and communication whatever their;

•existing expertise •organisation size •area of work•is available through 8 regional centres

Planning

Top Tips 1(on doing more with less)

• Software donation and discount schemes – save moneywww.ctx.org and www.pugh.co.uk

• Recycled and repurposed hardwarewww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/recyclingict

• Open Office (on the USB stick) an alternative to Microsoft Office www.openoffice.org

• Online back-up services – secure, save moneywww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/onlinebackup

• 0300, VoIP and saving money on phonecallswww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/telephonesavingswww.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/voip

Top Tips 2(on doing more with less)

• DIY - www.ukriders.info

• iTQ training - http://itq.e-skills.com/

• Save money managing free events www.eventbrite.com

• Free video conferencing – www.oovoo.com

• Collaborate Google Docs and Calendar

• Aggregate the news – RSS

• Arranging meetings – www.doodle.com

• Online presentations – http://www.slideshare.net/

– (these presentations will be available here)

Useful Links & Contacts

• NAVCA www.navca.org.uk• RuralnetUK www.net-gain.org.uk• ICT Champions www.ictchampions.org.uk• (new website coming soon)• Capacitybuilders www.improvingsupport.org.uk

(new Improving Support website coming soon)• Knowledgebase www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk• AbilityNet www.abilitynet.org.uk• IT4Communities www.it4communities.org.uk• CTX www.ctxchange.org.uk• NCVO ICT www.icthub.org.uk

Round Up

• Review questions asked at the beginning

• Anything else?

Round Up and Thanks

For More Details About This Workshop

Visit:Regional ICT Champions websitewww.ictchampions.org.uk

Or contact NAVCApaul.webster@navca.org.uk

Workshop prepared by

Mark WalkerSCIP

www.seictchampion.wordpress.com

mark@scip.org.uk

01273 234049