London Regional ICT champion

A big thank you to all those who took time out from providing technology support services to the sector to attend the first London network event on 4 February – the first of what we hope will be many network events and an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

For those who missed the event, we hope there will be another opportunity for you to contribute to the growth and knowledge of the network. We’ll be announcing the next network event for the middle of May – so stay tuned for news.

Some very powerful messages emerged from this first networking:

• We want to do this again! There are very few opportunities for circuit riders and other providers of tech support in London’s voluntary sector to network and exchange learning. We will also look to hook up with other networks for cross-fertilisation of ideas;

• Funding and sustainability of circuit rider projects is big concern – several circuit rider projects are coming towards the end of their funding, and whilst funding priorities may change, the need for circuit riders hasn’t.

• Funders need to acknowledge Total Cost of Ownership and that ICT is a legitimate cost of doing business in their grant criteria. this may mean working more closely with funders to ensure they understand the importance of ICT;

• VCOs need to acknowledge that ICT is a key organisational function (compare with e.g. financial management

We asked 2 questions of you as a community and circuit riders:-

1. What do circuit riders and other providers of tech support to the sector see as the biggest issues?

• User training needs – core competencies, budget to train (first thing to get cut when funding’s tight)Upskilling and training of workers should be linked to NAVCA’s SKILD (programme of workshops for upskilling development workers)project.
• There is a strong need and much demand in the sector for technical support – the question is how we can make it sustainable for smaller organisations
• Strategic thinking (or lack of)There is also strong need and much demand in the sector for strategic support – such as help with strategy, policy, budgeting, etc.
• Recognition of issues by organisations
• Managing expectations (you don’t get a BBC style website for £2k…)
• There is little planning in the sector for ICT risk assessment/disaster recovery
• Reaching hard to reach groups (especially very small organisations)

2. How can this Forum help you and what would you like to see at future network events?

Again, we have along-shopping list of things that the tech support community in London would like to see , so we’ll be working on introducing those as when we can.

• Links to Regional ICT Champion and to funders and policy-makers
• Information exchange between peers
• Provider exchange e.g. good trainers and avoiding poor ones
• Joint training sessions – customised, appropriate to sector and audience
• Sharing & updating good practice, policies (AUP, data protection, web use etc)
• Websites for useful other stuff outside ICT arena e.g. health and safety
• How do we relate to existing resources – such as UKRiders
• Visits, mentoring and peer support
• Develop and experience matrix for members of forum
• Raising profile of voluntary sector ICT projects
• Awareness of National Support Services themes and ICT implications following demise of ICT Hub
• Drawing in other development workers (e.g. small group workers) by being proactive – see SKILD
• Sharing/developing tools e.g. Charity Helpdesk

3. Information exchange
Follow the links to get more information on the projects:-

Kate – Superhighways: developing bespoke user training project;

Noel – Community Alliance: working on shared tech support for 6 projects in building. Also has an interactice whiteboard for hire.

Ingrid – LVSTC: Provides advice to the sector on European funding and has project with 10 hours a week circuit rider support for BMER training providers

Mike – HAVS: Needs funding to continue the West London ICT project.

Alison – LVSC: Provides internal IT support to her organisation. Recommends the CASCADE information workers forum.

David – Designing for Civic Society: blogs on social media as a solution for community engagement

Ian R – Lasa: Organising circuit rider conference in Birmingham on 27/28 February. Will also be leading a new Lasa project to develop quality standards and principles for circuit riders

Mary Sakho – VAC: circuit rider in Camden

Ian G – Lasa: Supporting Knowledgebase and Suppliers Directory. If you have an idea for an article – let him know about.

Paul – Lasa: Leading on EASI/Presto funded (ESF) project to equip asylum seekers and refugees with circuit rider skills.

Maher – Superhighways: Managing a free community wireless project for an estate in Kingston.

Emmanuel – Superhighways: Has just project managed a complex office relocation for Sutton CVS.

Marcus – Superhighways: working on a web portal for groups and help with websites www.mertonconnected.com

Ngozi – Superhighways: circuit rider and internal support for Croydon CVS. Working on matching a volunteer database developer to a database projec

Tags: crn_london