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London ChangeUp ICT Project
Supporting ICT
Effective use of ICT is crucial to small to medium-sized voluntary organisations. But all the research - and the day-to-day experience of people working in the sector - shows that organisations find it a challenge to make best use of the technology. Part of the problem is being able to afford equipment in the first place, but there are other problems too. In 2004 we carried out a mapping and consultation exercise with London CVSs and other key organisations. It highlighted three key issues:
Problem 1: Lack of strategic understanding of ICT
Many organisations waste money because they buy technology in a piece-meal, ad hoc way. Managers and other staff with responsibility for ICT often lack the skills to plan its use by
developing an ICT strategy. A key problem is that technical training at various levels is available, but
little training is provided for non-technical staff in ICT management issues – what systems do they
need? how should they be supported? how much should they cost? While these are important issues
for managers, they are seldom included in management training.
Problem 2: A lack of understanding of the full costs of ICT with a corresponding reluctance by funders to meet
those costs
Organisations often under-estimate how much they need to spend on ICT. In Lasa's experience an ICT budget £500 to £1000 per staff member per year is appropriate - few organisations spend this. One reason for this, and a more serious problem, is that funders seldom cover
ongoing ICT costs, which are part of core rather than project costs.
Problem 3: Difficulties in accessing advice, information and support that is affordable, reliable and relevant to the
sector
Organisations in 29 boroughs responded to our survey: in 16 of these, no ICT support service is
available for voluntary organisations. Many organisations rely on volunteers for ICT support, who are
not always reliable. Commercial companies often have little experience of small VCS organisations
and make recommendations which don’t meet their specific needs, and which are too costly. The
survey also showed that few organisations were aware of existing resources, such as Lasa’s online
knowledgebase, or NCVO’s voluntary sector helpline.
A potential answer - Circuit Riders
"Circuit Riders" are a potential answer to some of these problems. A Circuit Rider is a mobile ICT support worker with a caseload of small voluntary and community organisations: they work with other Circuit Riders as part of the Circuit Rider movement. They identify with the values of the organisations they support, and aim to increase their ability to manage technology for themselves. So Circuit Riders only advocate technology if it actually helps an organisation achieve its goals, not for the technology's own sake. They speak about technology in plain English, not jargon. And they train voluntary staff to manage technology themselves, rather relying on the Circuit Rider as an expert.
Circuit Riders in the UK
Circuit Riding started in the US and has spread all over the world. Lasa organises regular meetings of Circuit Riders, and in September 2004 organised an international Circuit Rider Conference in London, with support from IBM and the Home Office. Lasa has funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for work to develop the UK Circuit Rider movement.
Circuit Riders in London
Lasa ran a Circuit Rider project from 2002 to 2004 with around twenty voluntary sector organisations. Most were advice organisations, and the majority were from black or minority ethnic communities. The project was supported by the Community Fund. Assessment showed that the project was very successful - the overwhelming response from the groups involved was that the Circuit Rider had helped them in their use of ICT.
Superhighways Partnership was established by Kingston Voluntary Action and Merton Voluntary Service Council, has expanded from two members of staff in 2002 to eight today. The project currently provides support for organisations across six boroughs, including a telephone helpline, email advice, technical support and training. The project has gained funding from the Learning and Skills Council and European Social Fund, as well as the Community Fund. A similar project has been established in West London.
Putting a solution in place
At the heart of the London ChangeUp ICT Project is a simple idea - that projects like Superhighways Partnership could be set up across the capital. In the case of Superhighways Partnership themselves, the funding which currently supports them needs to be made sustainable.
For more information, see:
Main page, London ChangeUp ICT Project |
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