ICT Resources

ICT resources on the web

Do you need help with ICT (information and communications technology)? The good news is that whatever your level of knowledge and expertise, there are a wide range of resources on the web to help you and your group or organisation to enhance the way that you use ICT. Here are some particularly useful web sites:

ICT Knowledgebase

http://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/
A large and well-organised collection of articles written in a straightforward free way specifically for the voluntary and community sector.

ICT answers – frequently asked questions

http://www.ictchampions.org.uk/

The web site of the regional ICT Champions provides answers to frequently asked questions about ICT and how it can help the third sector. It offers short, jargon-free answers and provides links to useful information elsewhere on the internet.

Volunteers

http://www.it4c.org.uk/
IT4Communities provides a brokering service to advertise your needs to a network of IT professionals. There is currently a charge for this service.

Low cost software

http://www.ctx.org.uk/
Any charity can sign up to Charity Technology Exchange (CTX) to get low cost software from suppliers such as Microsoft, Symantec and Cisco.

Accessibility

http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/
AbilityNet is a national charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. It can help third sector organisations to adapt the services they offer to increase accessibility.

Publications

http://www.icthub.org.uk/
Publications, newsletters, contacts and other ICT-related information can be found at the ICT Hub website, now run by National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). These include the following invaluable guides which can be downloaded for free:

· A guide to managing ICT in the voluntary and community sector

· How to cost and fund ICT

· From nightmare to nirvana - an ICT survival guide for trustees

Open source software

http://www.osalt.com/

Open source software is free to use. This site lists what is available. There is also information about open source software on the ICT Knowledgebase site at http://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/

Suppliers directory

http://www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk/

The Suppliers Directory connects voluntary and community sector organisations in England with suppliers of ICT products and services. This resource is developed and managed by LASA. (N.B. The directory does not provide a comprensive listing of all providers of specialist ICT support to third sector organisations.)