'Cloud computing offers many benefits and there is a growing number of vendors out there - but how do you tell if the cloud provider (CP) you are considering using is actually ‘fit for purpose’?'  This new article on the LASA Knowledgebase provides a non-technical overview of the leading issues a Third Sector organisation must consider when choosing a Cloud Computing services provider.

http://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/cloudproviderquestions

ICT Network meeting with a special feature on Volunteering and Digital Inclusion

The next meeting of ITEM3 - the East Midlands ICT network - is being held on Tuesday 24^th January in Nottingham. Any organisation that is providing support to other third sector organisations and is interested in how ICT can help its aims or improve its delivery is welcome to attend.

There will be a special feature on Volunteering and Digital Inclusion. This will be led by Andria Birch from DAIN (the Digital Activist Inclusion Network) who have been undertaking groundbreaking work on this across the region There will also be a chance to hear the latest from the Regional ICT Project, to share ideas and news with each other, and highlight useful resources (including social media and cloud computing). The meeting starts at 10.00 and finishes at 13.00 with a buffet lunch.

N.B. The network is aimed at third sector infrastructure organisations and other bodies that provide support to voluntary and community groups in the East Midlands.

To book a place, visit: http://item3networkjanuary2012.eventbrite.co.uk

Further information

LASA's technology conference Powering Up The Third Sector takes place on 14 November in London. The line-up of speakers includes UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox and former BBC correspondent Kim Catcheside. There are sessions on managing technology mergers, social media, the cloud, mobile technology fundraising, working with CEOs and more... For further details and bookings: http://www.lasa.org.uk/ict/nfptech-conference-2011/

LASA's November ICT e-bulletin is now out, and includes news of Powering Up The Third Sector - Lasa’s autumn technology conference. View this edition at: http://www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/ictebulletinnovember2011

This monthly e-bulletin provides technology news, resources and advice - particularly aimed towards small to medium sized third sector organisations. To subscribe: http://www.lasa.org.uk/publications/ict-publications/

Social media for organisations

Find out how these tools can help your communications

The Regional ICT Project is running a series of free workshops to help infrastructure organisations make the most of social media websites and to be able to pass these ideas onto the groups and communities they support.

Next workshop: Northampton (Doddridge Centre), on Tuesday 11th October.

See Events for full details and booking.

NIACE and the WEA would like to invite you to the meeting of the East Midlands Digital Inclusion Network. The network aims to provide virtual and real world opportunities for organisations with an interest in digital inclusion to share and discuss examples of good practice and ‘what works’. This first meeting will provide:

• An introduction to European and UK policy debates on digital inclusion.
• Workshops to help you to develop a digital inclusion strategy for your organisation,
• Workshops highlighting free resources available to support your organisation develop its digital inclusion work.

The meeting is free to any organisation from the East Midlands and beyond interested in digital inclusion. A limited number of bursaries are available to cover public transport costs.

Where? NIACE conference centre, Renaissance House, 20 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP

When? 1pm to 4pm, Thursday 29^th September 2011
Please contact dain@wea.org.uk or ring 0115 9339022 by Tuesday 27^th September to reserve your place.

The ICT Champions have developed a (free) toolkit for conducting your own ICT health-check for your organisation.For further details: ICT health-checks

The ICT Champions have developed a series of briefing papers designed specifically for third sector organisations. New additions include: 

• Databases and CRM systems
• ICT volunteering
• Cloud computing
  
• Fundraising and the internet
• Top tips for an effective website
• Ten ways to work better with ICT

Others in the series include: 'Where to find information about ICT', 'How to do more with less' (A guide to free and low-cost ICT resources), 'What to tell groups about ICT' (A guide for development workers), and the 'Social media planning guide'. To view these and other resources: ICT Resources

The Digital Activist Inclusion Network (DAIN) is currently mapping digital inclusion activity in the East Midlands. DAIN would be grateful if you could spend 5 minutes answering the survey questions, which can be accessed via following this link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/mapping_digital_inclusion_activity

For more information about the DAIN project, visit their website at: www.dainproject.org.uk