ICT Hub
Encyclopedia
The ICT Hub was a project in the UK that aimed to support voluntary and community based organisations in England
with their technology
needs.
The Hub worked to create sustainable environment whereby charities and community groups can benefit from the use of information and communications technology (ICT).
Smaller organisations can benefit enormously from effective use of technology, whether this is by building a website
to communicate with its beneficiaries, or creating a database
to manage its members. However charitable organisations often do not have the funds or expertise to implement technological solutions successfully.
The ICT Hub aimed to help charities overcome these barriers. To achieve this the Hub offered services and support including:
The ICT Hub was part of the UK’s Home Office
ChangeUp programme for strengthening the capacity of the voluntary and community sector. Funding for the ICT Hub ended March 2008.
The Hub consisted of a partnership of organisations:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with their technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
needs.
The Hub worked to create sustainable environment whereby charities and community groups can benefit from the use of information and communications technology (ICT).
Smaller organisations can benefit enormously from effective use of technology, whether this is by building a website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
to communicate with its beneficiaries, or creating a database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
to manage its members. However charitable organisations often do not have the funds or expertise to implement technological solutions successfully.
The ICT Hub aimed to help charities overcome these barriers. To achieve this the Hub offered services and support including:
- Educational events and seminars
- Publications that cover all aspects of ICT
- Circuit RiderCircuit riderCircuit rider is a term originating from the United States for any professional who travels a regular circuit of locations to provide services, and has several specific applications:...
– mobile IT technicians who offer low cost IT support - IT volunteers – professionals who give up their time to help charities implement technology solutions
- AccessibilityAccessibilityAccessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
audits for charities - Online resources and useful information
- Regional champions - individuals in each of the English regions who offer local advice and support e.g. Regional ICT Champion for Yorkshire and Humber
- Helpdesk – a free telephone number where charities can be signposted to services and support in their local area
The ICT Hub was part of the UK’s Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
ChangeUp programme for strengthening the capacity of the voluntary and community sector. Funding for the ICT Hub ended March 2008.
The Hub consisted of a partnership of organisations:
- NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action)
- AbilityNetAbilityNetAbilityNet is a UK based charity that provides guidance, information, assessment and training on the subject of computing and disability.In the 1980s a small team of people at IBM helped disabled people adapt and adjust their computers...
- NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations)
- Lasa (London Advice Services Alliance)
- iT4CommunitiesIt4communitiesiT4Communities is a UK national IT volunteering charity that introduces volunteer IT professionals to charities needing IT help and support.iT4C was set up the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, the 100th City of London Livery Company in 2002 and since then has registered over 5,500...
- Media Trust
External links
- The ICT Hub website
- The Knowledgebase
- Lasa
- NAVCA There is also a Wikipedia page explaining what a Council for Voluntary ServiceCouncil for Voluntary ServiceA Council for Voluntary Service is a type of charity in England. CVSs are "the place at which local voluntary and community organisations speak to each other"...
is. - iT4Communities
- NCVO, the National Council of Voluntary Organisations
- Regional ICT Champion for Yorkshire and Humber