A new website providing a guide to over 4,000 funding, contract and loan opportunities has been launched by NCVO and funded by the Office of the Third Sector. Funding Central is a free website and accessible to all, and can be found at: www.fundingcentral.org.uk

‘ICT answers in a box’ is a new resource that has been designed particularly with third sector infrastructure organisations in mind. This is a boxed set of cards which provides answers to frequently asked questions about ICT and how it can help the third sector. It will be useful for anyone who supports staff and volunteers from the sector. It offers short, jargon-free answers and provides links to useful information elsewhere on the internet. There is also an online version of the ICT Answers at: www.ictchampions.org.uk/

It is available free of charge to infrastructure organisations, and can be ordered from Steve Webster, Regional ICT Champion : email steve@highpeakcvs.org.uk or telephone 07595 119182. Alternatively a copy can be ordered online at: www.ictchampions.org.uk/order-cards/  (N.B. If you require multiple copies for your organisation, please contact Steve direct).

This website is in the process of being redeveloped, and a new version will soon be live. The ‘new’ site will provide key information on ICT for third sector organisations. It will include signposting to a wide range of ICT resources, and details of the support on offer from the new regional ICT project (which will be launched shortly). Further details from Steve Webster: email steve@highpeakcvs.org.uk or phone 07595 119182

The bid to the Big Lottery Fund for the East Midlands regional ICT infrastructure project has been successful. This is excellent news, as this will see an investment of over £300K in ICT from the Big Lottery Fund over a period of three years. The project will provide support and advice to third sector infrastructure organisations throughout the region, including ICT ‘health checks’ and workshops for development workers. The project will be delivered across the region by a partnership of five ‘core’ organisations, with Purple Zebra as the lead organisation.

For further information, contact Steve Webster: email steve@highpeakcvs.org.uk or phone 07595 119182

Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) are promoting a Web Accessibility workshop, which will be held at LCIL in Leicester on Friday 27^th March. For further details see: http://www.small-business-advice.biz/accessibility.php

Do you provide ICT services to your local community? Do you have learners who find it difficult to use a computer, operate a mouse, keyboard or struggle to view the screen? Do you have learners with disabilities?

AbilityNet are looking for voluntary and community organisations to join the Sustaining Switched On Communities project within the East Midlands in 2009. Eleven VCOs will each receive a mini kit of adaptive hardware and assistive software worth over £500.00. Up to two of your representatives will receive training on using the kit, plus the opportunity to receive further training on specialised subjects such as supporting learners with dyslexia, visual impairments, physical disabilities, etc.

You will receive support from AbilityNet and the East Midlands Community Partner, Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL), Leicester.  This includes advice, full assessments for individuals who need more specialised support and access to AbilityNet’s equipment loan bank. We aim to increase the capacity of your organisation, your services, your staff and volunteers to better support your local community.

If you would like to join the Sustaining Switched on Communities project or would like more information, please contact:

Alan Rowsell on 0116 222 5005 email alan.rowsell@lcil.org.uk or David Peake on 0116 222 5005 email david@lcil.org.uk alternatively the contact at AbilityNet is Vihing Lee email vihing.lee@abilitynet.org.uk on 0800 269545.

It’s you last chance to nominate your great IT volunteer in iT4Communities’ National IT Volunteering awards 2008. Get your nominations in by 19^th December for any or all of the 4 categories: Best IT Volunteer, Best IT Volunteering Project – Innovation, Impact, and Accessibility. Each winning organisation gets £500. Nominate now at http://tinyurl.com/itawards08 or call iT4Communities on 020 7796 2144.

The next ITEM3 Network meeting will be held on Tuesday 3 February 2009. Time: 11.00 – 2.15
Location: The Healthy Club, in Lincoln

Network meetings are open to to those working in the third sector (voluntary sector / social enterprise) who have an interest in seeing the sector increase and improve the way that it uses ICT. Network members might, for example, be an ICT project worker (Circuit Rider), project manager, or an organisation which is looking to develop, launch or promote an ICT project.

The network meets regularly (usually quarterly) in different venues across the region. If you would like to attend either the February meeting, or future meetings, please get in touch with Steve Webster:
Email: steve@highpeakcvs.org.uk
Phone: 07595 119182

Steve Webster has just been appointed as the new Regional ICT Champion for the East Midlands. As Steve reports: ‘The role of a regional champion is an interesting one. The post operates strategically by working with third sector infrastructure organisations across the East Midlands.’

Key aspects of the role include:
1. Working regionally and sub-regionally developing ICT strategies, and delivering initiatives to raise awareness of ICT amongst local infrastructure organisations.
2. Signposting third sector organisations to providers of practical ICT resources and services in their sub-region.
3. Working with existing ICT service providers to facilitate the sharing of best practice, e.g. on sustainability of services. Where limited coverage exists, providing support to local infrastructure to develop services to fill these gaps.

Prior to taking up the post, Steve has been working as an independent consultant undertaking a range of third sector research and evaluation projects, including ICT needs and models of support. Steve has also held a number of posts working directly within the sector, including work with key infrastructure organisations. Further, he gained a PhD from the University of Bradford, which explored the developing use of ICT by NGOs in the UK.

The best way to contact Steve is via:
Email: steve@highpeakcvs.org.uk
Phone: 07595 119182

Please note that Steve’s post, which is hosted by High Peak CVS, is part-time. Messages can also be left for Steve via the following administrative support number at High Peak CVS:
Direct dial: 01663 736432
Main tel line: 01663 735350 ext 232

Helen Anderson won an award for her work to bring broadband to South Witham in Lincolnshire. Ms Anderson was driven to get the project going after her community was ignored by large net suppliers.

The winners of the awards were presented with their trophies by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He said the projects had huge potential to influence lives and communities.

“The worst of Britain can always be challenged by the best of Britain,” he said.

The Community Awards for Social Technology (Catalyst) were sponsored by the Council on Social Action, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta) and the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform.