We are currently reviewing the net:gain programme and will post more details here.

Denmead Community Centre, Hampshire

Centre Manager, Jane Andreoli said “I joined the net:gain programme with the idea of asking for help from The Really Helpful IT Company, the local net:gain centre, in setting up a computer database for our Association members and also to look at improving our internal processes.”

The net:gain process made them examine the reasons why people became members of the community association; they found that this was mainly to claim discounted room hire fees. The committee decided to make membership a positive choice rather than an economic necessity by giving all groups the discounted room hire rate and giving Association members discounts on the plays and film showings. The members were all contacted about these radical changes and invited to join an email list via the Centre’s website. Instead of an expensive database, the organisation now has a growing email list to contact members about forthcoming events without incurring additional postage, paper or IT costs and resources.

“In future years we may indeed need a computer database, but for now, we have a working system that meets our needs and makes much better use of the IT facilities we already have,” commented Jane.

Download the full case study here

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The Third Sector can benefit from ICT to communicate, to promote its projects and to improve its business processes in a low cost way. Colin told his audience that you can buy Microsoft Office for only £11 now if you are a voluntary sector organisation, so software overheads are no longer the barrier that they used to be.

It is a question of using ICT as a tool to shape the society that we want to have.

Click here for a further report on Colin’s session.

Anne Stratton, the manager, signed up for the net:gain programme after they had a major system crash which resulted in them losing data. Anne said, “We were looking to apply our IT more effectively. We had grown up with an ad hoc system as a new organisation and it was going from bad to worse.”

As a result of completing the 10 steps of the programme CAB has already implemented improvements to their management systems and diary and alert system. Anne has valued the opportunity to take time out, to stand back and look at how to make improvements.

You can download the full case study here (pdf)

Register now for net:gain

When Peter Lennard took up the role of Head of Finance and Facilities he quickly identified the need to develop an IT strategy with a clear link to the business plan.

During the net:gain programme he benefited from the structured process for developing an IT strategy which would link their requirements to the priorities of the organisation.

Peter’s top tips for success:

• Allocate plenty of time for the programme
• Set deadlines for each stage
• Get as much support as you can
• Efficiency will only be achieved with full commitment.

You can download the full case study here (pdf)

Register now for net:gain

All users are able to ask questions, which are promptly answered by one of the forum experts.

Experts Online is not an automated help menu, but a panel of real people with specialist expertise who will interpret and understand your question, and reply usually within 24 hours. Experts Online is part of the Networks Online group of VCS services, and has been running since 2002.

Register now for net:gain

The development of net:gain is based on the following key findings from the consultation run by the Active Community Unit of the Home Office in 2003:

‘There is very little ICT specialist provision available to VCOs… Most organisations consequently fail to take full advantage of the benefits offered by ICT.’
‘…there should be investment in specialist VCS infrastructure which would ensure the availability of face-to-face advice, guidance, technical support and some limited training.’
‘A lack of strategic understanding of ICT at senior management and trustee level of VCS organisations; many organisations do not have an ICT strategy or an ICT budget.’
‘Economies of scale need to be considered and some infrastructure services might best be provided across more than one local authority area – for example, specialist support for ICT.’
there are ‘few sources of advice which are knowledgeable about both ICT and the specific demands of the VCS.’

net:gain’s own research in 2004 confirmed:

• poor awareness of the range of options for covering ICT costs, and how to go about planning for this
• willingness, regardless of organisation size, to engage in strategic planning for ICT
• a tendency in the sector to prefer trusted intermediaries, such as local, informal, peer support, face-to-face help
• the need for a flexible service that can fill gaps, signpost and adapt to different needs
• any service must offer high added-value, to ensure a willingness among VCOs to dedicate time and money to the process

All of these aspects have been built into the net:gain offer.

The programme is supported by a wide range of other stakeholders including:

• Government departments and the Government Offices in the Regions
• regional and sub-regional consortia working to further ChangeUp
• UK online centres working to deliver the net:gain programme locally
• other stakeholders and funders

NAVCA
NAVCA is the national voice of local third sector infrastructure in England. We aim to ensure communities are well served by the local third sector by supporting our members and their work with over 160,000 local groups and organisations. NAVCA believes that local voluntary and community action is vital for healthy and inclusive communities.

ICT Champions
There are nine regionally-based ICT Champions co-ordinated by NAVCA and funded for three years to work with ChangeUp consortia. By listening to needs and issues raised in their regions, we are lobbying national bodies to ensure policy and funding developments fully address the ICT needs of the sector. We do not promote the use of technology for its own sake, but believe that it must be tailored to reflect people’s needs. We work in an ethical and transparent way to build trust and long lasting relationships.

Capacitybuilders
Capacitybuilders is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) which manages the ChangeUp programme and works with other funders to build the capacity of the third sector. It exists to create a more effective third sector by improving support for third sector organisations.

• demonstrate to funders and stakeholders that your ICT plans link into your mission and offer direct benefit to those you serve
• understand and harness the potential of ICT for your organisation, to inform current and future plans
• identify areas where ICT can improve business practices and service delivery
• identify people who can help you
• understand the full costs of ICT ownership, and put in place plans to cover these
• say NO to ICT options that do not fit your strategy and your priorities
• get the most out of any ICT investment you decide to make