We investigate: how IT4Communities benefits charities

Computers can be of huge benefit to charities and non-profit organisations. They can help them design and produce better-quality publications to improve fundraising efforts, or can be used as organisational tools so members can make the best use of their time, but only if they are set up properly.

Although the price of computers continues to drop, they are still expensive to buy. Even if they are donated, there is still the additional expense of employing people to get them working and keep them running.

It is one thing to follow vague advice on the internet or to rely on a reasonably literate member of the public but often there is no substitute for a professional on important projects.

However, there is no reason to struggle with IT problems when working for a community group. We decided to investigate IT4communities, an organisation of IT professionals volunteering their time and expertise for non-profit groups.

Help when you need it
The need to start bridging the increasingly widening digital divide was the reason that the national charity Citizens Online was set up in 2000. This organisation set about researching and promoting the need for digital inclusion.

Research it carried out in 2002 found that while IT communities and professionals were willing to offer their expertise, they were not sure how to find organisations that needed their help.

This led the British Computer Society, Computer Weekly, the charity Citizens Online and Intellect to set up IT4communities the same year.

With initial funding from partner organisations such as the Baring Foundation, IBM and Microsoft, the project has grown. Since its inception, and with the addition of companies such as BT and Talktalk, it has given support worth £2.5m to charities and communities.