We investigate: how IT4Communities benefits charities

How does it work and what are the costs?
The service provided by IT4Communities is not without cost for an organisation requesting help.
There is an £85 administration fee payable on registration that gives access to the volunteer network for a year.

Multiple requests for advice can be made in that year without incurring extra charges. Because translating the needs of a particular community project or charity can often be a stumbling block for getting projects off the ground, IT4Communities offers more than a simple directory.

It can also offer advice on the exact nature of expertise needed in a project and make sure that no-one’s time is wasted.

Once the needs of a project have been established, IT4Communities will email suitable volunteers who will get in touch with the requesting organisation if they are available.

IT4Communities volunteers have worked on all kinds of projects for non-profit organisations. Creating a new website is a common task, but there have also been more urgent projects such as dealing with junk mail.

More examples of the ways that IT4Communities has helped can be found on the organisation's case studies page.

Can you help?
People who have skills to offer community projects are always needed by IT4Communities. Volunteers should have at least three years’ experience or a professional qualification and one year’s experience.

They should be willing to follow the guidelines of the British Computer Society’s Code of Conduct and Code of Good Practice, though membership of this organisation is not a requirement. It’s a good way for IT experts to stay busy while in between contracts.

However, the programme organisers said that people can still help support the work of IT4Communities, even if they are not an IT expert by making donations online.

Those who are interested in donating or feel that they can offer their expertise can register on the IT4Communities website.

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