ICT (information and communication technology) is no longer something that only appears on organizational wish lists. Well structured ICT is the backbone that will enable your organization to deliver services effectively and efficiently, helping you reach more people and ultimately do more with your money. With ICT you can:

• raise your organisation’s profile
• keep abreast of current developments and legislation in your field
• manage and organise information more easily
• accurately monitor your finances
• securely maintain your users’ contact details
• understand who is using your service and how you can widen your reach
• enable service users to support one another through online communities
• save costs and operate more effectively allowing staff to work remotely and flexibly

Discover more ways that ICT can help your organisation. Find out how other organisations have benefitted from ICT. Deciding what ICT you need is a decision that should be made strategically, involving staff and trustees, rather than being made solely by the organisation’s technical expert. It is imperative that ICT (which includes computers and telephony) is fully integrated into every aspect of your business plan. Start by asking yourself these questions:

• What is the long term purpose of your organisation or project?
• Who are you trying to reach?
• What outputs do you plan to deliver and what outcomes are you expecting to achieve?

Once you have clear answers to these questions, your staff and trustees can begin to look at how ICT can most effectively help you reach your goal. Planning ICT in this way will save you spending money on equipment which may not actually be relevant to your organisation. Find out more about writing an ICT plan.
In order to achieve your objectives you may need financial support. Find out how to source funding and which organisations can offer you discounted deals. If you still have questions about your ICT then further support is available both online and in person.

The following guide is aimed at staff and volunteers from voluntary and community organisations who want to manage their ICT better. It is intended particularly for staff and volunteers form small and medium sized organisations and especially for those who don’t have access to ‘paid for’ technical advice and support. You could be from a small community group run entirely by volunteers, or a registered charity with an income of up to £1m and a staff team of 50. Although the scale and nature of organisations may differ, the people running these groups often face similar challenges when working out how to get the most from their ICT.
You may be a manager or a project worker, a paid member of staff or a volunteer. You may have a lot of technical skills, or you may have none. You may be working in a team wondering how best to use ICT, or you may be a budget-holder with specific responsibility for planning ICT. Whatever your position, this guide is designed to help you.

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Contents

Getting started with ICT

• Why should I write an ICT plan?
• Ten ways in which ICT can help you work better
• Who should be involved in ICT planning?
• Where are you now? 1, 2
• Where are you going?
• Delivering an ICT plan

Budgeting and buying ICT

• How much should our ICT budget be?
• What is the Total Cost of Ownership of ICT?
• Choosing software 1, 2
• Open Source 1, 2
• Buying hardware
• Choosing a printer
• Green computing: are your computers costing the earth?
• Disposing of ICT equipment
• Websites 1, 2
• Building your own website 1, 2
• Databases 1, 2, 3

Keep things running smoothly

• Supporting your ICT
• Volunteer support
• Accidental Techies
• Paying for external ICT support 1, 2
• Circuit Riders/ICT Development Workers
• In-house ICT support staff
• Working with ICT consultants
• PC self-defence: keeping your PCs safe and data secure
• Ten tips to protect yourself 1, 2
• Managing ICT risks
• Training: get the ICT skills you need
• What skills do I need?
• Formal training
• Informal learning
• Books, guides and magazines

Policies and procedures

• Accessibility, ICT and you 1, 2
• Back-up policy and procedures 1, 2
• Acceptable use policy
• Data protection policy
• Health and safety policies

Glossary