News Article

Voluntary sector organisations across the region are making their online presence felt without having to spend thousands of pounds on creating a website - thanks to an innovative IT project supported by One North East.

The Community IT Academy in Newcastle is using no-cost software to develop new or improved websites for 20 different organisations, and giving them specialist training to manage the sites effectively themselves.

It means groups can establish the online presence they need to promote their work, keep their funders informed and provide a point of reference for partners and service users, but don’t have to spend their limited budgets on commercial web development and management services.

The Community IT Academy was awarded £23,730 for the work from One North East’s Third Sector Capacity Fund which was launched to help not-for-profit organisations find new and better ways of overcoming the barriers which can prevent people from working or starting a business, and to share new ideas across the sector. The academy has also produced a general guide to website design and operation for third sector organisations.

Community IT Academy manager, Lewis Atkinson, said: “We wanted to test out this service because so many voluntary groups were coming to us for help.

“Many of them had websites already, but they were either very complicated to maintain so were ending up completely out of date, or groups were paying a third party to manage the site for them – a cost which many voluntary organisations can’t sustain. Others were looking to create an online presence for the first time, but simply couldn’t afford even the basic price for the commercial development of a website.

“By using what’s called open source programming, which doesn’t have user costs attached to it, we can create sites at a fraction of that cost.

“The sites certainly don’t pretend to be flashy, but they do the job and are really easy for groups to maintain themselves which is absolutely key.”

The project is already working with groups such as Frog in Middlesbrough, Wearside Women in Need, CORE in Berwick and the North East Refugee Forum.

Konnekt NE is one of the organisations whose site is already complete – project manager John Hames said: “The assistance we received from Lewis Atkinson and his team at the Community IT Academy was first class. We needed a website that looked professional, was easy to manage, and most importantly was cost effective.

“The Community IT Academy delivered on all of these issues as well as providing training that was practical, easy to understand and backed up with written manuals.

“The service we provide in terms of communicating with our target groups has been greatly improved by having a website, thanks to the excellence of the Community IT Academy.”

One North East’s economic inclusion manager, Robin Beveridge, said: “The use of IT, particularly online services, is so important for any business – not least for voluntary sector organisations. For so many of us now, the internet is the first port of call when we’re looking for information and for these organisations with limited or non-existent budgets for promoting their work, that resource is particularly important.

“This grant is opening up some very basic IT services to voluntary groups at no cost, helping them build their reputation and share information – ultimately, promoting this innovative approach to other organisations who could benefit.”

The Third Sector Capacity Fund has provided a total of £688,662 in grants to 19 different projects, which also include exploring ways of creating sustainable community transport schemes, and encouraging closer working by voluntary organisations in rural areas. All funding for the 2007-08 financial year has been allocated, but the potential for a further fund in 2008 is being explored.

The third sector is the Government’s umbrella term for not-for-profit organisations such as charities, community groups and social enterprise. The sector as a whole employs 4.4% of the region’s workforce and is supported by more than 140,000 volunteers.

For more information about the Community IT Academy, visit www.communityitacademy.org

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For more information, contact Claire Mason (press office) on 0191 229 6429 / 07765220755 or email Claire.mason@onenortheast.co.uk