Information & Communications Technology
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is now an indispensable tool for voluntary and community organisations.
We help groups develop systems and tools that work for them whatever the size of the organisation or the challenge they face. We offer an outreach service that can help with setting up systems and basic problem-solving through to devising an overall IT strategy. We also offer ICT workshops and training.
ICT Outreach
This project meets the ICT needs of small, under-funded and socially excluded groups, who run projects in the borough of Camden, by providing support in all aspects of their computing and communications needs.
There are presently a number of volunteers working with us some of whom have been assigned specific projects, such as website design, for our users, while there are others who offer services such as technical support and training as the need arises.
So far the project has been providing, and will continue to offer, the following services:
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Technical support visits to clients’ sites
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Help with security issues and anti-virus and anti-spyware products
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Website content & design
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Computer networking
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Training Needs Analysis
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Publicity material design
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ICT Consultancy
In response to the needs of our users and the necessity for a more strategic approach to using ICT more effectively we are currently working on the next stage of the project that will be offering support in the areas listed above as well:
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Website update
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Managing computer networks
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Developing an ICT strategy
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Developing an ICT action plan
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Working in the ‘e’ economy
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Workshops and seminars on the above
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Mentoring
Technical support
If you have any ICT related questions just get in touch. Our ICT Development Officer, Mary Sakho, will be happy to be of assistance to you.
This activity is an ongoing part of the services provided by the ICT Outreach Project. We can also signpost you to appropriate parties in the voluntary sector for help, advice and support.
Training Needs Analysis (TNA) Service
VAC offers a Training Need Analysis (TNA) service in various areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). If you are interested to know what skills your staff members need to acquire please contact Mary Sakho (details below).
Once you have your TNA report, VAC can help you plan how to meet your staff’s ICT training needs, which might include their attending some of VAC’s own ICT workshops.PC Donation
Last year we donated 36 PCs to a number of Camden based groups and organisations. We networked PCs, and provided guidance to charity software prices and also helped groups with software installations.
There are often PCs available for groups that have a need for them. We can also offer groups a grant for software if necessary.
Volunteer Support
We advertise for volunteers and recruit and supervise them. Each volunteer is assigned a project with one or more of our groups.
VAC and Birkbeck College started to work together in September 2006 when we recruited 8 students on the final year of the Foundation Degree in IT as volunteers who needed to finish their work-based module by completing a project. The partnership with Birkbeck is now extended to more degree courses.
We recently took on 8 volunteers for this project. Five are designing websites for our groups, two are running training workshops, and one is designing a database.
For further information please contact
Mary Sakho
T: 020 7284 6573
E: Mary Sakho
Page last updated: August 1, 2008
