ICT

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a key part of the functioning of most organisations and impacts on both staff and service users. Although it can be a challenge, there are options available for homelessness agencies and their use of ICT.

Context

ICT offers the homelessness sector an avenue to improve services, the day-to-day working of staff or service user involvement and skills. The ways that ICT interacts with staff and service users includes:

Staff and ICT:

• Policies and documents
• Record keeping and outcome monitoring
• Communications
• Finance and accounting
• Multimedia
• Resource finding.

Service Users and ICT:

• Multimedia
• Communications
• Entertainment
• Training and education
• Careers.

Digital exclusion means that the benefits of digital technology are not distributed equally to all groups and communities. It is both a symptom and cause of social exclusion. To this end, Communities and Local Government launched an action plan, outlining the key issues relating to the use of digital technology and arguing why digital exclusion is an increasingly urgent social problem.

Solutions

NCVO’s ICT Hub is a source of trusted information on ICT to enable voluntary and community organisations to operate more effectively. There is guidance on managing ICT and costing and funding ICT.

There is also a range of relevant publications available.

Further Information

The Communities and Local Government website details new research and resources which have been developed to assist local authorities, the third sector and private enterprise in tackling digital inclusion.

Further research into ICT in the Third Sector is available on the ICT Hub Research page.

The Funding ICT Projects document by the Charity Technology Trust suggests a number of funders to target for ICT projects including Microsoft and the Big Lottery Fund.

ICT Good Practice Examples - These are case studies of good practice in using ICT by homelessness groups. The examples highlight the way the projects are currently operating, the successes they have had, and the ways in which they have overcome challenges and barriers.

Free ICT Software gives links to no-cost software which can support the work of homelessness agencies.

ICT and Training

ICT training can be undertaken in a number of ways to tailor the ability and interests of ther person involved. Training and accreditation are valuable to increasing service user's ability to gain employment and for staff to deliver their project in the most effective ways.

Oxford, Cambridge and RSA examinations are a leading UK awarding body providing a range of qualifications at varying levels. Their ICT website offers details of the courses with key documents associated with the course. CLAiT (Computer Literacy and information technology) is one of the most popular ICT courses used in the voluntary sector.

ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) is an internationally recognised computer skills qualification that aids career development and skills. No prior knowledge of ICT is required to take the course. More details can be found on the British Computer Society website.

This work has been commissioned by ICT Hub.