Baseline Research and Evaluation Framework: Use of Information and Communication Technology by UK Voluntary and Community Organisations

The Information and Communication Technology Consortium in the UK has published an evaluation framework which includes a baseline survey on how voluntary and community sector organisations are using ICT.

The ICT Consortium is a partnership of 28 voluntary sector organisations in the UK who have come together to plan and deliver a co-ordinated framework of ICT guidance, good practice, advice and support for voluntary and community organisations, accessible at a local level.

The aim of the ICT Consortium’s programme is to improve the capacity of voluntary and community organisations to use ICT well.

In July 2004 the ICT Consortium commissioned an evaluation framework for the Consortium’s program of work. The purpose of the evaluation framework is to assess how well the Consortium’s programme meets its key objectives.

As part of the exercise of developing the evaluation framework, a survey was conducted to give a snapshot of how organisations are using ICT, and to act as a baseline for follow-up research.

From nearly 1,000 responses (on paper and on line) a picture can be built up of the diverse pattern of ICT use among voluntary and community organisations.

Some of the findings are:

• Computers are an essential tool for these organisations (nearly 85% of respondents rated computers as “vital” and over 70% rated the internet as “vital”)
• The larger the organisation, the more likely it is to have an ICT strategy
• Organisations with an ICT strategy are more likely to invest in ICT and are more satisfied and confident with ICT use
• Assistance with networking is required
• There has been fast adoption of broadband internet access
• The use of a domain name related to the organisation is common (rather than an ISP-related domain name)
• There is disappointing attention to security (only 54% say they carry out back-up routines regularly)
• There’s continuing need for ICT advice, support and training
• Funders could be more responsive to the need for capital and running costs of ICT

Follow this link to the ICT website to download the ICT Consortium baseline executive summary 2004 and the full ICT Consortium baseline research report 2004 (opens in a new browser window)

For further information

Contact	:	Information and Communication Technology Consortium
Phone	:	0207 520 2509
Email	:	ICTresources@ncvo-vol.org.uk

WWW

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http://www.ictconsortium.org.uk