New ICT support for VCS organisations

At the Forum's conference in November 2008, Electroville launched a new programme aimed at helping voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) achieve their missions more effectively by the use of ICT. It’s called Take Control with ICT.

Capacitybuilders’ funding means that front-line organisations are offered professional ICT advice and consultancy and technical services at a fraction of the normal cost.

There are two levels of support available:

Level 1 – any voluntary organisation under £1m turnover

Any voluntary organisation with a turnover of under £1m per year is eligible for net:gain funding.
Participating VCOs will receive the following benefits as part of the programme:

• attendance at the net-gain Planning Workshop (full day). This helps Senior Managers create an ICT strategy for their organisation which enables the organisation to deliver its core objectives more effectively.
• an on-site visit (up to 3 hours) from an ICT strategy consultant plus 12 months telephone support from the consultant.
• either: attendance at a “Website-in-a-Day” workshop. At the end of the day organisations will have a fully controllable website. 
• or: 25% off 12 months contract for technical support: This consists of:
o Telephone & Remote Support normally priced at £6 plus VAT per month per PC and £12 + VAT per month per server.  It includes an annual on-site health check of the systems. This consists of a basic hardware and software audit, a check up and tune up of each PC.
o On-site support:  Up to 1 hour per PC per year may be pre-purchased with 25% off. (Normal on-contract price £40 plus VAT per hour).

Level 2 – Organisations with a turnover of under £250,000 and catering for one of the specified hard-to-reach groups.

Organisations which are eligible also get extended benefits under the Improving Reach scheme. Eligible VCOs must cater for clients in one of the following areas:
• BME,
• Faith,
• Asylum Seekers and Refugees,
• Rural or
• Disability.
They must also have an annual turnover of less than £250,000.

Such organisations will receive all the level 1 benefits plus:
• Both the website-in-a-day course and the technical support
• Graphical enhancement of their website
• 50% off technical support in year 1, 25% in year 2.

Prices

Organisations with a turnover of less than £25,000: £39
Organisations with a turnover between £25,000 and £250,000: £99
Organisations with  a turnover between £250,000 and £1m (only eligible for level 1 offer): £229
Organisations with a turnover of over £1m: call for details

Contact and further information:

For more information or to book a place, contact Electroville on 01924 488725, email info@electroville.org.uk or visit the website: www.electroville.org.uk

Electroville is an independent Social Firm providing ICT Services and technical support to Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) within Yorkshire and Humber.