The document discusses net:gain, a national program that helps third sector organizations in the UK plan for and implement information and communication technologies (ICT). Net:gain provides subsidized support through local centers using a 10-step framework to help organizations review their mission and goals, explore technology options, and develop ICT implementation plans and strategic views aligned with their missions. Organizations that have worked with net:gain report benefits like improved communication, better funding bids, and increased efficiency.

1. Helping Third Sector Organisations Make Sense of ICT Introduction to net:gain

2. Agenda What is net:gain? How can we help? … .. … . … . What’s next?

3. “ For a list of the ways in which technology has failed to improve your quality of life, please press 3.” Phil Green

4. Icebreaker – pairs exercise Introduce yourself to each other Name, Role Apart from funding, what are your top 3 technology challenges?

5. What is net:gain? A national, membership-based support programme Delivered as a local service For CEOs, Trustees, Senior Managers Funded under ChangeUp Heavily subsidised Pay as little as 12.5% of the market value

6. How will net:gain help? net:gain will introduce you to: Other sector leaders/managers And will provide: Easy-to-use planning techniques Inclusive exercises Visual grids and charts to collect your planning data and questions to resolve Sources of help and support Free publications and discounts

7. How will net:gain help? net:gain will help you to: Look before you leap Involve staff, volunteers, users Gather, sift and prioritise information Understand your technology requirements better Align these with your mission Contribute to quality assurance eg PQASSO, IiP (Investors in People) and other quality processes net:gain will help you to take control

8. Analysis What you do Understanding Why you do it Commitment to change to a shared vision Progress Culture, Values Enthusiasm A living, working document What is a strategy?

9. Successful planning requires Leadership in your own organisation Time to invest in finding new ways to work Focus on improving the way you work Support Some of which net:gain will provide A route map! net:gain 10 Step Reference Guide

10. What will I do? Using a Ten-step framework for planning: Review: Mission and goals Explore possibilities Refine decisions, via: initiatives, outcomes & outputs, benefits & risk, costing & funding

11. What will this give me? Technical Specifications covering Full Cost of Ownership eg better funding bids Implementation plan Strategic view on ICT … to incorporate into a written plan if you wish Template provided

12. How it’s helped... “ Due to better communication flow staff are now being included in writing and contributing to bids” Travelling Light Theatre Company “ We have better communications between staff.. and a section in the next Strategic Plan (2008) setting out our needs and plans in relation to ICT.” Devon Voluntary Youth Services “ The best thing is now we know how much to ask for in funding bids.” Anon, net:gain delegate

13. All aboard? net:gain helps you consider/include all points of view: Staff and volunteers Service users/beneficiaries Customers/suppliers Funders Stakeholders Board

14. Bridge the gap…

15. Better staff buy-in…. “ A shared diary was an obvious solution, but formally to get clinical staff to understand this was hard. Going through the net:gain process really helped.” Dorothy House Hospice “ Staff left our meeting feeling motivated - we agreed goals and new initiatives.” Lloyd Park Centre “ The funding blog is now owned and maintained by the funding advice team.” Voluntary Action North Somerset

16. net:gain templates & tools

17. Tools help filter information: Mission> Goals> Initiatives> Re-process> Requirements> Cost-Benefit> Resource> Implement>Plan

18. Planning made simple.. “ How useful these processes are! Not just around ICT, but for all planning!” net:gain delegate “ net:gain teaches you a good way of considering a complex situation.” All Saints Action Network “ To have tools for strategic planners to understand an issue or part of a service from different perspectives is really valuable” Travelling Light Theatre Company

19. How do circuit riders fit? Identify need for strategic planning During visits Selling benefits of strategic planning Referring to net:gain Understanding and supporting the net:gain method

20. Circuit rider support Steps 5 to 8 Charts to refine technology needs Step 9 Identifyhelp! Steps 1 to 4 Mission, Goals, Processes… Step 10 Strategy

21. Typically 2/3 support sessions Group/individual ICT planning clinics & technology demonstrations Discounts and offers Guest speakers Case studies, Peer reviews Sources of specialist support Funding and planning advice online net:gain membership: features

22. Charity Technology Trust offer (CTX) 90% discount on CISCO equipment Discounted Microsoft software Free online guidance on selecting order For charities only - eligibility criteria may apply Go to online shop at www.ctxchange.org Experts Online Free year’s membership Membership: Affinity schemes

23. Examples Ongoing ‘mentoring’ help A ‘clinic’ session Peer-to-peer support (other net:gain delegates) Links to local ChangeUp initiatives Centre membership benefits Example - discounted/free training Example - discounted ICT access Example - AIG for your staff and volunteers Example - ICT technical support ‘club’ Membership: Centre offers

24. How does planning for ICT help? Internally efficient processes effective communications and trust happy, productive staff & volunteers good, available market information Externally increased likelihood of grant success increased likelihood of service contracts happy, well-served clients! This is what is all about!

25. Tangible results... “ Our total annual saving could be £2,900… And we have won a funding bid for outreach laptops.” Hartlepool Carers “ We’re getting more for the same - a cost and service benefit: more patients served effectively for the same cost.” Dorothy House Hospice “ We’ve had both funding and technical help from the online forums… it’s good training and good value and more should take of advantage of it.” Failsworth Community Alliance

26. Reference Guide

27. The Reference Guide structure Ten Steps Each with an Activity/Template The result of each Step informs the next Use Toolkits to go ‘deeper/wider’ ‘ Step off’ at any time… … armed with completed templates to inform ‘an ICT expert’

28. The online Toolkit Templates All tools and diagrams needed An ICT Plan template With sample text With guidance on where to use diagrams Further suggested activities by theme Sources of Support National, Local Sources of Funding … and how to approach these

29. net:gain members’ area - online materials access to Experts Online www.net-gain.org.uk

30. Experts Online - public view

31. Login at www.net-gain.org.uk

32. Members’ Area

33. Sign in using your net:gain ID and password

34. Experts Online

35. Meet the Experts

36. Support from your net:gain centre Centres to add their own slides/info here

37. Funders Acknowledgements net:gain centres and mentors for their help with pathfinder work Original Sources Strategy Maps - Robert Kaplan and David Norton The Balanced Scorecard - Robert Kaplan and David Norton The Technology Trap - David Wilcox and Terry Grunwald Development consultants