ICT Hub September 2007 Newsletter
The content of this newsletter was last edited on 8th August 2008
This month we focus on good ICT management and online security. Think about investing now or risk paying more later.
Contents
- Latest articles
- This month’s case studies
- New resources on the Knowledgebase
- Stories from around the web
- News from the ICT Hub
Latest articles
How safe are your IT systems? - Online security is vital for charities to operate, there are so many dangers out there that can compromise your computer systems. Find out how one charity learnt the hard way and was compromised by hackers.
Good ICT Management in a Nutshell - What is good ICT management all about and why you should read the new ICT Hub publication Guide to Managing ICT in the Voluntary and Community Sector.
The Need for Trusted Local Advisors - How do you know your source of ICT information and advice is right? Tony Okotie on the importance of working with those you can trust (and pop round and visit).
This month’s case studies
Technology is not always the answer - Good ICT management can mean knowing when not to use the technology. A pensioners group in Ealing found out to their cost.
The perils of not looking after the system - It’s almost unbelievable, but disasters do happen in voluntary groups. Find out what happened to a small North West charity which didn’t look where it was going.
New resources on the Knowledgebase
New this month on the ICT Hub Knowledgebase
- Writing for the web - How to write great website copy to attract your audience and keep them interested
- Developing a web publishing policy - Guidance on what to include in your organisation's Web publishing policy
- Implementing a database: practical and strategic issues - Practical advice for successfully implementing a database in your organisation
- Help, I’ve become an Accidental Techie - Valuable information for anyone who finds themselves as an Accidental Techie
- Choosing bulk email software - Guidance on choosing software tools for sending bulk emails (e.g. for e newsletters and marketing communications)
Stories from around the web
Personal contact still preferred
to online communications
'The internet in Britain 2007', a survey by The Oxford Internet Institute, shows that
personal contact wins over online activism. Only 9 per cent of respondents engage in any civic
activity online compared with 36 per cent offline.
Virtual homes –p
p raising funds and awareness
Homeless charity Shelter have created their own virtual city, selling virtual homes online
and encouraging people to build virtual communities. They hope to raise awareness around
homelessness and support their fundraising efforts. The city itself is at
www.buildacity.org.uk.
World Usability Day
Still a couple of months away – 8th November 2007 – but worth preparing for. This year’s
theme is exploring how health is impacted by design.
Is a Script Kiddie Phishing Your
ICT With Worms?
The BBC have published a handy glossary to ICT crime. Understand terms like phishing and
spoofing and much more.
Birmingham
gets community groups online
The Birmingham VOICE project is helping hundreds of Birmingham community and voluntary groups
to create their own website and network with other groups by harnessing the power of the
internet.
Petcasting –
woof woof!
The Blue Cross are running petcasts – podcasts about pets – giving users the opportunity to
hear web content on the move.
How to read a
hardware or software review
When you don’t have access to one-to-one advice, how do you get the best of the many reviews
available. TechSoup help you become a discerning reader of advice.
News from the ICT Hub
Managing ICT – A New Free Publication from the Hub
The
Guide to Managing ICT in
the Voluntary and Community Sector, a comprehensive guide to all aspects of working with
technology, is available now.
Circuit Rider Round Up
The latest issue (August/September) of the Circuit Rider Round up is now available at
www.lasa.org.uk/circuitriders/.
New opportunity for support from your Regional Champion
This summer saw the appointment of a South West Regional ICT Champion. Julie Harris of
COSMIC, with the support of several colleagues, is helping individual third sector organisations to
develop their use, understanding and improvements of ICT with advice and hands-on support. Julie is
also travelling the South West, meeting organisations and consortia and developing a sector-wide
plan. More about the work, its objectives and the people involved at
www.cosmic.org.uk/about_cosmic/ict_champion.
