You need enough money to buy, install, maintain and use the right solution for you. This requires capital as well as revenue budgets – like buying a car and budgeting for petrol, insurance, an MOT or driving lessons. An ICT budget will ideally include the cost of hardware, such as computers, screens, printers, cameras, and so on.

It will also include software purchase and software updates, installation and configuration of new equipment, maintenance and repairs, backup, training, reference books, consumables such as paper and ink, insurance, broadband costs, furniture and a realistic allowance for depreciation.

Not all funders will agree to fund all of these costs, but it is realistic to ask for them.

www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/budgetingandfunding

www.scip.org.uk/budgeting

Policy report by Lasa on why funders should recognise ICT as a legitimate part of funding applications.

www.ictchampion.lasa.org.uk/2009/10/policy-funding-ict/