An Accidental Techie is the person everyone turns to when their computer goes wrong. They may not have any IT qualifications, or have anything about IT support in their job description, but they know the answer to common problems.

You do not need to be a qualified accountant to offer financial support and you do not need a great deal of technical knowledge to help organizations to manage their ICT better.

Potential risks related to ICT include risks to security, health and safety and financial stability. Information and valuable equipment may be lost, damaged or stolen. Or unauthorised people may gain access to sensitive information. Charities above a certain size must carry out risk assessments and may need to take technical advice to address ICT-related issues. [...]

Databases are commonly used for managing contacts, monitoring or fundraising. Some organisations have the expertise to develop their own database, but most buy a package off the shelf or ask a developer to build something to suit their needs.

The internet offers new opportunities for fundraising and there are lots of ways for charities to generate money online.

It may be helpful for a group of people to be able to work together on a document at the same time. They may be drafting a policy together, preparing a grant application or producing guide to services.

A reliable back-up system protects your organisation when things go wrong. It is a vital ingredient in safe and secure ICT operations and can be installed and operated at relatively low cost. Although it is a technical issue it is the responsibility of trustees and manager to make sure that data is secure and the [...]

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for making computers and the internet accessible to people with disabilities. Talk to the person to identify their needs.

In terms of ICT accessibility is about making sure services and information can be used by a wide range of people. It is also about making adjustments to computer equipment to enable staff, volunteers and service users to be more productive.

Open Office is a free suite of tools that copies many of the functions of Microsoft Office. Open Office has been under development for more than 10 years and can run on Windows, Apple’s OSX, and Linux.

ICT stands for Information and Communications Technology and is an umbrella term that covers computer hardware and software, the internet, mobile phones and the other computer-based tools and applications we use. Many people also refer to Information Technology, or IT, and the terms are usually taken to mean the same thing.

Video conferencing via the web can save you time and money if you have a computer and a broadband internet connection for each participant, a low cost video camera and a service to manage the connection. It can save travel time to meetings, or change contact from infrequent longer meetings to more frequent short meetings. [...]

It depends what they use it for, but it’s probably an advantage if it helps you stay abreast of current trends and improves your communications.

There are nine Regional ICT Champions working across England. We are trusted individuals with a track record of providing reliable and authoritative ICT advice to the voluntary and community sector. Funded by Capacitybuilders and coordinated by NAVCA, we help ensure that ICT plays a positive role in sustaining a strong and effective third sector.

Many third sector organisations exist to campaign on a particular cause. Whether it’s for something in your local community or tackling problems on a global scale ICT can help make your voice louder.