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.

Computer equipment is rarely dangerous but the way it is used can be a hazard to the health of staff, service users and volunteers. The Health and Safety at Work Act lays down legal standards for computer equipment and requires employers to take steps to minimise risks for all workers.

Netbooks are mini laptops. They are cheap, small, light and very portable. Some mobile phone companies supply them for ‘free’ with a broadband dongle to make it easy to use the internet while you’re on the move.

It is possible to use your connection to the internet to make telephone calls to other people, including calls to landlines and mobile phones. Once you’ve paid for your internet connection it may not cost any extra to make the calls, so you can save money on domestic and international calls.It is also possible to [...]

‘Old’ media, such as newspapers and TV, is mainly about other people publishing information using expertise and tools that we can’t afford. ‘New’ media (often called Social Media) uses more conversational tools on broadband connections and mobile phones to create a more interactive and participative culture. Web 2.0 is not a technical specification but suggests [...]

You can use a website to conduct a survey as part of any feedback or evaluation process where the participants have access to the internet. There are several services available, including free options, and all offer the ability to design the forms and analyse the results.

Trustees may have valuable practical ICT skills but their key role is to ensure that policies are in place to cover legal responsibilities such as personal safety, data protection and health and safety. They must also help develop and implement plans to ensure the organisation has the resources and support it needs.

ICT is a tool to enable your organisation to work more efficiently and be more effective.It can help you do better things and do things better.

New services are emerging that let you use your internet browser for tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, contact management, videoconferencing, photographs and project management. Some are free, others have a sliding scale based on specific features.

There are lots of very simple ways of reducing the environmental impact of the ICT you use.