It’s important for senior managers and trustees to ensure good governance and management policies are in place covering legal responsibilities such as personal safety, data protection and health and safety. They must also help develop and implement strategic ICT plans to ensure the organisation has the resources and support it needs.
The ICT Champions have [...]

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. [...]

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

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 [...]

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.

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.

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.

Online information such as the ICT Knowledgebase is a great resource but sometimes a book is better. User-friendly options such as Dummies Guides are handy as a reference, as well as for learning new skills.

Work more efficiently by making sure your computer systems are set up to collect, store and retrieve information quickly and easily.

An Acceptable Use Policy includes guidelines and procedures explaining how you expect staff, volunteers or clients to behave when using your computers. It may link to legal issues, health and safety, staff discipline or financial management.

Managers and trustees must take data security seriously and must take appropriate steps to avoid sensitive data falling into the wrong hands. This includes client information, staff and volunteer details, financial information or confidential reports.
Have a written policy about using and storing passwords and include it in your induction information.
Store data in as few places [...]

Data protection is about protecting people, not data. People can be harmed if their data is misused or falls into the wrong hands, or if inaccurate or insufficient data is used to make decisions that affect them.
Before collecting, storing or using data for the first time always check you are complying with the Data Protection [...]