Tech For Good Roundtable
We held a Roundtable event last week and we were so happy about the response, with over twenty attendees. It was positive, insightful, and full of great learning and ideas from a varied mix of participants from across the voluntary and tech sectors in the region.
Thanks so much to those that attended and contributed so positively. We’ve put together some take-aways below. This is by no means an exhaustive list, as there was so much discussed, but hopefully summarises some of what we talked about. Please do add your feedback or any other points you feel should be represented but are not included here in the comments.
Over the next few weeks and months, along with our partners, we will evolve our planning and thinking while we continue our strategic approach and seek funding to further support this work.
In the meantime, hopefully you will join us at our Digital Trustees event on the 19th June. You can find out more about that here: https://digitaltrustees.eventbrite.co.uk
The Importance of Language
There is a clear need to get the language right for the right audience, but also a need for education to support the understanding of language used by different groups. For example, the difference between “Tech” and “Digital”, that VCSE organisations often still refer to as “IT”. This goes in the both directions, with charities and voluntary groups having their own terminology. We are going to have a think on some ideas of how to manage this but would welcome any ideas we could support.
Supporting Volunteering
Volunteering is a clear area where the tech sector can and does support VCSE organisations in the region, but there are challenges. There is a need for more operational support, which could be helped through initiatives like Sector Connector in Newcastle and North Tyneside. Software was also identified such as Benevity and local company OnHand. In addition there is often scenarios where a volunteer doesn’t have basic sector understanding which can result in an unsustainable or unsuitable choice of support being provided. Sunderland Software City are developing a workshop for tech volunteers for exactly this reason that will be launched in the summer.
Unbiased Advice
The value of unbiased technology audits and support such as that provided by projects such as Digital Pathfinders, and organisations like Power to Change, means organisational questions can be asked without pre-supposing what the solutions may be. A focus on how any solutions will be suitable and sustainable is crucial to prevent unwanted problems or costs later down the line. Avoiding technology services for technology sake is crucial and can be done by asking the right questions about the challenges before looking at the solutions, something Tom Watson has been working on for some time. The work Sunderland Software City has been doing with Connected Voice, Gateshead Council and VODA with over 50 charities in the last 18 months also provides significant evidence for more investment in this space.
Tech for Good Meetups
Participants were interested in a potential meetup for “tech curious” charities, and socially conscious tech companies which could be a way to create relationships between technologists and voluntary organisations. There are plans for “Social Tech North East” to start again in 2023 and Tech for Good North East will continue to arrange thematic events for people in these groups across the region. A number of regional Local Authorities and Local Infrastructure Organisations also host groups looking at digital inclusion and adoption. We hope to gather these into a directory as we develop the Tech for Good North East website over the next few months.
Digital Trustees
Becoming a trustee is something that is accessible to all, and while it comes with responsibilities there is lots of help that the Community Foundation in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland can provide to support. Trustees will be unlikely to cover the whole “Tech” or “Digital” needs that an organisation will have, but to have more tech-savvy people on charity boards will ultimately provide a sustainable increase in adoption. We are hosting a Digital Trustees event on the 19th June as part of the TechNExt Festival, Small Charities Week and Digital Leaders Week.
Joining National Networks
A number of the participants have attended the Tech for Good Organisers Network, and we have reached out to Catalyst to understand what the opportunities could be to learn from and share our experiences with this and other National Networks in tech, digital and data. It was highlighted that we will have plenty to collaborate on and learn from by tapping into other more established groups like these and national programmes such as Power to Change.
There was so much more discussed and all topics were significantly more nuanced that this post can represent but hopefully it provides a summary and some useful pointers for next steps.
If you couldn’t make it, or were there and want to keep in touch, please make sure to sign up to updates on our website and we will let you know as plans and ideas progress. We would love to hear from you so let us know if you would like to chat.
