ICT - Help with Computers

New local and FREE ICT hotline

Superhighways has been supporting the Voluntary and Community Sector use ICT to support service delivery since 1998. It works with the South London CVS Partnership to provide a range of ICT support services across the six South London boroughs - Richmond, Kingston, Merton, Sutton, Croydon and Bromley. Due to a successful funding bid from London Councils we are now able to extend our FREE Help Desk Services to Bromley Organisations.When you call the Help Desk you will speak to one of our ICT Support works who can offer you immediate advice and practical remote support for a wide range of issues from:

IT emergencies - troubleshooting hardware and software
ICT Best practice advice - for example advising on anti virus software options and backing up your data
Signposting to other support services and useful ICT resources – for example equipment suppliers and local training opportunities
ICT training for staff, volunteers and trustees - for example setting up databases and scanning photos to insert into newsletters
Support with ICT Accessibility issues

Make a note of the phone number now – you never know when you are going to need it in a hurry 020 8123 8079 and for further details of the service please see their website www.superhighways.org.uk

Superhighways

Community Links Bromley is part of the South London Superhighways ICT support programme. Through the Superhighways network you can access advice, guidance and events on IT issues from people who specialise in charities and voluntary organisations.

Need support on software, backups, anti-virus or networking?
Looking for accountancy software?
Need training on MS office?

At Community Links Bromley we offer telephone or email guidance on these issues. Contact Philippa Leary on (020) 8315 1918 or email Philippa Leary.

Free or discounted hardware and software

Charity Technology Trust

Charity Technology Trust distributes donated Microsoft and other software to charities. All popular Microsoft products are available for a nominal administration fee.

Details at www.ctxchange.org/ctx/

Looking for a wordprocessor?

Google Documents and Spreadsheets is a free online wordprocessor package. The package allows you to share, edit and store documents via a web browser.

Find out more at www.google.com/docs

Free fonts

1001fonts.com is a website offering you fonts to download for free.

Just go to www.1001fonts.com and you can download free fonts for both Windows and Macs.

Computers from Comm-Tech

Comm-Tech provide low cost recycled PCs for charities.

For more information visit www.communitytechnology.org.uk/itequipment/index.php or telephone 020 8671 5555.

Other sources of donated computer equipment

We have a list of organisations that recycle computers. You can download it below.

PC recycling organisations - 28 KB

Looking for professional ICT advice and support?

ICT4Communities provide a matching service between organisations and ICT professionals who are willing to volunteer.

Community Links Bromley ran an event with IT4C in November 2006.

One of the important points that came out of the workshop was that IT professionals are suitable for specific, one off pieces of work rather than ongoing support which they may not be able to commit to. Some examples of projects a volunteer might be suitable for include: helping you plan what your IT needs are; training on using software; helping design websites and databases.

The good news is that the trainer felt Bromley based organisations shouldn't have too much difficulty finding an IT volunteer through IT4C, because many of their volunteers are based in the Greater London area.

On their website www.it4c.org.uk you can find out more or you can call Nigel Davis on 020 7796 2144. The website includes handouts covering similar topics to those covered at the event, like how to choose a suitable project and how to prepare for the volunteer working with you. You can also register online for opportunities.

Give your website an accessibility MOT

AbilityNet, the charity that helps people with disabilities use the internet and computers and one of the ICT National Hub core partners, provide free quick website accessibility checks. They are not a full accessibility audit but can could give a useful indication of any significant issues that may exist in your site.

To take advantage of this free service contact AbilityNet on 0800 269545 (weekdays 9am - 5pm) or email accessibility@abilitynet.org.uk, explaining that you are interested in the free services offered by the ICT Hub.

Abilitynet website resources

Abilitynet's website is also a useful source of information on web accessibility.

The site at www.abilitynet.org.uk includes a page of free or lowcost software used by people with a wide range of disabilities - see www.abilitynet.org.uk/pub_shareware .

Their December mailing also pointed out that a number of straightforward adaptations can be made to all computers without any charge, such as the size of icons, screen colour, font size or double spacing.

Looking for ICT information and guidance?

There are several sources of good voluntary sector computing information.

Lasa Information Sheets and Knowledge Base - great source of ICT information and guidance at www.lasa.org.uk.

IT for charities - Information on IT and technical matters from www.itforcharities.co.uk