DirectSupport's Virtual ICT Centre

Want to share experience with other voluntary sector organisations?

Groups or centres who want to participate by working online with other voluntary sector players can join the Virtual ICT Centre. This provides a forum to exchange information via an electronic group-working system (extranet). Entry to the area can be via a web interface (there is a members' login on this site), or via free software provided to members. To request an account, call 0800 026 0202.

The online working area has been especially created for UK online centres in the voluntary and community sector, but it does not stand in isolation as it builds on an integrates with a much wider online community. This network of networks, called Networks Online, includes over 2500 voluntary sector organisations in over 25 different networks. It has been developed since 1998 by the voluntary sector, for the voluntary sector.

Participants can exchange good practice, ask questions of other organisations, consult mentors and specialists, and contribute ideas. There is a dedicated Experts Online service free to all members, where qualified personnel will answer your questions quickly - in subject areas ranging from Charity Law to ICT issues, and funding.

The area provides access to sample documents and policies, learning resources and fun ICT activities for centre users, and over 1500 funding sources relevant to the sector as a whole - not just ICT training. >>more

Joining the Virtual ICT Centre will also give your group or centre an email address (yourname@ictcentre.org.uk). We will set up private areas for regional or sub-regional groups of UK online centres who want to work together online in their own private extranet.

Subscriptions requested by UK online centres in the voluntary sector are currently free for a year, funded by DfES. Paying subscribers contribute a not-for-profit subscription of under £100 per annum.

The Virtual ICT Centre will continue to evolve and support collaboration and networking after DfES funding for DirectSupport ends, as part of Networks Online, which aims to be a self-funding service.