The conference has been developed to meet the needs of small to medium voluntary and community organisations based in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and is tailored to suit their specific needs.

The conference will also be of particular relevance to individuals who have responsibility for ICT but limited experience, or organisations with little or no internal ICT support.

The speakers on the day will cover the following topics;

• Why managers and Trustees should be interested in ICT

• How to write for the web

• Data Protection

• ICT and Accessibility

• Conducting Online Surveys

There will also be a chance to ‘ask the expert’ which is an opportunity to pick the brains of our panel of experts by asking about any ICT issue that you are currently experiencing.

For more information and get hold of a booking form visit the getwithit website.

The Get with IT team are funded through the BIG Lottery to provide IT advice and support to voluntary and community organisations across the two counties. To find out more about this project why not visit their website www.getwithit.org.uk.

To register your interest in these events please fill in the booking form below and return using the contact details on the screen. If you should like futher information contact phyllisl@comfirst.org.uk.

Workshop booking form

Workshop One is 9.30am – 12.30pm and Workshop Two 1.30pm – 4.30pm.

Workshop One – Is your art or craft group missing out?

More and more art and craft groups are using the web and computers to help their group and promote themselves – is your group missing out?
Guiding you through the opportunities available to your group it will cover: simple websites, demonstrate the range of computers/hardware/software available, the costs involved and how you could secure funding, back up/virus protection/firewalls and securing on-going technical support. Demonstrates how using IT can help your group with minutes, newsletters, databases and bookkeeping. Everyone will receive a comprehensive pack of handy hints, tips and articles.

Workshop Two – Developing IT within your art and craft group

Free masterclass exploring topics e.g. Web 2.0 and specialist software packages

Covers the opportunities available to develop your IT capabilities. Includes how to develop your website e.g. ticket sales, blogs, uploading photographs, music and videos, pod casting, RSS and web 2.0. Includes demonstrations of specialist software packages available e.g. Photoshop & composer. The session will also cover free software available, sharing hardware resources within the sector, costings and funding opportunities, and how to access further help and support. Everyone will receive a comprehensive pack of handy hints, tips and articles on using IT within your group.
The trainers are Miles Maier – London ICT Champion & Brian Bell ICT Commission Manager for Voluntary Arts England.

To book a space contact Brian Bell at Voluntary Arts England on 0191 230 4464, e-mail brian@vaengland.org.uk , complete the attached form or download a booking form at www.vaengland.org.uk/events

Featuring workshops such as “Making the most of your contacts”, “Greener computing”, “Casting your web more widely”, “Avoiding Apocalypse Now”, “The power of sound” and “The wired fundraiser”, the third annual ICT Hub conference is your opportunity to find out how ICT can help your organisation be more efficient and effective. The conference will also feature the 2008 ICT Hub awards, showcasing those organisations that have realised the potential of ICT over the last year. Make your nomination now!

To find out more about the awards, visit www.icthub.org.uk/ICT_Hub_Awards. To book your place at the conference, download the booking form www.icthub.org.uk/events/ict_hub_2008_national_conference_and_awards.html.

Wednesday 13^th February 2008, Birmingham

Whether it be using a database to manage the contacts for your dance event, using a free piece of software to edit a piece of music, showcasing your artwork on an online gallery or collaborating with other arts groups using new media tools such as blogs and wikis, technology can be used in all aspects of the arts. Using technology effectively and efficiently can save you time, money and resources, ultimately helping you to do more with your funding.

This one day event is designed to help organisations working in all areas of the arts discover how ICT can help them both to run their organisation more effectively and in the delivery of their arts activities.
For more information and to book your place, visit www.icthub.org.uk/events/a_wider_embrace_increasing_participation.html

“Using and benefiting from ICT in the Mental Health Sector” Friday 22^nd February 2008, London

How can ICT benefit the Mental Health Sector? Are more people using the internet to donate to charity? Does sharing information improve your service delivery? How can you tap into the new Online Technologies and reach out to new audiences?
This one day event is aimed at helping organisations in or working with the Mental Health sector to use ICT more effectively. It is designed for all levels of ICT expertise with sessions to suit all requirements.
For more information and to book your place, visit www.icthub.org.uk/events/ict_hub_conferences_for_vcos_working_in_mental_health.html

The ICT Hub Circuit Rider Training and Standards Project have come up with the following Principles which are shown on www.lasa.org.uk/circuitriders/principles.shtml .

You can show your commitment to these by “signing up” to the principles. To sign up to the list of organisations and individuals who have made a commitment to work according to these principles, please email crprinciples@lasa.org.uk – your name, organisation (if appropriate) and web address will be published on the Circuit Rider Signatories page www.lasa.org.uk/circuitriders/signatories.shtml