PRESS RELEASE - 10 June 2004
UK online centres to develop key role in supporting voluntary sector ICT

The Net:Gain consortium, representing around 1500 community-based UK online and learndirect centres has been awarded £60,000 by the Home Office to develop a package of ICT support for voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) across England.

The new ICT support service aims to:

	help VCOs to ensure they are getting the most out of their ICT investment
	identify areas where ICT could improve business processes and service delivery
	work with organisations to develop an action plan for ICT development and training
	provide ongoing support and opportunities for further training

Following an initial feasibility study and business planning phase, the intention of the consortium - led by the Foyer Federation, Ufi, Direct Support and Funding Matters - is to roll out the service across England over the next two to three years.

The project comes in response to the Treasury’s cross-cutting review of voluntary sector service delivery, which showed the voluntary sector lagging behind other sectors in the effective use of ICT. This project aims to address this by helping VCOs understand how ICT can make them more effective and efficient, and open up possibilities for new ways of delivering services, or even the development of completely new services, building on existing good practice within the sector.
It will build on previous Government investment in UK online and learndirect centres, which are already playing a pivotal role in bringing the benefits of ICT to new users in some of the most disadvantaged communities in England. It will also take advantage of the considerable experience developed by centre staff and volunteers over the last three years, as well as centres’ unique position as an existing national delivery network, covering both rural and urban communities.

Carolyn Hayman, Foyer Federation Chief Executive, said:

'Over the last three years, Foyer UK online and learndirect centres have been developing creative approaches to engage users new to ICT and the internet. We see this as an exciting opportunity to further develop their role, and that of other VCS UK online centres, to provide valuable support to local voluntary and community organisations.'

Angela Richards, Ufi’s Head of UK online development, said:

'The combined UK online and learndirect centres network represents the largest ICT network of its kind. Centres have first-hand experience of the difficulties faced by other voluntary and community organisations in relation to ICT planning, which makes them ideally placed to understand their needs and support their development through training.'

Bruce Wright of Funding Matters added:

'I believe ICT is the most powerful agent for social change. Much of the VCS is involved in some form of social change. The ICT component of the Infrastructure Fund is therefore a critical and exciting investment and development opportunity for the VCS.'

The feasibility study and business plan is being funded through the Home Office's Active Community Unit’s Early Spend programme – a precursor to a multi-million pound investment in voluntary sector infrastructure due later this year. The business plan will look at how part of this investment could be used to fund the ongoing development of the service, to form a sustainable business supporting the voluntary sector for years to come.

Notes to Editors:

1. Direct Support is a consortium of agencies working with UfI to provide free advice and mentoring services for community and voluntary sector UK online centres. The lead consortium partner is ruralnetuk, a charity and Social Enterprise committed to rural regeneration, with 14 years experience of IT and ICT support to communities, networks and partners covering both rural and urban areas.

www.directsupport.org.uk
www.ruralnetuk.org

2. The Foyer Federation is the UK's leading youth organisation providing the largest network of accommodation integrated with education and training opportunities for 16 - 25 year-olds in housing need. There are currently 128 Foyers across the UK supporting over 10,000 young people each year. Foyers deliver an holistic life-long learning programme which, on a one-to-one basis, enables each young person to achieve the self-confidence and skills they need to go on to further education, training or employment.

www.foyer.net

The Federation coordinates a network of 50 UK online centres in Foyers across England.

3. Funding Matters is a small consultancy that provides funding Information Advice and Guidance to online centres. The Funding Matters service covers ICT-related Social Inclusion, Learning and Regeneration, as well as Employment, Enterprise and Culture. Funding Matters has also carried out small-scale research and policy development consultancy activities for DfES on matters relating to the development of UK online centres.

4. UFI - behind learndirect and UK online lies Ufi Ltd, one of the government’s key partners in delivering the workforce development and lifelong learning agendas. Ufi is bringing about a revolution in learning by taking forward the government’s concept of a ‘university for industry.’ It aims to drive up demand for learning, help adults improve their employability by acquiring new knowledge and skills, and help businesses become more competitive.

5. learndirect centres – There are more than 2000 learndirect centres across England , Wales and Northern Ireland , providing people with the opportunity to learn in places that offer an alternative to traditional academic settings.

learndirect courses – Over 75 per cent of learndirect courses are on line, and some are as short as short as 20 minutes. Course subjects include business and management, information and communication technology and the ‘Skills for Life’ of literacy and numeracy.Courses are competitively priced and some are subsidised by the Government.The learndirect website www.learndirect.co.uk supports learndirect’s on-line courses, learning services and administration systems.

UK online centres offer a broad range of services linked to the use of ICT and learning, and help bridge the digital divide by providing access to new technologies for those without access to the internet at home or at work. In April 2003, Ufi was given responsibility by the Department for Education and Skills for the administration and development of the UK online centre network, now 6,000 strong. It is planned that UK online centres will extend access to government e-services to many more people nationwide, encouraging them to use the internet to find information and advice, to access a range of services and employment opportunities, to take part in and progress their learning, and to develop their skills.

6. Media enquiries to Katherine Lewis, Head of Communications - The Foyer Federation, on telephone number 020 7430 2212 or katherine@foyer.net

The DirectSupport programme is funded by DfES and managed by ruralnet|uk
through its wholly owned subsidiary RNUK Ltd

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