Press Release
Independent evaluation of the ICT Hub silences critics, while NCVO commits to continuing its ‘sterling work’
20 May 2008
The ICT Hub, which has supported small to medium sized voluntary organisations in getting the most from ICT, has received an excellent performance report from independent evaluators.
The ICT Hub evolved from baseline research in 2004 completed by the (then) ICT Consortium, resulting in the Consortium being awarded the contract to operate the ICT Hub from July 2005 to March 2008. A similar baseline report was conducted in 2007 which found that the ICT Hub had:
- Considerably increased managerial understanding and awareness of the strategic benefits of ICT and better strategic planning
- Considerably increased access to a range of ICT advice, training and support services
- Provided more relevant and affordable private sector products and services
- Increased funder recognition of the critical role and cost benefits of ICT
The official external evaluation of the ICT Hub’s work, just completed by Paul Ticher, contained many highlights, clearly demonstrating that:
- The management of the ICT Hub was good and the core partners, IT4Communities, NAVCA, LASA AbilityNet and NCVO, worked hard and successfully together
- Over 80 per cent of the beneficiaries thought the work of the ICT Hub had been very valuable to them and well worth having
Paul Ticher, independent evaluator states in the report, “Many of the outputs achieved significant immediate benefits for particular organisations, which can be seen most clearly in those service delivered directly to a specific organisation, such as AbilityNet’s accessibility services, the iT4C volunteers, or the exchange visits. Evaluations of the conferences and training events also indicate that people went away with the information, enthusiasm and inspiration they needed to make dramatic changes to the way their organisation uses and thinks about its ICT.”
During its lifecycle, the ICT Hub held over 100 events, attended by over 3,500 people from a variety of organisations. The ICT Hub also created over 22 publications which were made available free to the sector. The Hub commissioned a ground-breaking specialist infrastructure project with key national partners such as Homeless Link and the Consortium of LGBT organisations, bringing ICT to new audiences.
The ICT Hub legacy is far reaching and impressive, not least the continuing work by the network of 9 Regional ICT Champions funded for the next 3 years by CapacityBuilders and hosted by NAVCA.
Matt Legg, Head of NCVO ICT Development Services said,
“As technology advances ever faster we are offering an increasing number of new and exciting ways for the voluntary and community sector to reach their key audiences. “
Ben Kernighan, NCVO Deputy Chief Executive added,
“This evaluation confirms once again that ICT is a vital tool for the sector. The ICT Hub has considerably increased understanding in the sector of the suitable applications of technology whilst focusing on the needs of the frontline organisations that will benefit. The ICT Hub has done sterling work and I’m pleased that much of the ground breaking work it has done will be continued here at NCVO. We will have a website with resources, e-newsletters, seminars, helpdesk support and will campaign on ICT issues.”
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