at Appleby

An Introduction to net:gain

Everyone knows that technology is supposed to help organisations to improve their service, communicate more effectively with others, and save time and money. Unfortunately, this doesn't just happen. It takes planning and understanding to get to the point where technology is working for you. In a busy schedule, this is often difficult to achieve. This is true in any business, but finding the time and resources to implement Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be even more of a struggle for the hard-pressed voluntary and community sector.

That's why net:gain has been established. Part of the Home Office's ChangeUp initiative to build capacity in this sector, net:gain is specifically designed to help voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) plan and implement technology that meets their organisational needs, to make them more effective and support their own wider objectives.

Net:gain is based on a membership scheme and is aimed at supporting management rather than simply training staff.

Membership Benefits

There are three stages to utilising technology successfully:

Looking at ICT at a strategic level: how can it be used to support your organisation's goals
Planning, selecting and funding the right ICT solution
Implementing the solution

Net:gain will help VCO managers through these stages, focussing primarily on the first and second stages: planning the technology and avoiding the expensive pitfalls along the way.

A year's subscription to net:gain allows you to receive the support of both a national organisation with experts in every aspect of ICT, and local support to help you through the maze and to choose appropriate ICT solutions.

But there are other benefits in addition to the main purpose of developing a strategic plan. Discounts have been negotiated with major suppliers of ICT equipment (such as Cisco) that will give significant discounts to VCOs. Membership includes a subscription to Experts Online, a well-established support group that can give answers to many problems encountered by voluntary and community groups on a wide range of subjects, including IT, funding, and legal requirements for employers.

Members joining net:gain through Appleby Online Centre will receive discounts on our training and support services, including sessions customised to your organisation's needs.

These can include:

	Half days sessions covering topics such as mail merge, spreadsheets, desk top publishing, and using digital images
	Planning and developing your web site
	Application support and consultancy: using Word, PowerPoint, spreadsheets and databases etc
	Using our computers within an open learning session, with tutor support
	Meeting and training room hire
	Or our trainers can attend your office to help you to implement your IT action plan

The membership fee depends on the turnover of the organisation. Fees are set at the national level. These are currently under review so contact net:gain or Appleby Online to confirm the figures, but at June 2007 they were, for the first year of membership:

	Small organisations: £40
	Medium size organisations: £150
	Large organisations: £350

Programme of Workshops

Workshops are programmed to suit groups. Contact Appleby Online Centre for details of the latest schedule

More Information

The national net:gain website has more details about the scheme:
www.net-gain.org.uk

To join through Appleby Online contact the Centre:
Telephone 01530 274302
Email info@applebymagna.org.uk