News from ITEM3

I’ve started a new newsletter, “News from ITEM 3“, to help promote resources, events in the region etc. As well as being for frontline organisations to use, infrastructure organisations can “cut and paste” bits out of it for their own newsletters, use it in its entirety, email it out etc. The idea is that it is a flexible resource to help groups find out more about what IT can do for them. First edition can be downloaded here:

News from ITEM 3(as word doc, 65Kb)

Feedback welcome.

The Regional 3rd Sector IT Strategy

Tah-dah! The “early draft” of the regional ICT strategy, commissioned by the infrastructure steering group, managed by Engage East Midlands and jointly produced by High Peak CVS, VAL and PurpleZebra, is now available. It covers research into IT needs of frontline groups; research into funders views (or not!); how the sectors’ ICT needs “mesh” with the Regional Economic Strategy (and how to influence the RES!) and finally an action plan.

 You can download Draft 3rd sector ICT strategy here.

There is still more to do on the strategy, including completing case studies and the action plan. However, we would like comments from third sector organsiations (both frontline and ICT service deliverers) to help move the strategy on.

I presented the strategy at the Infrastructure Steering Group meeting in Melton Mowbray earlier in the week (nice lunch, with great pork pie!), along with an outline of the Regional Champions role. My presentation was well received (PowerPoint download) – I hope it wasn’t just that it was getting to the end of the morning and everyone wanted lunch!

Regional Projects Meeting

My first “public “meeting in my role as regional champion was arranging the meeting of ICT projects in the region. We have being meeting approximately every three months for the last year or so, to share ideas, network etc. The meeting yesterday was in Loughborough, hosted by Ray Smith and his team at LCC.

We had a good turnout, despite it being “holiday season”, including Andy and Terryfrom Ashfield Links; Alex from VAL; Andrew from PurpleZebra, Paul Webster from the hub, John Powderly. Issues discussed included:

• Current work the hub is undertaking (with Paul updating about the new unmet needs fund, SKiLD training workshops for development workers and the soon to be published ICT Good Management Guide)
• The regional champion mission and workplan
• Update on the regional ICT strategy
• Proposed CircuitRider accreditation

Minutes will be sent to those on the email list and are published here. Please let me know if you are not currently on the email group and want adding to it.