Related Knowledgebase articles:

• Facebook Causes - Not Just For Individuals
• Should Your Organisation Use Social Networking Sites
• Starting Out - Software

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events, training & learning

25 February - West London CVS network volunteering conference - College of North West London. Includes a workshop session run by Mike Veitch on ICT for volunteer managers. More information on the conference

2 March - NetSquared Net Tuesday @ Kings College, WC1 - 5.30 -7.30 - International Exchange. Sign up for Net Tuesday

10-11 March - NDI10 Digital Participation  @ Vinopolis Conference Centre, Bankside, SE1. The 5th National Digital Inclusion Conference aims to bring together key digital inclusion players, providers, policy makers and companies to share best practice, make connections, and build momentum. Full details, programme and booking on the conference website.

15 March - North London Workforce Development Conference @ Cypriot Community Centre, Haringey,  N22. The London Regional ICT Champion will be running two workshops on fundraising on the internet and writing a winning ICT grant application at this all-day event. See the North London CVS Partnership for details.

8-10 April – NTEN NonProfit Technology Conference (NTC) – Atlanta, Georgia, USA. NTC brings together nonprofit leaders, IT innovators, communications gurus, fundraising superstars amongst other nonprofit staff looking to learn the latest trends, practical how-tos, and IT solutions to optimize their organisation's technology to further their missions to create more social good in the world. Check out the agenda and register now.

Idealware online seminars
Idealware continues their series of seminars in March and April with Considering Social Media, Making the Most of Social Networking Sites, Getting Started With Mobile Outreach and Online Conferencing. All seminars run between 1 - 2.30 pm US EST (which is 6 - 7.30pm here, we think). Check out Idealware for more information and more seminars.

Media Trust training
The Media Trust is running a number of digital media training events in the London area over the next few months - see the Media Trust training page for more information.

Digital media training
Soundelivery are running sessions from £195 on video for the web  (18 February), podcasting (25 February) and social media basics (26 February) at Happy Computers, E1. Call on 078 0372 1481 for more information or to book.

ICT Champions Events Calendar
The ICT Champions website now has a useful list of countrywide ICT events.

Event/training organisers - if you are planning an event please send us brief details so we can include it in the e-Bulletin by emailing ictbulletin@lasa.org.uk 

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funding and awards

Win a PC and printer
HP are offering a computer and printer to organisations who are changing the world using technology. They have partnered with bloggers including NetSquared's Amy Sample Ward - all you need to do is answer a question about your favourite world-changing technology on Amy's blog to enter.

Santander Foundation
The Santander Foundation funds local, regional and national charities for their work within the UK. Funding must directly help disadvantaged people through one or both of these charitable priorities - education and training, or financial capability. Up to £10,000 is available anywhere in the UK where there is Santander branch office or up to £30,000 in the London Borough of Camden (and eight other priority locations in the UK). There are no deadlines or application form, however there is now a checklist to make sure that you covered all the information required in your letter of application.

Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme
The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off donations of between £1,000 and £4,000 to local projects that support children and their education and welfare, elderly people, and adults and children with disabilities.
 
Sustaining Switched on Communities
Entering its final year, Ability Net and Keyring are looking for organisations to benefit from this Big Lottery funded project to make computers more accessible for people with disabilities.  Further information about the project can be found at AbilityNet and organisations can sign up to access equipment, development support and a free online assessment tool by emailing switchedon@abilitynet.org.uk  before 25 February.

Up to £2000 for youth groups in Bermondsey
Last chance for youth charities in Bermondsey to apply for a share of £30,000 from Small Grants Fund administered by Team London Bridge. Enhancing IT skills is one of the aims of the fund. Applications must be received by 26 February. More information and application forms and criteria at Team London Bridge.

Media project funding
The Media Trust's Community Voices is providing funding of £1,500, £7,000 or £14,000 for 26 grassroots groups to develop media projects in their communities, alongside one major new initiative. You'll need to apply by 28 February or email communityvoices@mediatrust.org or call 020 7217 3751. If you are already using digital media to give a community a voice you can apply for one of 20 £500 Inspiring Voices Awards - there's one a week to give away until the end of March 2010.
 
Children In Need Small Grants Fund
A reminder that up to £10,000 funding per year for up to three years is available from the BBC's fund for organisations working with children and young people. ICT equipment must generally be for the direct use of young people. The next closing date is 15 April with further deadlines on 15 July and 15 October. More information from the BBC.

Funded ICT consultancy for helplines - application period extended
The Helplines Association (THA) has received a grant from City Bridge Trust to assist eight voluntary sector helpline, information or advice giving organisations in its 2010/11 programme. THA will undertake an ICT review and make recommendations for how you can use it more efficiently and effectively. There is no provision for capital expenditure on ICT and that the scheme is only open to organisations whose reach does not extend beyond Greater London. More information from THA - applications close on 3 March.
 
Related Knowledgebase articles:

• Writing a Winning Grant Proposal
• Fundraising and the Internet
• Funding for ICT
• Download: How to Cost and Fund ICT (PDF 1.2MB

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resources

- legal

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practical tips

Each month we look at some practical tips and techniques to help you get the most out of using ICT.

Related Knowledgebase articles:

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tools & applications

Each month we look at some handy tools to help you get the most out of your technology:

opinion

A tour around the sector's blogs...

Related Knowledgebase articles:

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discuss

This month we've included a number of references to open source software. Have you considered using open source in your organisation?  Or are you already using applications such as Firefox or OpenOffice.org? Maybe you've gone "all the way" with Linux desktops - what have your experiences been? Why not let us know over on the Knowledgebase forum.