Will the Cloud Save the Sector?
Howard Lake | 18 August 2010 | News
London, United Kingdom – 18/08/2010 Third sector organisations and community groups can harness new technologies to help them deliver their services, cost effectively and efficiently, when they attend The 2010 Lasa European Not-For-Profit Technology Conference on 28 and 29 September.
Lasa, a second tier charity providing organisations with practical support and advice on technology, will be hosting the event (formerly known as the Circuit Rider Conference). This year’s theme is ‘Will the Cloud Save the Sector? Opportunities for Efficiencies and Innovation’. Delegates attending the two-day conference at the Garden Museum in London can book tickets from just £100* . Organisations booking tickets before 13 August can take advantage of a 10% early bird discount.
For the first time Lasa will hold a new “unconference” hour, in the first day afternoon, where any participant can run an informal session, which relates to the theme of the conference. This will be a great way of giving space for interesting and vibrant discussions on subjects that matter most to delegates.
The conference, which is supported by appiChar and the Big Lottery, will provide the opportunity for delegates to find out how cloud technologies can benefit their organisation by demonstrating the versatility they can provide for contact management, document storage, collaboration, work distribution and networking.
Through a series of debates, presentations and networking and a panel discussion, featuring leading cloud service providers and advocates, people attending the conference will learn how to plan for the cloud; how the cloud can benefit project management and outsourcing; issues related to data protection; and learning and working with volunteers using this new technology.
Andy Gregg, Chief Executive at Lasa, said: “With limited resources available, many third sector organisations and small community groups are struggling to cope with the demands being placed on them. Cost and expertise often prevent organisations from benefitting from the convenience that technology offers.
“The potential benefits that the Cloud offers to organisations lacking in financial resources are incredible. Users can access web-based tools or applications through a web browser, as if it were a program installed locally on their own computer.
“Lasa is committed to raising awareness and understanding of technologies across the third sector and providing strategic and technical support, to help overcome barriers to accessing these highly beneficial innovations.”
The conference will start at 09:30 on Tuesday 28 September and finish at 16:45. Wednesday’s session will begin at 09:30 and finish at 13:00. Details about the event and booking forms are available at: http://ukriders.lasa.org.uk/conferences/conference-2010
In addition, this year, for the first time, Lasa is running FREE technology surgeries for London voluntary organisations on Monday 27 September. Lasa is gathering together eminent “surgeons” who can give advice and information on a wide range of issues from websites, open source software, fundraising, the CTX software and hardware donation programme to networks, security and social media.
The event will take place at Charity Technology Trust’s offices at CAN Mezzanine in Old Street, N1 between 13:30 and 17:30.
More information on the surgeries and registration at http://lasatechsurgery.eventbrite.com/.
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Notes for editors:
1. Lasa is a leading charity and strategic provider of knowledge, support and resources to third sector and government bodies. Lasa helps thousands of organisations across the UK each year including Age UK, Shelter and Citizens Advice Bureau. It helps organisations to get better welfare rights advice to their clients; deliver more effective and efficient services; influences policy for advice and legal services; and raises awareness of the third sector’s technology needs with funders and government. For more information, please visit www.lasa.org.uk/
2. Follow conference Twitter announcements on Lasaict – please use #euronfptechconf and retweet. We’ll also be updating via the UKRiders and other voluntary and community sector lists.
3. What is a circuit rider?
Circuit riders are mobile, independent ICT (Information and Communications Technology) workers who provide ICT development and support work to several small voluntary sector organisations, many of whom can’t afford to employ their own ICT staff. Circuit riders also work in collaboration with other circuit riders.
4. appiChar are providers of managed IT services for the not-for-profit sector. They have lent their support for the conference by providing Lasa with the use of the Garden Museum.
5. The Big Lottery Fund distributes half of the National Lottery good cause funding across the UK. The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.