net:gain helps review of ICT requirements
Travelling Light Theatre Company was started 23 years ago to produce high quality shows exclusively for children that are performed in schools and national venues. It aims to produce shows that are thought provoking and which allow young audiences to use their imagination.
Funded by the Arts Council, they tour two productions annually with around 200 performances, reaching 20,000 young people. Travelling Light runs three youth theatres in regeneration areas in Bristol for children aged 8 to 18. They are involved in other education projects including Webplay’s Page to Stage platform, an on-line pilot project with interactive links between the company and schools.
Cath Greig the General Manager was attracted by the opportunity to think about how to plan and structure ICT. She said “ICT gets to the bottom of the pile, you don’t really think ahead and I realised that was the area we tend to neglect, even though we rely on our technology a lot.” The organisation faced a number
of issues including an outdated website, inconsistent internal communications and a lack of procedures for recording and disseminating information.
The net:gain programme helped them investigate exactly what was required and the range of possible options. Viewing processes from different perspectives gave an all round view of the organisation.
Resulting initiatives include:
• Improved sharing of information
• Everyone has a notebook on their desk for messages, reminders etc
• Weekly bulletin circulated to staff and board members
• Exploring the potential for an intranet
• Redevelopment of the website
• Planning for computer obsolescence
The techniques learned through net:gain are now being applied to each area of their work and planning. Cath said “It provides tools for strategic planners to understand an issue or part of a service from different perspectives and that is really valuable.”
Cath’s hot tips:
• Make sure you give yourself time
• Work with others in your organisation
netgain centre - Future Learning, Bristol
