VCS organisations try out collaborative tools for effective event planning

The I-See-T collaboration project continued with its first Hands-on workshop exploring the use of a variety of web based tools to help with planning and reporting ‘effective & efficient events’.

During the workshop attendees learnt more about the different online tools available and tried out some of these tools. The afternoon was devoted to starting weblogs (or ‘blogs’) that can be used, amongst many other things, to quickly and easily publicise and report on events.

Following the successful Taster workshop  held in March (See: http://www.ruralnetuk.org/collaboration/involved.html), the first of a series of planned Hands-on workshops by I-See-T enabled attendees to explore ICT for collaboration by putting the tools that are available directly in the hands of VCS organisations. Further sessions will look at how to use online tools to develop project ideas and find funding, and how to ICT can be used to manage time and resource allocation collaboratively.
Attendees at this first workshop, Mary Hall and Sandra Harvey from Voluntary Action Hinckley & Bosworth said,

“This workshop has given us an introduction into the huge variety of online tools available. One of the best things about all of these tools, is that you don’t need a great deal of IT knowledge to access and use them – and they’re all free. We’ll definitely be making use of our new skills and our organisation can only benefit as a result.”
Attendees of all of the sessions can practice their new found skills in the online ‘sandpit’ area developed on the I-See-T website for just this purpose. They can also share their experiences with others and access further background materials via the website: www.i-see-t.org.uk.

Sandra and Mary continued:

“We have returned to work inspired by this workshop and would urge all other voluntary and community organisations to sign up and get on board with this project.”

Places are still available on the next Hands-on workshop – ‘Collaborate to accumulate – How ICT can help you to develop your project ideas and gain funding’ on the 10th May 2006.

For more information visit www.i-see-t.org.uk

I-See-T is a project exploring Information & Communications for collaboration in the Voluntary and Community Sector. It is delivered by ruralnet|uk and is open to anyone working in the Voluntary and Community Sector.

For further information about the I-See-T project, contact Paul Henderson, Project Manager at:mail to: [email protected] or on 0845 1300 411.

Editors notes
1. ruralnet|uk, the registered rural regeneration charity, has more than 7 years experience of designing and running online collaboration systems and services. It is now being supported by the Baring Foundation and the Lloyds TSB Foundation’s Collaborative Programme to research the experience of others and to make this collective knowledge available to those working in the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS).
2. For more information about ruralnet|uk, www.ruralnetuk.org/index.htm