Flexible relationship with IT volunteer leads to significant cost saving
Client
Irish Support and Advice Service, based in the London Borough of Hammersmith, provide advice and support on social welfare, law, and health matters to the Irish community and all people of Irish descent.
The challenge
ISAS had a network of 6 elderly PCs running XP and a server running XP Pro and MS Office with wireless broadband and they were looking for someone to provide occasional onsite technical support. They needed advice about such things as networking; anti virus software and mainframe memory but as a small charity they did not have a budget for IT maintenance.
Our help
It wasn't long before iT4C volunteer Babagana Abba contacted Mike McGing at ISAS. Babagana sent iT4C an update a couple of months
into the project saying I have a great relationship with Mike McGing. My volunteering as an IT Support for ISAS is ongoing. They
ring me anytime they have a problem or need advice on any IT related issues. We agree on a convenient time and I go over to sort it out.
The results
- A significant cost saving.
- Allowed the charity to continue to deliver front line services having some access to IT support.
What our client said
Babagana is friendly, knowledgeable and supportive. I think it is important to have a really positive and flexible
relationship with the IT volunteer and ensure that they feel valued. As Babagana has a 9 to 5 job we make it easy for him to
support us i.e. evenings and not day time - or whenever he is available. However, if a charity needs immediate IT support I would
advise them to consider an IT contract. Volunteer support is not the route for all organisations.
It is also essential that you get an IT volunteer who has a good operational experience, because you depend on them for IT
recommendations and if they get it wrong, it will have major implications for any organisation.
Mike McGing, Irish Support and Advice Service
29th October 2010
