Opportunities of the Month

 

Opportunities are listed on this page because we've recently talked with the charity and we know that they are ready to work with a volunteer. Are you that volunteer?

Click on the link on the opportunity name below to go directly to the opportunity you're interested in on our website. Alternatively search the full database of available opportunities by signing-in to your account and selecting "Search for Opportunities".

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Opportunity Name: IT Audit and recommendations for hospice
Skill Type: Audit/strategy
Region: South East
Locality: Berkhamsted
Postcode: HP4
Virtual: No

Description: This hospice provides palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses in West Hertfordshire and the Chiltern area of Buckinghamshire. They offer holistic care through a mixture of inpatient, day and home care services and run support groups for patient families both during illness and post bereavement. Every year they help over 2,000 people. *They have about 100 computers networked and run several databases (accounts, funding, patients and families contacts) and they have one full time technical support person. *The hospice is looking for a volunteer to undertake an audit of the current IT systems to advise on 3 areas 1) that correct policies and procedures are in place with regard to data protection, security and general efficient running of network 2) to advise about improvements to the network and future developments 3) to advise about the integration of certain databases to ensure they are used effectively and sensitively. *The volunteer will work closely with the finance director, the IT manager to provide a summary report with appropriate recommendations to the Hospice Management Team and if desired to make an informal presentation and respond to queries at a Management Team meeting. This is a great opportunity to help support an important charity.

Opportunity Name: Website Improvements
Skill Type: Website
Region: South East
Locality: Brighton
Postcode: BN3
Virtual: Yes

Description: This south-coast charity provides a mediation service for dealing with neighbourhood conflict. Their website is out of date, needs a more modern look, and needs to incorporate their new logo. They would like to put all their leaflets onto the site, and to have an online referral form and an online contact form. Their offices are partially accessible. They would prefer not to have a virtual volunteer. They want to be able to maintain the site themselves after you've gone, so they need an easy to use CMS. You'll need to define the new pages in more detail, implement a simple CMS, build the new pages, and train them to update the website.

Opportunity Name: Simple Dreamweaver Training [This is a short task]
Skill Type: Website
Region: London
Locality: London
Postcode: ec4y
Virtual: No

Description: This charity based near Blackfriars tube station is an umbrella body which represents the interests of musculoskeletal community in UK and Europe, for example, arthritis and rheumatology charities, as well as chiropractors, and clinicians. They have a website which is out of date. They would like someone to come and train them how to use Dreamweaver to update text and pictures, fix broken links, and if possible, add new pages.

Opportunity Name: New website with CMS and forum
Skill Type: Website
Region: London
Locality: Westminster
Postcode: NW1
Virtual: No

Description: This charity near Marylebone tube station runs a youth club, and provides grants to community projects run by youth and community groups. They would like you to build them a website showing information about them, their annual ball, with pages for the youth club, its activities and holiday programme, a forum, a contact form, and an online grant application form. They need to be able to develop the website after you've gone, so you'll need to implement a suitable CMS, and train them to use it. They have a good idea of the content and design they want however you'll need to define the website content and structure in detail. They have their own domain name used for email, which they want to continue to use. There may be free hosting available through their ISP, Nildram, however you'll need to discuss this with them and possibly guide them in signing up for suitable hosting.

Opportunity Name: Database advice for canal boat charity
Skill Type: Consultancy
Region: London
Locality: Islington
Postcode: N1
Virtual: No

Description: This charity operates a skippered canal boat based on the Regent's Canal in Islington. The boat is available to community groups at low hire rates for long or short trips. The charity works with many educational and voluntary groups in a socially deprived area. The boat trips provide new experiences, team-building opportunities and educational fun. The charity is the Mayor of Islington's chosen charity for 2008/9. They would like to investigate a database system to help them keep detailed records of their hirers and potential hirers and to produce reports for funding purposes. They need to share the booking of the boat between two members of staff and some of their volunteers and they'd like to consider whether the database could be accessed via a secure area of their website. The charity would like a volunteer to help them define their requirements and look at the options open to them - do they require one database or two? what technology should they use? can their website host a database? Once you've helped them decide what they need you may wish to develop the system for them. Alternatively iT4C can advertise for another volunteer for them.

Opportunity Name: Review and update IT Strategy
Skill Type: Strategy
Region: London
Locality: London
Postcode: WC1H
Virtual: No

Description: This charity based in Kings Cross, London, supports mental health recovery and promotes the active participation of the homeless and refugees and asylum seekers within the wider community. They do this by taking time to get to know individuals and their individual needs, listening, providing non-judgemental support and encouragement, providing practical help, and providing hope that people can and do recover from mental health problems. They have 2 offices about 100 yards apart, one has a network of 10 PCs and laptops running Windows XP, the other has a network of 9 PCs running Windows 2000. They're intending to run Windows Server 2003 on both networks - this is the focus of another opportunity, another opportunity is to set up and configure a VPN between the 2 offices. They're using wireless broadband in both offices. They would like you to review and update their IT strategy.

Opportunity Name: Provide Training in Office and Internet
Skill Type: Training
Region: London
Locality: Enfield
Postcode: N9
Virtual: No

Description: This Edmonton, London, social enterprise provides advice, support and practical help to homeless people. They help them find accommodation, employment and training opportunities, and provide training in IT, basic literacy and numeracy. That's where you come in. From 1st April 2008, they need volunteers to train up to 7 homeless people, in MS Office XP applications and the use of email and the internet in half-day or whole day sessions while the centre is open. Their centre is open from 9.30 to 4.30 from Tuesday to Friday. They're open to volunteers who could only provide occasional training sessions, however, if you can provide a regular session, that's even better. If you have CRB clearance, that would be helpful, but it's not essential.

Opportunity Name: Online Application Form in Joomla [This is a short task]
Skill Type: Website
Region: London
Locality: London
Postcode: WC1N
Virtual: Yes

Description: This charity provides free scholarships for an international baccalaureat diploma for suitable 16-18 year olds with the aim of promoting international understanding. They're looking for someone to customise and implement an online application form in Joomla for their website, using a tool developed in Joomla that they have been given, or to build a new application form from scratch.

Opportunity Name: Implement a CMS and help transfer existing site
Skill Type: Website
Region: London
Locality: Hackney
Postcode: N16
Virtual: No

Description: This charity is a community trust for the Hoxton area of London. They organise community projects such as a community garden, run training courses and provide a free legal advice service. Currently the charity has to ask for changes to be made to their website but would like to take control themselves. They would like a volunteer to implement a CMS for them and show them how to update and maintain pages themselves. The content of the existing site will need to be transferred but consists of only a few pages. They are happy for the site to be redesigned but would need to keep their yellow and green colour scheme and are happy with a traditional design similar to the one they have. They would also appreciate some advice on taking photographs and processing them for the web as they're aware that their pictures aren't as good as they could be.

Opportunity Name: communications/IT strategy East Anglia
Skill Type: Consultancy
Region: East of England
Locality: Lowestoft
Postcode: NR33
Virtual: No

Description: This East Anglian social enterprise provides an alternative to banks. They are well established and run largely by volunteers to provide safe savings and fair loans to everyone in the community. They are looking for a volunteer consultant to assist them through a time of substantial change. As a consultant you will be required to work with the staff and board members of the organisation to develop a practical communications strategy and plan. The strategy would include recommending appropriate technology solutions to help with the recruitment of board members across the entire community and to help the existing board and staff to communicate and make decisions effectively. This opportunity would suit a volunteer with experience in working with a diverse and remote team of workers. On consultation with the organisation, you may find that this opportunity requires a broader IT strategy. You may wish to refer back to iT4Communities if this is the case.

Opportunity Name: Network Setup in Kenyan Schools
Skill Type: Network
Region: North West
Locality: Buxton
Postcode: SK17
Virtual: No

Description: Here's a really interesting and challenging opportunity to help schools develop IT skills and capabilities for pupils and teachers in a developing country. This fairly new Derbyshire charity has installed electricity and set up one-roomed computer labs in 8 schools providing education to 5 to 16 year olds in the Mombasa region of Kenya. 2 teachers in each school have received certified ICT training. The charity has bought and installed new network ready PCs running XP, which run Office 2003, and a range of software linked to the Kenyan syllabus and now want to network the computers inside the labs to enhance their capabilities and to ease the teaching burden. One of the computer labs has 15 PCs, 6 other schools' computer labs each have 10 PCs, and they're working on raising money to equip a lab in the remaining school. Ethernet networking equipment and cabling (specification from the charity on request) has been donated by a UK company, but no software or servers have yet been obtained, though they have funds for this. They're looking for a volunteer to a) advise as soon as possible what networking software is needed, identify other equipment needed, and guide the charity in buying it for the computer labs you are going to network. b) fly out to Kenya in January or May 2008, stay in a hotel, and set up server(s), install cabling, and network one or more computer labs. There are local resources who could help with some of the work however you would need to train and supervise them, and check their work. c)provide training to locals (in English) on looking after the network and general maintenance tasks and backup. The charity can't afford to pay your flight or hotel expenses so expect you to bear these yourself (they estimate ?500 to ?800 for flights and 2 weeks accommodation) but would advise you on what's needed and exact dates. To do all 7 schools will probably take more than 1 volunteer, so if you can manage only enough time to do 1 school, please still contact them.

Opportunity Name: Specify and develop replacement database
Skill Type: Database
Region: North West
Locality: Netherton
Postcode: L30
Virtual: No

Description: This charity promotes healthy living within a deprived area of Sefton, Merseyside. Catering for all ages they run education programmes on subjects such as healthy eating, nutrition and exercise. The also provide services to the community such as shopping services for older people and accident prevention surveys and advice. The charity had a database professionally developed for them about five years ago but their needs have changed and the database is no longer fit for purpose. Because of the problems with the main database a number of smaller databases are now being used - data is being duplicated and it's difficult to find information when staff are away. They would like a volunteer with database skills to create a new, networked database for them. They appreciate that the design of a database is the most important thing so want you to start by helping them define their requirements. This will mean talking to a number of different staff. The database is becoming a huge problem for the charity so your help will be much appreciated!

Opportunity Name: Best Practice and Policy
Skill Type: Strategy
Region: Scotland
Locality: Galashiels
Postcode: TD1
Virtual: No

Description: This Galashiels charity provides services to young people in part of the Scottish Borders. Their aim is to improve the well-being of young people facing social, emotional and behavioural issues and difficulties at home, at school or in the community, by one to one or group sessions, or with horse therapy. Their office is not accessible. They have a staff network of 5 PCs running XP, and separately 2 standalone PCs for access to the internet by children. They would like advice on best practice, staff and children's use of email and the internet, data protection, and anything else you consider important.

Opportunity Name: Technical Support for Small Office [This is a short task]
Skill Type: Technical Support
Region: Scotland
Locality: Galashiels
Postcode: TD1
Virtual: No

Description: This Galashiels charity provides services to young people in part of the Scottish Borders. Their aim is to improve the well-being of young people facing social, emotional and behavioural issues and difficulties at home, at school or in the community, by one to one or group sessions, or with horse therapy. Their office is not accessible. They have a staff network of 5 PCs running XP, and separately 2 standalone PCs for access to the internet by children. They want advice on file-sharing on the staff network, and would like you to check that their wireless connection to internet is secure. They also want you to check that they have anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall protection on the staff network, and the standalone PCs and ensure that it is up-to-date.

Opportunity Name: Review of Access Database and possibly improvements
Skill Type: Database
Region: Scotland
Locality: Galashiels
Postcode: TD1
Virtual: No

Description: This Galashiels charity provides services to young people in part of the Scottish Borders. Their aim is to improve the well-being of young people facing social, emotional and behavioural issues and difficulties at home, at school or in the community, by one to one or group sessions, or with horse therapy. Their office is not accessible. They have an Access 2000 database containing details of child referrals, the services they receive, and evaluations. It was written in-house, so they would like someone to review it, and see if improvements can be made, and if necessary, make the improvements.