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NEW TASK FORCE LAUNCHED TO HELP VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR KEEP UP WITH THE INTERNET REVOLUTION
E-envoy says that partnership between Government and the voluntary and community sector will deliver results By cross-fertilising ideas, working
with Government, sharing information and helping organisations collaborate
on projects of common interest we aim to make the Task Force a force
for change The Task Force has four main aims: to work with Government to make sure
that the sector is at the heart of Government policy on the Internet:
“I warmly welcome the establishment of the Task Force to galvanise the sector to make better use of internet technologies and to act as a voice to Government. The first large scale research on ICT use by the sector, that we are publishing tonight, shows much good practice but also that the sector must do more to rise to the challenge of the online revolution.” The need for the Task Force was spelt out in the report ‘Virtual Promise – are Charities keeping up with the Internet revolution?’ published by the Future Foundation and Horwath Consulting in February 2001. The voluntary and community sector is vital to the work of Government as a whole, and Andrew Pinder further commented: “The UK online annual report that Patricia Hewitt, the e-Minister, and I will be publishing early next week will set out an outline of a strategy for driving up the use of Internet technologies by the sector. We are committed to working in partnership with the Task Force and others in the sector to develop that strategy.” As a first step, and simultaneous with the launch of the Task Force, Andrew Pinder published the results of new research into the ICT needs of nearly 2000 voluntary and community organisations (www.e-envoy.gov.uk/publication/reports_index.htm) and the following Government initiatives: - work to develop a voluntary and community sector portal; - an e-awards scheme for the sector to recognise and promote best practice; and - an additional Code of Practice specifically on ICT matters within the existing Voluntary and Community Sector Compact Joe Saxton of the Future Foundation and Co-Chair of the Task Force commented: ‘There is greater potential for voluntary and community organisations to transform their impact and effectiveness through use of the Internet than for most companies. Yet the vast majority are failing to achieve that potential. We hope that the Task Force can reduce the barriers to better use of the Internet and unleash the potential in cost-savings and service delivery’ Caroline Pile of Horwath Consulting and Co-Chair of the Task Force added: ‘The Task Force will be an invaluable catalyst for development. By cross-fertilising ideas, working with Government, securing funding, and helping organisations collaborate on projects of common interest we aim to make the Task Force a force for change’ For further information contact: Caroline Pile, Horwath Consulting, tel: 020 7842 7347 Email: caroline.pile@horwath.co.uk Joe Saxton, Future Foundation, tel: 020 7250 3343 or 07976 329212 Email: joes@Futurefoundation.net Joanna Whalley, Press Officer, Horwath Clark Whitehill Tel: 020 7842 7293, Email: joanna.whalley@horwath.co.uk A copy of the plans for the Task Force is available upon request Notes for Editors 1. For further information or an interview contact Joe Saxton on 020 7250 3343, 07976 329212 or 01865 865767, joes@futurefoundation.net 2. The members of the Task Force are: Joe Saxton (Co-chair & Future Foundation)
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