Stephen
Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, is encouraging local
charities to make the most of a new campaign to help 30,000 of Britain’s
smallest charities boost their fundraising through online tools and the
internet.
Launched earlier this month in
partnership with Media Trust and the Charity Technology Trust, the ‘Grow Your
Charity Online’ initiative will provide free training and tools for charities
across the country.
The initiative comprises of an
online learning hub, specialised training, workshops and live events that aim to
bridge the e-skills gap and help charities harness the power of the Internet to
amplify their reach, bolster their fundraising and boost their volunteer
engagement. Those with few resources will also be able to download free
training materials to help them make the most of the web and free access to
online services that businesses pay for such as advertising and businesses
apps.
Mr Metcalfe commented: “This is
a first for the UK and a fantastic opportunity for charities in South Basildon
and East Thurrock to really get their work off the ground. It is designed to
overcome resource barriers to growth and to help reduce the e-skills gap which
gives some organisations a head start over others.”
The initiative has evolved from
a successful programme that Google has run over the past few years helping
nearly a quarter of a million small UK businesses grow online across the UK.
Google will travel across the
UK during 2013 to meet with charities face-to-face. It will also host a regular
series of online educational events, allowing charities from across the UK to
join advice sessions remotely. In addition to the tools, Google UK employees
will dedicate a percentage of their work time towards the project, by
volunteering their Internet expertise at various workshops over the year.
Mr Metcalfe added: “This will
enable charities to take full advantage of the potential of the internet. I
would encourage any charity in South Basildon and East Thurrock to visit: http://www.growyourcharityonline.com/
and get involved!”
