Charities improve their digital awareness
Over 80 charities attended a unique free half-day digital workshop in Edinburgh to help them improve their digital skills.
The event was hosted by the Bank of Scotland Foundation, in collaboration with Google, to improve the digital presence of charities and the digital awareness of their employees.
Lloyds Banking Group gives the foundation £2 million each year which it donates to charities across Scotland.
However, this is the first time that the foundation has provided non-financial support to charities.
We hope the event has helped charities gain confidence in using the internet
In Scotland, one in three charities lack the basic digital skills they need to succeed and prosper in today’s increasingly digital society, which is why this workshop proved so popular.
The event provided groups with top tips from Google’s experts on how to make the most of the web, as well as guidance on how to use social media and free online tools.
Philip Grant, chair of the Scottish executive committee of Lloyds Banking Group and chair of the foundation’s board of trustees, said: “We are thrilled to have been able to provide local charities with this free digital workshop.
“Basic digital skills can make a big difference when looking and applying for funding. We hope the event has helped these charities gain confidence in using the internet and that their new skills helps secure vital funding over the coming years.”
Bield, which develops housing and care services to enable Scotland's older people to live the life they want, was one of those charities attending.
Kevin Rowe, Bield’s fundraiser, added: “For me, today’s digital workshop was really useful to get more information on social media and how it can be used effectively to raise awareness of our charity.
“I think it’s really good that the Bank of Scotland Foundation is looking at other ways, other than grants, that they can help charities. It’s not just about giving out money, it’s actually about trying to grow the charity, to help them help themselves and share the skills that are within the community they already have.”
Eileen Naughton, Google’s Managing Director for UK & Ireland said, “It can be easy to think that technology is just for start-ups, but we know it can bring real growth to all organisations, be they small charities or global businesses. At a time when there is pressure for the UK to boost productivity to contribute to real wage increases, we believe Google can be a real growth engine that helps deliver these gains.”
For those who were not able to attend or want to further develop their digital skills, Google's Digital Garage provides free training at digitalgarage.withgoogle.com.
