iT4Communities (iT4C) is a UK national IT volunteering charity that introduces volunteer IT professionals to charities needing IT help and support.
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iT4C was set up the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, the 100th City of London Livery Company in 2002 and since then has registered over 5,500 IT volunteers and more than 2,500 charities. iT4C has delivered over £3.25 million worth of pro bono IT support to the UK voluntary and community sector thanks to the work of the dedicated volunteers.
Since January 2010 iT4Communities has been a project of AbilityNet, the national computing and disability charity.
How it works
iT4C provides IT support to all UK charities, voluntary and community groups, and social enterprises. Organisations contact iT4C to request a volunteer and the iT4C Project Definers discuss their requirements and develop a project definition to publish on the iT4C RSS Feed and in the iT4C search pages accessible to registered volunteers.
The volunteers can search the opportunities and choose which ones suit them best. They then contact the charity and work together to take the project forward to completion. iT4Communities staff remain on hand throughout the project to offer help, advice and support.
iT4C IT Volunteering Awards
iT4C holds an annual National IT Volunteering Awards to celebrate the best and most innovative IT volunteers and IT volunteering projects. The Awards are open to charitable organisations and individuals who have worked together on an IT volunteering project.
The winning charities each receive £500 prize money and national recognition.
Case studies
There are many examples of successful projects available on the website ranging from quick and easy spam projects to longer and more complex database and website development.