More than half of charities lack basic digital skills, says Lloyds Bank report

Its 2017 UK Business Digital Index says three-quarters of charities do not feel they are digitally skilled enough to protect from fraud and scams

Three-quarters of charities feel they do not have the digital skills to protect themselves from fraud and scams, and more than half are lacking basic digital skills, according to a report from Lloyds Bank.

Published today, the UK Business Digital Index 2017 measures the digital capability of 2,000 UK small businesses, including 500 charities, using a combination of actual online behaviour and survey analysis to understand their attitudes to digital technology.

Although 58 per cent of charitable donations are given in cash, the growth in online payment capability and the increase in online accounting services (two in three charities are now using these) means that there is a need for charities to improve their online safety and security, the report says.

But the report says that 75 per cent of UK charities are not confident of preventing criminal activity.

The index says that more businesses and charities are becoming more digitally capable, but there is a growing minority of organisations with low capability, including an estimated 100,000-plus UK charities that lack one or more of five “basic digital skills” (see “Basic digital skills in the report”).

Of the 52 per cent lacking basic digital skills, 5 per cent of charities had none of the five.

However, nearly half of the 500 charities surveyed do have the full set of skills, the report says, and 20 per cent (equating to about 40,000 charities) are “on the cusp” of gaining full basic digital skills, with four of the five areas covered.

The report says that the areas most lacking among voluntary organisations and which need most focus are those of “managing information” (missing in 42 per cent of charities surveyed) and “problem-solving” (36 per cent).

Compared with a similar exercise carried out last year, the 2017 report says that problem-solving “continued to be the skill with the greatest opportunity for development” among charities. It saus although 64 per cent of charities exhibit these skills, there is scope for many charities to take advantage of using technology to help them reduce costs and increase efficiency.

The report says the number of charities using online analytics remains very low, although it has increased from 6 per cent in 2016 to 11 per cent this year, and 81 per cent do not store digital information on their customers and suppliers. The authors say this presents “a huge opportunity for charities to learn more about their donor and volunteer bases using free trails such as Google Analytics or Webtrends”.

Almost three-quarters of charities report time savings as the greatest key benefit, increasing to 90 per cent among those regarded as the most digitally capable, says the report.

Attracting more volunteers and donors, more effective marketing and increased interaction with supporters, simplified payment and donations processes, and cost savings also feature highly among the benefits to organisations with greater digital skills.

The report says that organisations with high digital capability are more likely to invest further in digital; 83 per cent of this group say they are confident in the future of their charities and are twice as likely to see growth as important or very important to their charities’ strategies.

Among those charities with the lowest digital capabilities, motivation remains the biggest barrier, the report says.

More than a third (33 per cent) of those in this group say that being online is not seen as relevant, a figure that has remained virtually static since 2014. However, a lack of staff digital skills (31 per cent) and a lack of time (24 per cent) are also seen as major barriers to developing digital capabilities.

Nick Williams, managing director, consumer and commercial digital at Lloyds Bank, said: “Small businesses and charities demonstrating low digital capabilities are increasing, and they are at risk of falling further behind. There are now 1.6 million small businesses and still 100,000 charities without the full set of basic digital skills. It is still alarming to hear that one-third of charities and one-quarter of small businesses still do not see how digital is relevant to them.”

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Embrace online fundraising tools for emergencies, says Save the Children Spain’s head of digital

Maria Butera tells the International Fundraising Congress that some charities get two-thirds of their donations from this source during emergency responses

Digital fundraising accounts for about two-thirds of donations to many charities that are made in response to emergencies, according to Maria Butera, head of digital at Save the Children Spain.

Butera told delegates at the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands that charities needed to embrace online fundraising tools in order to respond with greater speed to emergencies.

She was speaking at session called “What’s on your mind? New opportunities with Facebook”, which explored the possibilities offered by the new fundraising tools available on the social network.

Facebook launched the tools in 16 countries including the UK in September, after they were launched in the US last year. They include a “donate” button that charities can add to Facebook posts and fundraising pages so people can raise money for their chosen causes.

Butera said the way in which Save the Children Spain raised money online had changed completely in recent years.

“In past emergencies, the first thing we usually did was to set up a web page, then send emails,” she said. “Maybe after that you might put it on Facebook once or twice.

“For some organisations and for us, digital has come to be 60 to 70 per cent of emergency income because of the nature of digital. Speed is critical in an emergency, and digital tools can help you harness that because, particularly with natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes, you get all the media attention in the first days.

“After a couple of weeks nobody else is talking about the emergency, but you’re still in the field helping those people.

“So you have to take the most advantage of that bunch of digital tools and start fundraising from the first day.”

Tom D’Souza, global innovation manager at the Movember Foundation, said the Facebook tools, which the organisation tested in the US during last year’s Movember event, had been an “amazing success”.

He said: “The most exciting thing for us was some of the statistics that showed fundraising behaviour change.”

On average, he said, fundraisers using Facebook raised twice as much as those who did not.

He said the tools had also allowed the charity to reach millions of people.

“We didn’t spend a penny, so that is a natural marketing platform for us, and you’ll never be able to put a value on that,” D’Souza said.

Anita Yuen, head of social good at Facebook, said another tool, which allows charities to include donate buttons on live streams and is currently available in the US, would be available in the UK soon but was unable to confirm when exactly that would be.

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Digital round-up: #PiccadillyOn lights up for Barnardo’s

The lights at Piccadilly Circus are being switched back on after nine months, with Barnardo’s set to benefit

It might not have caused quite the furore of the silencing of Big Ben, but another London landmark has been hidden for some months now, though not for much longer.

The famous lights at Piccadilly Circus are due to be switched back on next month after nine months of renovation work, and the #PiccadillyOn campaign has been launched to mark the moment and raise funds for Barnardo’s.

Launched today, the campaign invites people to sponsor a unique colour chip, which will form part of a 3D countdown clock on the screen, before forming part of a choreographed reveal moment in October when the screens will be powered up with a display of the sponsored colours – all streamed live on Facebook. The minimum donation through PiccadillyOn.London is £2.00 and all proceeds will go to the children’s charity.

More than 100 charities have now signed up to Dontsendmeacard.com’s ecard service since the social enterprise was launched in 2015.

The platform provides a fundraising toolset for charities that want to encourage supporters to send digital cards and donate the cost of printed cards to their cause. Charities are able to customise their pages on the site, including uploading ecard artwork and creating fundraising pages for different occasions. Supporters can then donate the cost equivalent of cards and stamps, and send ecards by email or share to Facebook.

Charities to have signed up to the platform include Headway, Rainbow Living, KIDS, the British Deaf Association and the Royal Life Saving Society.

“We’ve seen generous individuals give as much as £200 in lieu of cards and stamps, making it a great source of additional charitable income this Christmas,” said founder Alex Furness.

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Pirate radio goes digital for Remember A Charity Week

Remember A Charity Week has been launched and for the first time features a digital radio station hosted by the former pirate radio DJ Emperor Rosko.

This year’s campaign has drawn on the DJ’s services to raise awareness about wills specifically among the baby boomer generation, who might remember listening to the original broadcasts of pirate radio.

The shows on Last Pirate FM, which is broadcasting on DAB radio and online between 11 and 15 September, will feature interviews with charities, supporters and celebrities including Twiggy, Wilko Johnson and Keith Skues, discussion shows, music from the 1960s and on-air discussions with the public.

Rosko, who was one of the DJs on Radio Caroline, probably the most famous radio station of the 1960s, before he joined BBC Radio 1, launched the campaign by sailing down the Thames on a recreation of Caroline’s Ross Revenge boat. The ship will travel to historic music locations around the country throughout the week.

This year’s campaign is using the hashtag #HaveyourSay to encourage people to “have your say on the world you want to pass on”, which could include leaving a gift in their wills. A number of Remember A Charity’s 190 member charities have got involved by creating their own jingles, which will be broadcast throughout the week.

Rob Cope, director of Remember A Charity, said: “This year’s campaign is very different from anything we have done in the past and is possible only due to the involvement of so many charities. Working collaboratively, we can really champion the importance of gifts in wills, creating a cultural change that will take us one step closer to making legacy giving a social norm.”

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Digital round-up: WaterAid превращается в вдохновение в последней рекламной кампании в Интернете

WaterAid изменила курс в своей кампании по приведению чистой воды в самые обездоленные страны мира.

Вместо того, чтобы подчеркнуть опасности и трудности, с которыми могут сталкиваться общины в развивающихся странах в области обеспечения чистой водой, благотворительная организация заказала серию более вдохновляющих телевизионных рекламных объявлений с прямым ответом, призванных заставить общественность чувствовать себя хорошо, а также готова поддержать ее усилия .

Первое объявление First Drop, предназначенное для празднования чистой воды, заставляет зрителей перестать думать о чем-то, что может быть легко принято как должное.

Чарли Дэй, менеджер по сбору средств в WaterAid, сказал: «Добиться всех, везде чистой водой, значит вдохновлять огромное количество людей, чтобы помочь. Чтобы сделать это, мы хотели нарушить структуру традиционной благотворительной рекламы и показать позитивность чистой воды, а не огромные проблемы без проживания ».

Действие против голода #HealthyMumsHealthyKids – первое обращение, которое будет объявлено в самом большом раунде британских призывов к помощи в Великобритании.

Департамент международного развития на этой неделе запустил финансирование на сумму до 30 млн фунтов стерлингов в течение 25 благотворительных апелляций. За каждый £ 1, подаренный благотворительной апелляции, правительство внесет 1 фунт британской помощи.

Акция для детей, Всемирный детский рак, Концерн по всему миру, Консультативная группа по вопросам мин и сборка Африки также входят в число благотворительных организаций, которые уже выбрали, чтобы их итоговые суммы по сбору средств соответствовали призывам, которые проводились в следующем месяце и сентябре следующего года

Апелляции британской помощи будут выделены на www.gov.uk/uk-aid-match и на каналах социальных медиа DfID по мере их запуска.

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Charity Commission appeals for help to test its digital services

The regulator says volunteers will have the opportunity to positively influence its services

The Charity Commission has called for volunteers from the sector to help it develop its digital services.

The regulator said it was developing the services to make it easier for users to complete tasks online.

“As part of this development we are testing services with the charity sector and using the feedback to improve them,” a statement on the commission website said.

The regulator said it would be hosting several sessions on the subject around the country in the coming months.

Interested parties are being invited to complete an online form via the commission’s website.

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Digital round-up: CBM launches app to help disabled people access life-saving disaster relief

Overseas disability charity CBM will launch the full version of its Humanitarian Hands-on Tool on Saturday to coincide with World Humanitarian Day.

The app, which is designed to provide help for people with disabilities seek life-saving relief services during emergencies, was unveiled in prototype version last year, since when CBM has consulted with humanitarian and disabled people’s organisations and incorporated their feedback.

HHOT aims to provide practical, step-by-step guidance that emergency workers can access freely and easily to ensure that the help they provide, such as emergency shelters or food and water points are accessible to people with disabilities or other marginalised groups.

Zoe Hopkins, senior programme officer at humanitarian aid agency Mercy Corps, who took part in the consultation sessions, said it was important to adapt common emergency responses to be more disability inclusive.

“Interactive use of the HHOT tool revealed many practical ways of adapting all sectors of emergencies, from quick wins such as appropriate signage in a camp, to more participatory approaches of ensuring disabled people’s organisations are present at Cluster meetings,” she said.

Breast Cancer Care has created a video to celebrate 25 years of the pink ribbon, the global symbol for breast cancer.

The Pink Ribbon 25 anniversary film, which also features the charity’s new limited edition pink velvet ribbon, has been launched across Breast Cancer Care’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels. It features 25 people who have been affected by breast cancer in some way whether that is through facing their own cancer diagnosis or supporting someone else.

Samia al Qadhi, chief executive of Breast Cancer Care, said: “Since the first pink ribbon was created we’ve helped millions of women, men, their friends and families live with, through and beyond breast cancer. This year, as we celebrate and mark its 25th anniversary, it remains as compelling as ever – a powerful symbol of hope, strength and unity.”

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St Andrew’s Healthcare begins digital transformation plan

The mental health charity is to oursource its IT function to the company Advanced in a multimillion-pound deal

The mental health charity St Andrew’s Healthcare has embarked on a multimillion-pound digital transformation project, the charity has confirmed.

It said the digital transformation programme would be rolled out at the charity over the next five years.

The full cost of the programme was not disclosed, but it is understood to be worth several million pounds.

The programme will see the charity outsource its IT to the IT firm Advanced, and the company will take over all of the charity’s digital services.

The first phase of the programme will focus on mitigating external security risks, with Advanced overseeing the management of the charity’s existing infrastructure.

This will be followed by a change-management plan focused on digital transformation, providing mobile technology to help staff, patients and their families, and enabling suppliers to have secure access to the charity’s systems while protecting core systems.

Leslie Ross, director of business change and IT at St Andrew’s Healthcare, said: “The whole world has changed, especially over the past two years, which have seen cyber security become front-line news. Some industries, such as financial services, are geared up for this evolution, but the rest of the world is still hugely vulnerable.

“It’s time for us to step up to ensure we mitigate future risks, while becoming more mobile, agile and connected, as well as meeting St Andrew’s strategy and digitisation plans.”

Roy Wood, managing director of Advanced, said: “As a forward-thinking mental healthcare charity living in a digital world, St Andrew’s has recognised the importance of reimagining its organisation in order to meet staff, patient and regulatory expectations.

“Putting its faith in Advanced is testament to the success we’ve achieved in advising and transitioning other healthcare organisations.”

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Mobile technology can transform donations, says digital fundraiser

Paul de Gregorio, head of digital fundraising at the agency Open, tells the IoF’s fundraising convention the mobile phone giving technology has brought interesting changes in the US

The technology exists to transform the way in which mobile phones are used to raise money, but UK fundraisers have not yet embraced it, according to Paul de Gregorio, head of digital fundraising at the fundraising agency Open.

De Gregorio dismissed the idea that text message donations were low value, instead telling delegates at the Institute of Fundraising’s fundraising convention yesterday that text messages could be used to engage with the public and raise money in completely different ways.

He pointed to political campaigns, particularly in the US, which he said had encouraged supporters to give their mobile phone numbers and store their bank account details with the campaigns after they made their first donations.

The campaigns were then able, on multiple occasions, to contact supporters by text and ask them to donate quickly and easily using a link or simply replying, he said.

The technology could also be used to give supporters access to exclusive offers on items such as T-shirts or other merchandise, de Gregorio said.

“This is, we think, quite transformational technology that could be used in the UK,” he said. “This technology exists now. Nothing needs to happen except for the collective will of organisations in the UK fundraising space to start thinking about this.”

The behaviour of saving bank details for smoother payments was something UK consumers were already familiar with, he said, pointing to online retailers or takeaways companies.

“What we need to do is try to drive value by using technology to connect mobile telephone numbers and email addresses to card details and hook them up with the killer propositions that will drive that giving,” de Gregorio said.

The technology could even be used across campaigns, he said: if someone donated to an emergency appeal by the Red Cross or the Disasters Emergency Committee, for example, they could then choose to store their data for any other emergency appeals that might spring up in the future.

“We do need to change our approach to fundraising,” he said. “We need to figure out the longer-term direction in terms of what kind of fundraising products we’re going to lead on and how we’re going to engage the public.

“Being in the US has enabled us to see some really interesting things we think will become fundamental to the types of approaches we look to develop in the UK in the next couple of years.”

De Gregorio said he hoped that donation through Facebook, a service in which card details are stored, allowing people to respond to charity appeals instantly and which is already available in the US, would soon come to the UK. He said he believed it would become a major challenger to existing platforms.

Traditional elements of fundraising, such as good storytelling, were still important and should not be affected negatively by making giving fast and easy, he said.

But de Gregorio added: “What we want to do is make the process that allows people to give as good as the thing that moved them to do it.”

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