London Advisory Services Alliance

London Advisory Services Alliance

London Advisory Services Alliance (LASA) promotes the development of high quality information and advice services and provides an expert resource to advice practitioners. LASA also aims to stimulate good practice and influence policy. Other services include welfare benefits training, specialist web based information for advisers, case management software development and voluntary sector information communications technology (ICT) advice and information and project management training.

EASI works woth LASA:

As part of the EASI DP, LASA is developing ICT good practice guides and providing IT technical support training (circuit rider project) to asylum seekers. LASA is responsible for IT support to the DP and will use the Multikulti website for the translation and publication of the ICT good practice guides into three languages spoken by asylum seekers. This website provides accessible, accurately translated advice and information in community languages. The asylum seekers that are trained will be placed in refugee community organisations (RCOs) as volunteers to provide ICT technical support. Many refugee community organisations have limited resources for ICT technical management functions and these skilled volunteers will fill the gap. EASI believes volunteering brings benefits to organisations, individuals and the community. EASI, with LASA, have produced:

• ICT Hub Knowledgebase -is a comprehensive online source of practical help, information and independent advice on ICT for small and medium sized voluntary and community sector organisations. It contains information to help plan, implement, manage, maintain and use ICT effectively within an organisation. This is in form articles which are clearly written and backed up by a jargon-busting glossary to explain any confusing terms. A common questions section provides answers to frequently asked questions on ICT. Top

EASI learns with LASA:

• The development of ICT strategies within participating organisations is hampered by a general lack of understanding of the need for longer term planning, the need to address immediate ICT issues and competing priorities for limited time and resources.
• The provision of technical support and training is vital to help smaller voluntary and community sector organisations develop their IT capacity.
• An increase in the awareness within organisations of the need to budget for ICT and include the costs of ICT in funding applications.
• Partner organisations made substantial progress in addressing specific ICT issues, such as upgrading old equipment, developing policies and improving networks and databases, which tend to improve organisational effectiveness.
• There remains a large demand for ICT support and development amongst smaller voluntary and community sector organisations, in particular RCOs. Top

EASI recommends organisations should:

• Include ICT development programmes, with circuit riders and staff learning from each other's skills and experience, to promote the benefits of utilising ICT in service delivery.
• Promote the benefits of strategic planning for ICT across the voluntary and community sector.

Useful Contacts:

If you would like any more information about this work about please contact: Robin Cope

Address:
London Advice Services Alliance
Universal House
88-94 Wentworth St
London E1 7SA

Telephone: 020 73772748 Top

Useful Links:

www.lasa.org.uk/circuitriderproject Top