Circuit Riders is an interesting approach to addressing one of the main barriers to effective use of IT among voluntary services
“The goals of circuit riding are to help voluntary sector organizations that are not using technology successfully to learn about and make effective use of technology, and to help technologically aware agencies make the best use of their resources. The methods employed to accomplish these goals include providing hands-on technical assistance, staff training, and consultation with agency management on ICT strategies that support the organisation’s mission.
“A “rider” can be an individual working independently or as part of a loose-knit team of peers, or can be one of several individuals employed by a voluntary organisation for the purposes of offering technology assistance to other agencies. Typically it implies a person with a broad set of technology skills, an independent and creative spirit, and a desire to share their technology knowledge with others. Riders may be motivated by a particular cause and work in an “activist” capacity with agencies in a specific sector, or may have more general, charitable motivations to simply help mission-driven agencies. “ Our colleague Malcolm Forbes at Brixton Online is involved in trying to get government recognition and support for this approach, which promises to be a much more appropriate way of supporting the work of voluntary sector organisations than anything currently available in the appalling commercial tech support sector.