Monday 25 February 2013

Stephen Metcalfe MP urges constituents to “Grow your charity online”


Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, is encouraging local charities to make the most of a new campaign to help 30,000 of Britain’s smallest charities boost their fundraising through online tools and the internet.

Launched earlier this month in partnership with Media Trust and the Charity Technology Trust, the ‘Grow Your Charity Online’ initiative will provide free training and tools for charities across the country.

The initiative comprises of an online learning hub, specialised training, workshops and live events that aim to bridge the e-skills gap and help charities harness the power of the Internet to amplify their reach, bolster their fundraising and boost their volunteer engagement. Those with few resources will also be able to download free training materials to help them make the most of the web and free access to online services that businesses pay for such as advertising and businesses apps.

Mr Metcalfe commented: “This is a first for the UK and a fantastic opportunity for charities in South Basildon and East Thurrock to really get their work off the ground. It is designed to overcome resource barriers to growth and to help reduce the e-skills gap which gives some organisations a head start over others.”

The initiative has evolved from a successful programme that Google has run over the past few years helping nearly a quarter of a million small UK businesses grow online across the UK.

Google will travel across the UK during 2013 to meet with charities face-to-face. It will also host a regular series of online educational events, allowing charities from across the UK to join advice sessions remotely. In addition to the tools, Google UK employees will dedicate a percentage of their work time towards the project, by volunteering their Internet expertise at various workshops over the year.

Mr Metcalfe added: “This will enable charities to take full advantage of the potential of the internet. I would encourage any charity in South Basildon and East Thurrock to visit: http://www.growyourcharityonline.com/ and get involved!”