Free SCIP Manuals for Web Design

We have three sets of web design workshops running at the moment, teaching people how to set up and run a website using Wordpress.com. The notes for this course are available for free download from a site we've created to support this training.

Wordpress.com is fairly easy to use and it has some great support pages, but we recommend the Dummies Guide for those who want to buy a book - mainly because this includes info on wordpress.com as well as running your own version of wordpress.

We have also published some of our own notes to help our learners, including:

1. Wordpress tips and how-to's - mainly for those things where we found the Dummies Guide less helpful;
2. A Guide to Running Your Own Community Website - tips about setting up your page, whether or not you use Wordpress.com, plus roles and responsibilites, launching your site and so on.

Both are available for download at scipdiy.wordpress.com.

What does the future look like?

NCVO has published a series of short guides on a number of topics about what the future will look like for the third sector, including one about how we will use new technologies in five years’ time. It considers a number of drivers for change and how they will affect us, such as access to low cost high quality printing, new ways to engage with people and the ability to work flexibly. I thought it was very useful - it's not a technical review but looks at the implications of how technology will change the work of the third sector.

Here’s the contents:

• Driver 1: A wealth of information and choice
• Driver 2: Increasing ease of making new connections
• Driver 3: New ways to engage people
• Driver 4: Lower barriers to publishing and broadcasting
• Driver 5: Ability to work flexibly
• Taking action: A case study
• How considering these issues can result in practical actions
• Further information and support
• Helpful links for finding out more

There is also a similar Guide covering:
    * Future Focus 1: What will our funding be like in five years’ time?
    * Future Focus 2: What will our volunteers be like in five years’ time?
    * Future Focus 4: How is local democracy changing?
    * Future Focus 5: How are social attitudes changing?
    * Future Focus 6: What will the UK population be like in 5 years’ time?

They cost £2.50 each or free to download here:
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/publications/publication.asp?id=7296

Free Event: Microsoft Training Resources

There are lots of free training resources available through the
Microsoft site, as there are across the internet. Many can help staff
and volunteers support themselves when using common tools, but which
ones work best? Techsoup, based in the US, is running a free online
training event/webinar (what an ugly word) at which Microsoft staff
will guide you through what is available. It will take place at 7pm GMT
on Wednesday 10 June – register at the Techsoup site.