Knowledge Centre blogs

I’m a funder – what can you give me?

By: Dan Sutch
On: 4th January 2012

This isn’t a question of bribery or looking for under-handed ways to support your applications for Nominet Trust funding – it’s a genuine question about exchange and the value of ‘giving’.

I was reminded recently of Malcom McLuhan’s phrase that ‘the medium is the message’ through another excellent RSA podcast – this one a lecture by TimeBanking founder Edgar Cahn. The context of Cahn’s use was that the way in which we give, offer support, or help others, can damage the confidence of the ‘beneficiary’ to grow from the experience. That within the medium of giving, according to Cahn, we are showing our value as provider and demarcating the beneficiary’s value only as a receiver. As soon as they have received, we head to another needy person. The value of that person to us, is their need. Once that need is sated, their value to us diminishes. more >

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Meeting up... but not...

By: Dan Sutch
On: 23rd December 2011

I’m changing my ‘default position’ for continuing discussions beyond email. My default will become to continue conversations online, rather than to start with the default of arranging to meet up.

Part of this is that I’m attempting to cut down the amount I travel (pick your favourite justification from saving time/money/environment, sheer laziness/lack of dedication to the cause/providing a shining example of how the internet can be used within daily routines...)

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What changes persist and what changes are new?

By: Dan Sutch
On: 15th December 2011

This post has the potential to come-over all Rumsfeld with ‘changed changes’ and ‘changes changed’, but it focuses on articulating the context for changes we’re trying to bring about through the appropriate use of digital technology.

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Innovation in Context

By: Dan Sutch
On: 24th November 2011

- exploring the potential of digital tech around young people's mental health

Understanding how digital technology can best support young people around issues of mental health is a challenging area of study, and equally so when it becomes the centre of a design process to create new resources and tools – but that’s what the Innovation Labs are aiming to do with support from Comic Relief, Right Here and Nominet Trust.

The Innovation Labs are an attempt to create a process for supporting the co-design of new digital resources to help young people around issues of mental health. Facilitated by Cernis, the series of labs aim to create the conditions for innovation to allow young people, mental health service providers and tech experts to work together to create new ideas for digital technologies in this important area. Lots more details about the labs can be found here and here. It’s the process of innovation that I’m particularly interested in as a subject for this post. more >

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The Digital Era Heralds a New Dawn for Charities

By: Dan Sutch
On: 14th November 2011

Why should the internet and social media matter for charities? Giving to a charity or getting support from one has been going on for hundreds of years. However, there are some distinct opportunities for third sector organisations to get online and further their work towards their charitable objectives.

A new report from Nominet Trust, Charities' use of the internet, was released on Thursday, 10 Nov, revealing that the internet presents significant opportunities for charities, but also significant challenges if they are offline whilst their donor-base (and indeed service users) require others ways of communicating.

How 'traditional' organisations present themselves online is key in order to resonate with modern donors and volunteers. This is becoming increasingly important in relation to the 'next generation users' identified by the latest research survey from Oxford Internet Institute. more >

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£250k Challenge for Digital Entrepreneurs Over 55

By: Dan Sutch
On: 4th November 2011

There are about 9.7 million people, 16% of the entire UK population, aged 65 and over. This figure is set to rise by 2033 to about 16.4 million people, or 23% of the population. And for those interested in longer term predictions, it is projected that by 2083, one in three people in the UK will be over the age of 60.

These descriptions represent a significant number of people and although it is useful to use terms like 'ageing population' or even 'older people' to represent the shift in the demographic make-up of the UK (and indeed the wider world), it belies an incredibly diverse group. The over-55 population can describe a difference of up to 50 years' life experience between those in early older age and those in late old age; it can describe people in good health and poor health; those who are physically or socially isolated or those living with, or supported by families; those who are digitally connected, and those who are digitally excluded. more >