Commmunity IT Academy

This project has now finished

CITA has been successfull in accessing BASIS funding from the Big Lottery Fund in a consortium led by VONNE. The consortium includes the Belle Vue centre - Hartlepool, VODA - North Tyneside and The Hendon Hub in Sunderland. The project is called Circuit Riders North East (CRNE) and aims to provide long term technically based support services.

VODA are providing region wide training and a free technical support help line whilst the other partners are offering IT support services within their own sub-region. CITA is offering services to groups in the north of County Durham, Tyne & Wear (excluding Sunderland) and areas within Northumberland.

CITA is offering the following discounted services:

• Maintenance contracts - Technical Support
• ICT Strategy (Net:Gain)
• Website Design
• Tailored and bespoke training courses
• IT Consultancy*
• Advice on fundraising for IT*

The services are available at a 50% discount. The value of the support is limited to a maximum of £1000 per organisation.

Training is free to CITA contract customers and members, non members can access training at 50% discount.

The services marked with * are funded and hence are provided at no additional cost to VCOs, subject to the £1000 maximum.

The purpose of the grant is to allow small to medium sized groups to access IT services, hence limitations on turnover also apply.

Each group must agree to an IT Healthcheck as a part of the process. Numbers are limited to 10 websites and the first 20 groups that meet the above criteria on a first come first served basis. CITA will endeavor to spread the funding further if groups spend below the £1000 limit.

The project started in March 2008 and runs until March 2009.