Introducing UKriders.info

UKriders.info has been established by Lasa as a resource and meeting place for UK-based Circuit Riders and other ICT development and support workers in the voluntary sector. Circuit Riders are voluntary sector technology development and support workers, each of whom supports a caseload of organisations the same way a development worker might.

In the UK there are more than 380 subscribers to the UKriders email list who are there because they are interested in circuit riding or are a Circuit Rider themselves. If you are new to the term 'circuit rider' then you might want to take a look at the following pages which gives some information who Circuit Riders are an what they do and about the background to the development of Circuit Riding in the UK.

This site will act as a focus for UK Riders through provision of resources, conference notes, statement of priciples by which we work with organisations and other signatories, training and quality standards, publications suich as case studies, evaluations, guides and reports and for UK Riders to have their own hosted blog.

Acknowledgements

The site was developed initially by Simon Pavitt and is maintained by Lasa and Simon. It uses the Drupal open source CMS.

Training and Standards

Lasa has been working with the UK Circuit Rider community to develop training and a set of standards in order to:

  • provide quality, reassurance and safeguards to the VCS organisations with which we work;
  • maintain and enhance the values of the sector;
  • raise the profile of Circuit Riders and Circuit Riding; and
  • provide VCS organisations with independent advice and not champion any particular solution.

In 2007 and 2008 we were funded by the ICT Hub to work towards achieving these aims - see ICT Hub Training and Quality Standards project for more information and resources such as the new Circuit Rider competency guide

The next step

Since the end of the ICT Hub in spring 2008, Lasa has commenced on a new 3-year project, funded by the Big Lottery's BASIS fund to continue its work on training and accreditation - see the London Region ICT Infrastructure Project page.

Contact Ian Runeckles at Lasa if you would like more details by emailing iruneckles @ lasa.org.uk or call 020 7426 4473

London Circuit Rider Network

As part of Lasa's London Region ICT Infrastructure project, Lasa is organising quarterly meetings for Circuit Riders, accidental techies and all those who support the ICT of voluntary sector organisations in London.

The next meeting will take place on 24th September at SAVO - see http://www.ukriders.info/london-circuit-rider-network/meeting-24-09-08  for more information. Why not join us for an informal networking session and learn about the great projects we’re each working on and get the latest on the wonderful world of voluntary sector ICT and circuit riding? Feel free to bring a laptop - we have wireless Internet access. After the meeting, we’ll be continuing the discussion in the more convivial surroundings of a local bar - so please join us for post-forum refreshments

Contact Miles Maier at Lasa mmaier@lasa.org.uk if you require more information, check out the meetings listed below  or keep an eye on the UKRiders mailing list.