Charity sector contributes to its first Digital Code of Practice

The Code, which will aim to help charities improve their digital
skills and increase their take up of digital activity, is being
funded by Lloyds Banking Group and the Co-op Foundation and managed
by a steering group of representatives from across the sector. It
will be voluntary and free to access for all charities. 

The consultation period ran from July to September and there
were 171 responses from organisations of all sizes providing
constructive feedback and giving an invaluable steer for the last
stages of the Code’s development. 

Key Themes 

Key themes from the responses included the challenges facing
charities when it comes to digital activity.

• 60% of survey respondents said they want to increase digital
  skills at their charity, with 49% stating that they are using
  digital well but need to take things to the next level.
• 39% need more funding to progress with digital and 36% wanted
  to know how to manage risk. 
• Just over a quarter (26%) need their boards to get behind
  digital, with 16% wanting more support from their leadership
  team.
• A quarter of respondents don’t know what to
  prioritise. 

There was also strong enthusiasm for the Code, with 79% of
respondents saying they will ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ use it.
Many were keen for resources to help them with implementation such
as how-to guides, case studies, opportunities to learn from peers
and assessment tools. In light of this feedback, the steering group
is discussing ongoing plans to develop resources to accompany the
Code, some of which will be available from November. 
 

The CharityDigital Code of Practice will launch on 15 November.
Join the conversation about the code by using the hashtag
#CharityDigitalCode