Consultation now open for third sector’s first Digital Code of Practice

Third sector organisations from across the UK have been invited
to contribute to the UK’s first Charity Digital Code of Practice
which is due to launch in November this year. The code will
aim to help charities improve their digital skills and increase
their take up of digital activity and is being funded by Lloyds
Banking Group and the Co-op Foundation. It will be voluntary and
free to access, and the steering group is keen to hear from
charities of all sizes as part of the consultation.

The code will hopefully benefit all charities, but
especially those with limited capacity for digital engagement. It
will include best practice guidelines as well as practical tips and
advice and will aim to increase digital motivation and confidence
in activities including fundraising and engaging with
stakeholders. 

Why the code is needed

• There are over 160,000 registered charities in the UK, 74% of
  which have an annual income under £100,000. Staff within the sector
  have acknowledged that these charities often fall behind when it
  comes to digital skills and this can have a detrimental effect on
  their ability to raise vital funds for their work.
• The Lloyds Bank UK Business Digital Index
  2017 showed that only 48% of charities have full basic
  digital skills, and that the more digitally mature charities are
  twice as likely to see an increase in donations.
• A recent Co-op survey of local charities and
  community groups also found that one in four fear for
  their survival, with more than one in three (35%) believing they
  would benefit from a better online presence.

‘The new code will aim to increase the digital confidence of all
charities,’ says independent digital expert and The Charity
Digital Code of Practice steering group chair Zoe Amar,
‘it will also give practical advice about where they can make
improvements in digital engagement with their beneficiaries and
funders as well as increasing collaboration with other
charities.’

The consultation

Early user research and testing has been carried out in advance
of the consultation with more than 30 organisations of all sizes
across the UK to help shape the initial draft and ensure that the
voices of all kinds of charities are represented.  The code
will include best practice for large as well as smaller charities
and will aim to boost the entire sector.

How to take part

The consultation will be open from 3 July to 25 September 2018.
All charities are invited to visit www.charitydigitalcode.org to
respond and contribute.

Join the conversation about the code by using the
hashtag #CharityDigitalCode